"There will be a GE in the future, but it will look different than it does today," Chief Executive John Flannery said on a conference call as GE released fourth-quarter earnings.

The comments come after speculation increased last week that GE was seriously considering a break-up. Earlier Wednesday, the head of GE's aircraft financing unit, said GE is looking at alternative structuring arrangements, not a break-up of the company.

(Reporting by Alwyn Scott; Editing by Nick Zieminski)