GE targets spinoff of consumer, industrial unit

General Electric Co. announced Thursday that it wants to spin off its iconic lighting and appliance businesses, the latest aggressive move by one of the world's largest companies to reshape its portfolio to ...

[Ron Lester Cambridge]

GE
I would argue that having a number of businesses that are cyclical and out of phase provides for a steady stream of profits. When the housing industry is booming, appliance demand peaks, then as interest rates go up, people start renovating. After home building, the electrical distribution business grows, then after that electrical transmission, and then electrical generation.

If you plot all of these product cycles that are off set upon one another you get an overall flat result. Now if you add growth and acquisitions you raise the level.
GE seems to have a different plan.