As an IRO, you have likely read many how-to guides on creating corporate presentation slides, and if used properly, they can be one of the most effective tools in leading and influencing the conversation of a company.
In our new article, we share best practices and tips to help IROs build effective earnings slides with captivating information and, most importantly, good readability.
First and foremost, earnings slides should be treated differently than an investor presentation containing a thorough company introduction. The earnings slides are solely focused on the financial and operational performance of a specific time period and act as supporting documentation for the earnings call. The content of the slides is visual tools to support what the management team is saying on the call in greater detail.
The key to producing informative content on your earnings slides is to deliver financial updates in the first few slides. The latest quarterly/semi-annual performance is the crucial information the investment community seeks. To maintain their interest, you want to provide quality content to your core audience in the first area they view. Additionally, it’s essential to include a concise explanation of any significant shifts in financial performance so that investors may comprehend and evaluate the current state of affairs without participating in the earnings call or listening to the replay.
Engaging content also includes market outlook, and it’s not only about how you view the market pertaining to your product segment or end-market applications; it’s important to let investors know how management views the current market, where they anticipate it will go next, and how it affects business operations. Establishing a link between the company and the issues or trends of the macro-environment shows the executive level is in charge, actively preparing for potential market headwinds and ready to take advantage of new opportunities. Investors have considerably more faith in a team when they address the relevance of macro issues to their business operations rather than remaining evasive on complex subjects.
To have your earnings slides reach the maximum effect on their targeted audience, you need to have a consistent content disclosure structure that would ensure investors can track and compare your performance easily. The earnings slides are also the ideal visual aid for post-results update calls with investors, while the investor presentations, on the other hand, are appropriate for investors who are unfamiliar with the business. Making sure your slides are laser-focused on the performance of a specific period rather than extensive slides on company history and its vision would allow your audience to have a more memorable takeaway of your most recent performance.
