March 16, 2026
Twice a year, twice the drama?
US SEC preparing to scrap quarterly reporting requirement
SEC may ditch quarterly earnings: cheers, fears, and “sell-window” panic
TLDR: The SEC may make quarterly earnings optional, letting companies report twice a year instead. Commenters are split: some cheer for earlier IPOs and less short-term pressure, others worry about fewer chances for employees to sell stock and less transparency that could invite mischief.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission might let companies report earnings only twice a year, and the internet had thoughts. Startup optimists like ashraymalhotra are salivating at the idea that fewer reports could push more young companies to go public sooner—meaning regular folks could finally get in on the upside. But employee-watchers slammed the brakes: mslate sparked a mini-panic asking if workers would now only get two chances a year to sell stock instead of four. Cue the groans.
Then came the culture war: long-term vision vs. “let the grift begin.” As deadbabe summed up, too-frequent earnings push short-term thinking, but longer gaps invite shenanigans. Meanwhile, dboreham tossed a meme-worthy “That was easy” into the thread like a Staples button pressed on Wall Street. For the record, the WSJ scoop says quarterly reporting would become optional, not banned, with a public comment period and an SEC vote after at least 30 days, per Reuters. Trump previously cheered the shift as a cost-cutter, while skeptics warn less frequent updates could hide trouble and spike volatility. One pedant, senkora, popped in to clarify people are still stuck with at least twice-yearly reports for now. Verdict: chaos energy is high, and everyone’s asking who wins—founders, CFOs, employees, or the mystery box behind semiannual silence.
Key Points
- •The SEC is preparing a proposal to make quarterly earnings reporting optional, allowing semiannual reporting.
- •The proposal could be published as soon as next month, per the Wall Street Journal.
- •Regulators are discussing potential exchange rule adjustments; after publication, a public comment period of at least 30 days will precede an SEC vote.
- •The change would not abolish quarterly reporting but make it optional for companies.
- •Donald Trump renewed calls to end quarterly reporting; supporters cite reduced short-termism and costs, while skeptics warn of reduced transparency and higher volatility.