Against the Trend – Trust Pays Off
For years, volatile markets, geopolitical tensions and economic concerns have shaped the markets. Reliability is scarce, and long-term forecasts are virtually impossible. The current trend barometer of DIRK – German Investor Relations Association shows that Investor Relations professionals are keeping a cool head and assessing the current overall economic situation realistically, while taking a somewhat more confident and positive view of future developments.
Please note that the survey was conducted before the most recent escalation in the Middle East. The current market reactions are understandable – what remains crucial, however, is how strong and how lasting the impact will be
This is precisely where the core of good Investor Relations lies: they do not bring crises to an end, but at best create long-term trust. In a persistent multi-crisis environment, which we have been facing for years, this trust ensures that investors place greater value on stability and the ability to act than on short-term headlines.
The results confirm this perspective: despite ongoing uncertain conditions, the future economic outlook is assessed slightly more positively from an IR perspective than in the previous year – particularly in Switzerland and Austria. Realism, yes; crisis rhetoric, no. Sustainably built trust stabilises expectations even in turbulent times.
The full study, including details on the size of IR departments, the number of sell-side analysts and investor meetings in the past 12 months, can be downloaded below. (German only)
The results of the IR Spotlight on “The Impact of IFRS on Financial Reporting and Investor Relations” will be presented at the 29th DIRK Conference on 29/30 June 2026 in Frankfurt.
At this point, we would like to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the survey.
Download the survey results (German only)
