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Revision as of 02:44, 18 April 2006
Earnings Calls are a teleconference in which a public company discusses the financial results of a reporting period. The name comes from the bottom line numbers in the income statement - earnings per share. Some companies have in recent years begun also webcasting their earnings calls.
The calls are usually preceeded or accompanied by a press release containing a summary of the financial results, and possibly also by a more detailed filing under securities law. If the detailed filing is not made at the same time as the earnings call, the company usually does not have a legal obligation to hold another call should the results contained in the detailed filing differ from those in the press release at the time of the call. The earnings call usually happen, or at least begin, while the stock market on which the company's shares are traded is closed to trading, so that all investors will have had a chance to hear management's presentation before trading in the stock resumes.
Generally, the call will begin with a company official reading a safe harbor statement to limit the company's liability should the future prove different than stated in the discussion. Then one or more company officials, often including the Chief executive officer and Chief financial officer will discuss the operational results and financial statements for the period just ended and their outlook for the future. The teleconference will then be opened for questions by investors, financial analysts, and other call participants. Management will answer many of these questions, although if the data is not available to them they may decline or defer response. Depending on the size and complexity of the company, the difference between actual and expected results, and other factors, the length of the call will vary.
There is no general requirement for how far in advance notice of a call must be given. However, keeping the investor and analyst communities happy is part of management's job, so the call will generally be announced a few days or weeks in advance. The calls are often, but not always, recorded and available to listen to for a short period of time following the call. If the company has a website, there will probably be a section titled Investor Relations or Investors - this is the most likely part of their website to contain both call schedules and archived past calls.
United States
Companies headquartered in the United States with securities traded on a U.S. based stock market or other exchange are required to file audited annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 10-K following the end of a fiscal year and unauidted reports on Form 10-Q following the end of a fiscal quarter. These companys will announce earnings quarterly and generally hold an earnings call quarterly.
Some companies with shares traded on foreign stock exchanges also have American Depository Receipts (ADRs) that are traded on U.S. exchanges and are required to to file Form 20-F with the SEC. (Not all companies with ADRs need to file form 20-F.) They are likely to have their earnings announcements and calls coordinated with the schedule required in the country where their shares are traded.
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