The shares of Amsterdam-based conglomerate and light bulb maker Koninklijke Philips Electronics (PHG), commonly known as Philips, first discussed here on June 2, 2009, at a price of $20.30, have retaken the $30-level to trade at/near $33, and if you haven't already, now may a be a good time to consider taking some profits, if you're in at/near $20.

However, those investors who can tolerate the risk can consider maintaining their full PHG position, to go for an even bigger gain.

Fundamentally, Philips remains attractive. Philips, one of the world's largest lighting/electronics and medical diagnostic equipment manufacturers, will benefit from the emerging market development wave, where sales are likely to increase at double digit rates in 2011 and 2012.

The shares of Amsterdam-based conglomerate and light bulb maker Koninklijke Philips Electronics (PHG), commonly known as Philips, first discussed here on June 2, 2009, at a price of $20.30, unexpectedly continued to meander this autumn. Even so, just look on that sideways action as an opportunity to scoop-up shares of a premiere company.

Philips shares have dipped twice to about $26 in the past six months, but other than that they've straddled the $30-level -- hardly a bullish chart, from a technical standpoint, but still adequate to keep the trade in play.

The future is still bright for Amsterdam-based conglomerate and light bulb maker Koninklijke Philips Electronics, commonly known as Philips (PHG), first discussed here on June 2, 2009, at a price of $20.30.

Philips' stock has made it though a trying summer for the stock market in decent shape. Share's have traded in a roughly $30-35 range, with volatility, but appear to have put in a bottom at/near $30.

I'm reiterating my Buy rating for Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV (NYSE: PHG), commonly known as Philips, first recommended on June 2, 2009 at a price of $20.30. If you purchased PHG then, you're up about 20%.

Amsterdam-based Philips missed the Street's revenue and earnings estimates in Q2, in what amounted to an essentially break-even quarter.

General Electric Company's (NYSE: GE) Healthcare segment is worth between $24.1 billion and $59.1 billion, according to my calculations.

GE Healthcare, which constituted 10.1%, 10.2% and 10.0% of GE's consolidated revenues in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, manufactures, sells and services medical equipment including equipment for magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, x-ray, patient monitoring, diagnostic cardiology, nuclear imaging, ultrasound, bone densitometry, anesthesiology and oxygen therapy, neonatal and critical care, and therapy.

I think GE Healthcare is a mixed bag for GE. Its technology is excellent and it has good relationships with those in the health care community. However, its revenues shrank because of regulatory problems -- the federal government cut reimbursements to nonhospital imaging centers, which bought less equipment from GE. I am wondering whether such regulatory challenges will impede GE Healthcare's growth in the future -- or whether new products can help revive the growth.

Assuming that GE Healthcare generates net income of $2.2 billion in 2007, here are the range of valuations based on the Price/Earnings ratios of the following peer companies:

• Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) P/E: 27.4. $59.1 billion
• Koninklijke Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) P/E: 11.1. $24.1 billion

This is a very wide range of valuations and I am not particularly comfortable with this result so if you have any suggestions, please comment.

Conclusion: Does GE trade at a conglomerate discount?

Peter Cohan is president of Peter S. Cohan & Associates, a management consulting and venture capital firm. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter. He owns General Electric shares and has no financial interest in the other securities mentioned in this post.