Did You Know...

...that according to the buy-side, investor relations can have as much as a 25% impact on a company’s valuation? In our most recent study of the buy-side, we uncovered that portfolio managers and buy-side analysts attribute a premium of 10% of a company’s valuation to good investor communications and a discount of 15% to bad investor communications.

Taking the Pulse

Rivel Research Group has developed a new program to complement our comprehensive perception studies. This customizable service allows companies to get a better handle on how perceptions evolve. Understanding when perceptions change is almost as crucial as understanding how or why they change. Rivel’s staff has the ability to mobilize very quickly before and after key events to understand whether attitudes are shifting as a result of new information being infused into the marketplace. Having this information and insight in a timely fashion gives companies an edge as they continually develop their communications strategies. Combined with Rivel’s custom benchmark research studies, companies can now have the full set of tools they need to unlock the variables that are impacting valuation. The elements of this new program can be coupled with a perception study or can stand on their own. Each program is uniquely customized so that companies can design a solution that fits their needs.

The Key Elements:

Quarterly Earnings Call Feedback:

This research is designed to understand the impact of the previous quarter and the resulting call and will cover some of the following important issues:

  • Did the quarter meet their expectations?
  • What were the positive and negative reactions to the call?
  • Has the outlook for your company changed?

Roadshow (One-on-One) Research:

This research is designed to understand the impact of management meetings and how well the investor is receiving, processing, understanding and valuing the messages being delivered. Interviews will be conducted within a day or two of the meeting and will consist of qualitative (open-ended) questions. Some topics that we typically explore:

  • What were the positives and negatives of the meeting?
  • Has your outlook on the company changed? If so, why?
  • What disclosures might have given you a better understanding of the company’s prospects?
  • Are you likely to take a position (target) or add to your position (owner)?

The final deliverable is verbatim transcripts of the interviews. Once critical mass is achieved (10-15 interviews) within a certain time frame, Rivel will quantify, code and tabulate the findings for additional insight.


Pre- or Post-Investment Community Day Research:

This research is designed to understand what information investment professionals need to hear during the investment community event OR how effective the program was in helping attendees understand and value the company. We typically conduct interviews at an appropriate time before or after the event. The line of inquiry is a mix of closed- (quantitative) and open-ended (qualitative) responses. Some topics that we explore are highlighted below.

Before the Event:

  • What information takes precedence for coverage?
  • What disclosures would give them a better understanding of the company’s prospects?
  • What metrics should the investment community be using to properly value the company?
  • Who would they like to see present from various divisions?

After the Event:

  • How did the event impact perceptions of the company, management and strategies?
  • Are investors more or less favorable as a result of the meeting?
  • What pieces of information need to be reinforced over the subsequent months?
  • Should this practice be continued? Did the attendees learn anything new?

More Information:

If you are interested in learning more about Taking the Pulse, please call Barbara Sullivan, Director of Marketing at (203) 635-4383 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .