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This year has been a challenging and unexpected experience for Investor Relations professionals as a result of the pandemic. U.S. stock markets ended their longest bull market in history. The DOW recorded its worst first quarter ever amid coronavirus fears. And for the first time since the Great Depression, the emergency brake was pulled to slow a stock market crash.
Transparency and clarity of communication are central tenets of investor relations, especially during a crisis. To deliver this, IROs and CFOs need to understand how their shareholder base has changed and what information investors and analysts want to receive in the coming months. Share price volatility shows little sign of calming to pre-COVID-19 levels, so navigating the uncertainty in a confident manner will be required.
Over the past 2 months, organizations have been dispersed, forced to keep business moving efficiently across geographies and time zones, while dealing with the impacts of a global pandemic that has spared no industry. Running investor relations remotely certainly brings its challenges, but given it may be unavoidable for the foreseeable future, IROs are looking to make the best of this difficult situation.
The global COVID-19 crisis has disrupted nearly every facet of the economy. Organizations across industries and geographies face increasingly insurmountable business challenges, and mass layoffs and furloughs remain the headlines of the day. We’ve witnessed these impacts on the IR function, but wanted to look at how the investor relations career market has changed as a result of the current climate.
The impact of COVID-19 on the markets – and the world – has been significant. In this time of uncertainty, there are a lot of questions on how to successfully navigate through the storm. The need for consistent communications is clear, but what should be shared? And when? And what about the upcoming earnings season?
More often than not, marketing and investor relations teams operate independently within a company, each focusing on its goals and activities. However, regular alignment between the two teams can help to strengthen a company’s message while increasing visibility, driving valuation, and expanding sales opportunities. Here are three quick and easy ways investor relations and marketing teams can work together to achieve success.
Historically, investor relations has lagged behind the use of technology within their function, but that is rapidly changing as the industry evolves. As the number of available technology solutions and providers increases, identifying the one that’s right for you can be a challenge. While a particular tool or product may help with short-term gain, the inability to scale with your needs can cause long-term pain.
Today’s IRO is tasked with being a trusted adviser to the C-suite and Board of Directors on all investor-related matters, as well as serving as a sounding board and articulate communicator to current and prospective shareholders and analysts. As an IRO for close to thirty years, across market caps of all sizes and various industries, I loved this role but often wished for an adviser and sounding board of my very own — to guide me through uncharted territory and tricky situations.