investorrelations

Investor relations (IR) is a corporate function that manages communication between a company and its investors, analysts, lenders, and other market participants. IR aims to provide accurate, timely information about strategy, performance, governance, and prospects to support fair and efficient markets and to help maintain an orderly stock price and adequate liquidity.

Core activities include preparing and releasing financial results (earnings releases, quarterly and annual reports), coordinating earnings calls and investor presentations, and maintaining an investor relations website with data, press releases, and governance information. IR also handles inquiries from investors and analysts, organizes investor conferences and roadshows, and conveys the company’s strategy and risk factors in a clear, consistent message. ESG disclosures and other material information are increasingly integrated into IR programs.

IR serves multiple stakeholders and must comply with securities laws and stock-exchange rules. In the United States, this includes coordination with the CFO and CEO for filings such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K, and adherence to disclosure and insider-trading prohibitions. In Europe and other jurisdictions, MAR, RNS or local requirements shape disclosure practices.

The role of the IR professional, often an investor relations officer (IRO), includes messaging, governance communications, monitoring investor sentiment and analyst expectations, and providing management with feedback from the market. IR is closely linked to corporate governance and strategic planning.

Key objectives include achieving a fair valuation, improving liquidity, and reducing the cost of capital, measured by stock performance relative to peers, analyst coverage, and investor feedback.