7th Annual Global IR Issuer Pulse
Discover key survey findings that will help IR professionals navigate challenges, identify opportunities, and execute priorities in 2026.
Nasdaq IR Intelligence surveyed the corporate community in Q4 2025 to surface top priorities and challenges shaping IR and capture perspectives on emerging practices and innovations in 2026 and beyond. Review the survey results and insights from nearly 700 corporate professionals across different sectors and market caps globally.
Across regions, sectors, and market caps, two things are clear: IR professionals remain focused on deepening engagement with key stakeholders and leveraging new technologies that can enhance their impact.
Key Findings
Generative AI Adoption Accelerated Across IR Teams
More than half of IR professionals have already embedded AI or AI agents and systems into their workflows, which is a significant increase from 30% in 2024. Only 2% had no plans to use AI.
Commonly reported practical applications included summarizing peer and market events and supporting earnings preparation. Growing interest across other processes reflects IR’s focus on scaling impact while operating with leaner resources.
Broadening Shareholder Reach and Composition Remained a Central Focus
Nearly 45% of IR professionals cited enhancing engagement with new and/or existing shareholders as top priorities in 2026.
While non-deal roadshows (NDRs) remained the top avenue for targeting investors, fewer survey respondents cited them as their preferred avenue compared with last year, indicating an increasing desire to diversify engagement channels.
Increased Focus on Company-Specific Dynamics Shaped Equity Stories
Company-specific themes, including messaging, forecasting, and new developments, emerged as the top focus area. Conversely, 52% believed company-specific developments will be a tailwind in 2026.
IR professionals placed greater emphasis on clear articulation of strategy, performance drivers, and forward execution to differentiate their equity story.
IR Mandates Broadened to Include Deeper Finance Alignment
IR professionals continued to be tasked with responsibilities outside of the traditional IR function. While sustainability remained the most common added remit, oversight of finance responsibilities more than doubled year-over-year.
This evolution reflected growing investor demands for tighter alignment across financial performance, strategic narrative, and capital‑markets positioning.
IR Pulse in Practice: Perspectives from IR Professionals
Drawing on insights from Nasdaq's 7th Annual Global IR Issuer Pulse, Oskar Bosson, Head of Investor Relations at BioArctic, discusses how BioArctic has evolved its investor relations strategy as it transitions from a research-focused biotech to a commercial-stage organization.
Learn how BioArctic engages new and existing investors, builds a balanced shareholder base, and communicates a compelling long-term growth story.
Looking Ahead
IR professionals shared their most innovative IR efforts implemented in 2025 or planned for 2026 across themes highlighted above, including AI, investor engagement, sustainability, and more.
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