In order to set your company apart in the competitive investment capital environment, it is vital to plan and execute an effective investor day. Investor days allow you to stay top of mind and have regular and impactful contact with your analysts and investors.
The ultimate goals of an investor day are to:
- Educate the investment community on your company’s investment thesis
- Provide an update on the direction of the business such as new strategic initiatives, new products or new markets entered
- Provide a picture of the quality and background of the management team
- Dispel any misconceptions that may exist about the company
Below we detail important steps to consider when planning your investor day, remembering the end goal of leaving your investors with a greater understanding of your business and the investment opportunity with your company.
Set clear objectives – As you begin to plan your investor day, focus on why you are choosing to host the event at this time. What are the outcomes you hope for or expect? What are the messages you want to get across? Who from management should be present and address the attendees?
If you have a major announcement to make, planning your investor day around this event can add an element of excitement and allow you to give greater detail on the news. It can also result in higher attendance to your event. Consider incorporating speakers in addition to your management team, such as an industry expert that can attest to the success or efficacy of a new product or initiative that you are introducing.
Consider timing and place – Selecting an appropriate date to hold your investor day takes some consideration. Don’t plan your event around earnings or major holidays, or on a Monday or Friday. Take into account the time of year; the winter holidays and end of summer tend to be times when many people are traveling or busy with obligations.
Many investors and analysts attend investor days with the anticipation of getting face time with senior management. Allow time for these informal meet-and-greets with Q&A sessions, social events immediately following your event and/or one-on-ones. Select a city that will yield the greatest turnout of analysts and investors, one that has easy access to airports, hotels and transportation.
Hone your presentation – Ensure your slide deck is polished, professional and has been updated to reflect the changes since your last public presentation. Consistent formatting and messaging is key. Incorporate slides that highlight critical messages throughout your presentation, and rehearse your script many times to ensure the messaging and takeaways are clear. Ultimately, your slide deck should be robust enough for an investor, analyst or webcast listener who knows nothing about your company to get a clear understanding of your business with little to no commentary.
Discuss long term goals and milestones – Laying out your long-term goals and realistic financial milestones gives analysts and investors a benchmark on which to track your progress going forward. Lay out each of these initiatives with a clear path that demonstrates how you will reach these goals, and give a progress update on prior goals and initiatives. Don’t be afraid to highlight your former success and track record.
Conclusion
While there are many components that go into executing a successful investor day, following the guidelines above will result in an informed and captivated analyst and investor audience. Gilmartin Group’s years of experience in planning successful investor days can be a valuable asset to your IR plan.
Jessica Bornn, Principal
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