Here’s an idea: let’s give investors less information and see if that helps markets distribute capital more efficiently.
US President Donald Trump wants to do just that. On Monday, he said companies should no longer be required to report quarterly earnings. Switching to half-yearly reports “will save money, and allow managers to focus on properly running their companies”, he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump has railed against quarterly earnings for years — he also put the idea forward in his first term — and he is far from the only one. Supporters of less-frequent reporting argue it will give companies the breathing room they need to plan for the long term. They also contend looser rules will make public listings more attractive and spur more companies to float.