Washington, D.C., May 6, 2026
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed allowing public companies to report earnings semi-annually instead of quarterly, marking a potential shift in financial disclosure requirements that have stood for over 50 years.
Regulatory Flexibility and Proposal Details
Under the proposed amendments, companies could opt to file one semi-annual report and one annual report per fiscal year, reducing the frequency of mandatory disclosures. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins emphasized the move’s aim to ease regulatory burdens, stating: *"Today's proposed amendments, if ultimately adopted, would provide companies with increased regulatory flexibility."*
The changes would not prevent firms from continuing voluntary quarterly earnings calls or guidance updates. Nasdaq Inc. and other proponents argue the measure could save publicly traded companies significant time and resources. Erik Gerding, a partner in Freshfields' capital markets group, noted that smaller firms might find the option particularly appealing: *"There's a universe of companies for whom this will be attractive, but at least initially it'll be more small to mid-cap companies."*