Investors and analysts are increasingly relying on transcripts of corporate earnings calls to glean insights into company performance and future strategies, a trend fueled by the demand for immediate and detailed information. While companies routinely post transcripts on their investor relations websites, access to historical records can be limited, prompting a growing market for specialized platforms and databases.
Several services aggregate these transcripts, offering varying degrees of historical depth and analytical tools. Capital IQ, accessible through institutions like Tulane University, provides transcripts dating back to approximately 2008, covering both public and private companies, with particularly strong coverage of those listed on major indexes like the Russell 3000. Factiva, another database option, allows users to search for “Earnings call transcript” and filter by company ticker symbols, though it has a limit of eight concurrent users. Seeking Alpha provides complete transcripts, including audio and slideshow presentations from earnings calls.
The importance of these transcripts extends beyond simple record-keeping. Koyfin, a financial analysis platform, now utilizes artificial intelligence to summarize key metrics, guidance, and themes from earnings calls, allowing investors to quickly identify crucial information. This reflects a broader shift towards leveraging AI to process the large volume of data generated by corporate disclosures.
The practice of disseminating information through earnings calls is governed by Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD), a rule established by the Securities and Exchange Commission to prevent selective disclosure of material nonpublic information. Reg FD mandates that if information is disclosed to certain individuals, it must be made public simultaneously or promptly thereafter. This regulation underscores the importance of transparency and equal access to information for all investors.
MarketBeat offers free transcripts for S&P 500 companies, acknowledging that transcripts are generally available through other sources. The Stanford Graduate School of Business library notes that while many companies provide transcripts on their investor relations pages, older transcripts are often unavailable, highlighting the value of dedicated search tools.
LSEG Workspace provides access to transcripts through its Signal app, allowing users to search by company name or keyword and filter by time frame and source type. This demonstrates the integration of earnings call transcripts into broader financial data platforms.
