NEW HAVEN, Conn. — General Electric Co. plans to sell or spin off the business that for a century has put appliances in American homes, a decision that could presage further asset sales, analysts said.

The conglomerate, one of the world's largest companies, said in a statement yesterday that the move is part of an ongoing plan to exit "slower growth and more volatile businesses."

Last year, Fairfield-based GE sold its underperforming plastics business to a Saudi Arabian company for $11.6 billion.

"We think this is further recognition the company needs to exit the slow- and no-growth businesses," said Robert Schenosky, an industrial analyst with Jefferies & Co. in New York who has favored asset sales.

"It's a recognition that there is not anything that is untouchable at this point."

Schenosky said it's hard to predict what else GE might sell.

"Certainly other candidates could include the lighting business and even potentially NBC Universal," Schenosky said.

GE could be a dramatically different company in the coming years, Schenosky said. He also said the company needs to look at the type of acquisitions it makes, saying deals in healthcare and entertainment made the company larger but did not boost earnings power in a meaningful way.

Matt Collins, an analyst at Edward Jones in St. Louis, said he would not be surprised to see GE sell its lighting and electrical distribution businesses.

"I think we'll continue to see them make strategic moves to get the stock working over the long term," Collins said. "This will probably be another noisy year for them."

GE shares fell 24 cents to $32.13 in trading yesterday, near their 52-week low. Shares have traded between $31.50 and $42.15.

The stock had its worst day in decades last month after the company reported a smaller-than-expected first-quarter profit and lowered its outlook for the full year.

Chairman and chief executive Jeff Immelt has rejected calls to sell NBC, though he has been under pressure to restructure the industrial and financial conglomerate, particularly since last month's surprising first-quarter report that profit fell 6 percent.

GE's 101-year-old appliance business, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., has been hurt by the housing slump and economic slowdown in the U.S.

The appliance division had revenue of $7 billion last year and employs about 13,000 people worldwide.

The company is planning a strategic review that could result in an outright sale of GE Appliances, a strategic partnership or a spinoff to shareholders.