ALC - Q4

Our recent webinar hosted in partnership with Business Wire, “Mastering IR Communications: Navigating New Trends and Tactics,” was moderated by our Founder and CEO, Darrell Heaps, and brought together industry leaders to discuss AI’s transformative impact on Investor Relations (IR). The panel included Kimberly Esterkin, VP of Investor Relations at ASGN Incorporated; Matthew Policastro, Head of Sales at Business Wire; and Whitney Kukulka, Managing Director at The Blueshirt Group. AI is all the buzz right now, responding to industry demands for more efficient and effective communication tools. This webinar delved into how IR professionals can leverage these cutting-edge tools to streamline their processes and enhance their strategic efforts. Here’s a summary of the key takeaways and expert insights on leveraging AI in IR.

Engaging with investors is essential to a public company’s growth and success. In a recent session at the Canadian Investor Relations Institute conference, “Driving Your Company’s Engagement with Institutional Investors,” industry experts shared valuable insights and strategies for effectively targeting, connecting, and maintaining relationships with institutional investors.

The first six months of 2022 marked one of the worst first halves for stocks we’ve seen. In a recent statement, Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, even noted that “The first half of 2022 brought an investment environment that we have not seen in decades”. As the globe grapples with managing the impacts of rapid inflation, tightening monetary policy, and rock-bottom sentiment, many IROs may feel like there isn’t much they can control right now. You might be surprised to hear that, at Q4, we’re confident that there are several things IROs can do now to begin retaking control of their investment narrative as they adapt to this new market landscape. 

Traditionally, IR professionals are accustomed to traveling frequently to meet with investors and analysts, collecting valuable feedback to deliver to the C-suite to help shape messaging for forthcoming disclosures and corporate events. But 2020 was no ordinary year, and the same could be said for 2021 so far. However, there are some lessons learned in 2020 that can help IROs successfully navigate 2021, such as addressing market volatility, maintaining communications with the investment community, and focusing on ESG efforts. 

With the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States today, the members of our Q4 Market Intelligence Center compiled their own inaugural report to provide valuable insights on the year ahead. 

Small-caps are often under-covered by analysts and/or overlooked by the street, making it difficult to stand out and garner institutional attention. Small teams, tight budgets, MiFID II, and a global pandemic have all contributed to an increasingly challenging situation for small-cap companies.

Recently, Q4’s Investor Relations Partner Matt Tractenberg joined a panel of IR industry professionals, including Charlie Parry, head of IR at Good Energy Group, Dr. Peer Niles Schroader, head of corporate communications & IR at Basilea Pharmaceutica International, Ltd., Sofia Antunes, IRO at Lundin Energy, and moderator, Michel Gerber, head of IR and corporate communications at VAT Group for a Swiss IR Association webinar to discuss how small-cap stocks can increase visibility and better position themselves as attractive investment targets.

The global COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges on many fronts, leaving organizations to manage volatile markets, stunted revenues, and vital cost reductions.  But as we emerge from the eye of this storm, there may be a silver lining to be had when it comes to investor engagement. With in-person meetings all but impossible, necessity has helped facilitate the adoption of video or audio investor conferences with screen sharing.

The Investor Relations Officer is the primary link between investors and management, making the flow of information between the two parties essential to the company’s success. Additionally, delivering insights on how the Street views the company helps to position senior IROs as trusted advisors to the C-suite and Board of Directors. But, identifying which information to present to these senior stakeholders (and how) is a critical element of building that influence and securing a seat at the table.