SEC Chair Paul Atkins: We will propose rule change on Trump's call to end quarterly reports

Core Viewpoint - The SEC is considering a proposal from President Trump to change earnings reports from a quarterly to a semiannual basis, which has sparked discussions among CEOs and investors about its implications for the market and companies [1][2]. Group 1: Current Reporting Practices - Semiannual reporting is already practiced by foreign private issuers and was the norm until 1970 when quarterly reporting was established [3]. - The current quarterly reporting system is criticized for promoting short-term thinking among companies [3][11]. Group 2: Potential Benefits of Change - Transitioning to semiannual reporting could reduce costs and the mental burden on executives, allowing them to focus more on day-to-day business operations rather than preparing quarterly reports [5]. - Companies may benefit from having more time to strategize and negotiate deals without the pressure of quarterly earnings reports [4]. Group 3: Investor Information Access - There is a concern about whether retail investors need as much information as professional investors, who have access to various data streams throughout the year [6]. - The dissemination of information has evolved, with many investors relying on earnings calls rather than traditional quarterly reports for insights [8][9]. Group 4: Future Reporting Flexibility - Companies may choose to continue with quarterly reports or adopt a different cadence based on investor demand and their specific circumstances [10]. - The SEC is open to reviewing the entire framework of how companies report information, considering the long-standing complaints about short-termism in the market [11].