Trump revives debate over quarterly corporate reports

Tuesday 30 September 2025 - 07:30

By: Sahili Aya

Trump revives debate over quarterly corporate reports

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited the debate on whether publicly listed companies should continue publishing quarterly earnings reports. The White House is backing a proposal to replace the current system with semi-annual disclosures, criticizing what it sees as an excessive focus on short-term results in financial markets.

The idea, first floated in 2018, has recently resurfaced through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Its chairman, Paul Atkins, argued in the Financial Times that companies should have greater flexibility, stressing that regulation should be kept to a minimum to encourage investment and initial public offerings.

Supporters of the reform say fewer reporting obligations would reduce administrative costs and allow companies to focus on long-term strategies. Critics, however, fear that less frequent updates could lower transparency for investors and increase risks in financial markets.

The debate mirrors a trend in Europe, where semi-annual reporting has already been adopted in several countries, even though companies can choose to publish more frequently.