SEC Weighs Shift to Semiannual Earnings Reporting

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-03-17Last updated on 2026-03-17

Abstract

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is considering a proposal that would allow public companies to report earnings semiannually instead of quarterly. The rule, which may be introduced in the coming month, would make quarterly disclosures optional rather than mandatory. Regulators have been consulting with major stock exchanges regarding potential changes to listing requirements if the proposal moves forward. Quarterly reporting has been a standard practice in U.S. markets since 1970. Supporters argue that reducing reporting frequency could alleviate short-term pressure on corporate management and lower compliance costs, potentially reversing the decline in the number of publicly listed companies. Critics, however, warn that less frequent reporting could reduce transparency and delay the release of critical financial information investors rely on. The European Union eliminated mandatory quarterly reporting in 2013, and the UK followed suit several years later. The SEC's proposal would undergo a standard rulemaking process, including a public comment period, before any final decision is made. There is no confirmation that the rule will be approved.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission is planning to roll out a proposal that would permit public firms to report earnings twice a year rather than the long-standing quarterly reporting need.

As per the report published by The Wall Street Journal, the proposal can roll out anytime in the upcoming month. Before publishing the rule, regulators have been having words with prominent stock exchanges regarding how their listing needs might need to change if firms are given the option to report results every six months rather than every quarter.

If the proposal were officially issued, it would also interfere with the SEC’s rulemaking process, which comprises a public comment duration that normally lasts around 30 days before the commission votes on whether to adopt the change.

However, there is not confirmation that the rule will eventually be passed and approved. The plan would not kick out the quarterly report completely. Rather than this, it would make quarterly disclosure optional, permitting firms to choose whether to carry on publishing financial updates every three months.

No Official Confirmation

Quarterly earnings reports have remained an integral part of U.S. capital markets since 1970, when regulators rolled out the Form 10-Q filing need to offer investors regular updates on firms’ performance.

Supporters of the change claim that quarterly reporting supports excessive short-term pressure on corporate management and imposes prominent compliance costs for public firms.

Advocates mention that suppressing the frequency of needed disclosure could help reverse the long-term fall in the number of publicly listed firms in the United States. Although critics have alerted that less frequent reporting could weaken transparency.

Along with that, it could also delay the release of significant financial information that investors depend on to access corporate performance and risk. The European Union terminated its mandatory quarterly disclosure rule in 2013. Talking about the UK, it curbed its requirement several years later.

Highlighted Crypto News Today:

SEC Drops Securities Fraud Case Against BitClout Founder Nader Al-Naji

Can Iran 'Control' the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran has announced a comprehensive plan to assert control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping chokepoint. The proposed measures include requiring all vessels to obtain Iranian permission for passage, imposing fees for security, environmental protection, and navigation management—preferably paid in Iranian rials—and absolutely banning Israeli ships. Vessels from countries deemed hostile by Iran’s top security bodies may also be barred. Analysts suggest Iran’s motives are multifaceted: increasing pressure on the U.S. and Israel by leveraging control over oil transit to influence global prices and inflation; creating a new revenue stream, potentially exceeding $7.7 billion annually, to counter Western sanctions and support postwar reconstruction; and using transit permissions as bargaining chips in future negotiations, notably with the U.S. However, the plan faces significant practical and diplomatic challenges. Enforcing comprehensive interception and fee collection in the busy waterway, patrolled by international military forces, would be difficult. The U.S. has already countering with a blockade of Iranian ports and threats to intercept any ship paying fees, potentially strangling Iran’s oil exports and fee revenue. Broad international opposition, led by European and Gulf states, and legal controversies further complicate implementation. The proposal may ultimately serve more as a negotiating tactic than a feasible policy, with its execution remaining highly uncertain.

marsbit21m ago

Can Iran 'Control' the Strait of Hormuz?

marsbit21m ago

Vertically Integrated Capital Aggregators: How Does Web3 Build an Impregnable Moat?

"Vertical Integration Capital Aggregators: How Web3 Builds Unbreachable Moats" explores how leading Web3 protocols create competitive advantages by vertically integrating multiple ecosystem components. Unlike Web2 aggregators that focus on user demand or supplier commoditization, successful Web3 entities like Hyperliquid aggregate capital, liquidity, users, and distribution into a unified financial ecosystem. This integration allows for efficient capital deployment—Hyperliquid generates $0.30 in fees per $1 of TVL annually, compared to Aave's $0.05—while creating a defensible moat that is difficult to replicate across six simultaneous fronts. However, this model comes with risks: DeFi loses $0.50 to hacks for every $1 earned, pushing protocols toward partial centralization and closed systems for security and scalability. The token serves as a shared incentive layer, aligning stakeholders and driving value through mechanisms like buybacks. The article concludes that vertical integration, not capital itself, is the true moat, and that the industry is evolving toward pragmatic, partially centralized models to ensure economic growth and sustainability.

marsbit36m ago

Vertically Integrated Capital Aggregators: How Does Web3 Build an Impregnable Moat?

marsbit36m ago

Falsely Accused by AI and Jailed for 160 Days: American Woman Steps into the Execution Zone

Summary: Angela Lipps, a woman from Tennessee, was wrongfully imprisoned for 160 days after a facial recognition AI incorrectly identified her as a suspect in a bank fraud case in North Dakota. Despite her insistence that she had never been to the state, she was arrested in July 2025 and held without bail. She spent 108 days in a local jail before being transferred to North Dakota in October, where she was eventually cleared after her lawyer provided bank records proving she was buying pizza in Tennessee at the time of the crime. Her ordeal highlights a growing issue with AI-driven law enforcement errors. Similar cases include Robert Williams, detained for 30 hours in 2020, and Chris Gatlin, jailed for 17 months based on flawed AI matches. Systems like Clearview AI, used by over 3,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies, often rely on low-quality images and can produce inaccurate results. Human oversight failures exacerbate the problem, as officers sometimes skip verification steps, leading to wrongful arrests. While AI has improved policing efficiency, its errors have serious consequences, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and human accountability in its use.

marsbit1h ago

Falsely Accused by AI and Jailed for 160 Days: American Woman Steps into the Execution Zone

marsbit1h ago

Bitcoin Derivatives Buying Pressure Continues To Rise — Is $80K Inevitable?

Bitcoin's price has been experiencing significant bullish momentum, with recent gains primarily driven by strong demand in the perpetual futures market rather than spot trading. On-chain analysis reveals sustained buying pressure in Bitcoin derivatives, as indicated by the Net Taker Volume metric, which has remained positive at around $145 million since March 7. This metric, which measures the difference between long and short orders, suggests continued dominance of buyers and reflects bullish sentiment among traders. Historically, such a shift from selling to buying pressure has consistently led to upward price movements. Analysts expecting the trend to continue, potentially pushing Bitcoin toward the $80,000 mark, though that level remains a key resistance zone. Currently, BTC is around $77,508 with little change over the past day.

bitcoinist1h ago

Bitcoin Derivatives Buying Pressure Continues To Rise — Is $80K Inevitable?

bitcoinist1h ago

Bitcoin Reclaims Key MVRV Support At $73.7K — What Comes Next?

Bitcoin has reclaimed the critical MVRV support level at $73,700, a key indicator for market valuation. Holding above this level suggests potential upward momentum toward the mean MVRV target of $96,000. However, a breakdown below $73,700 could lead to a decline toward the Realized Price support near $55,000. The MVRV bands outline further resistance at $118,000 and extreme overvaluation at $140,000, while deeper support lies around $51,500. Currently trading near $78,000, Bitcoin remains 38% below its all-time high of $126,198 from October 2025.

bitcoinist7h ago

Bitcoin Reclaims Key MVRV Support At $73.7K — What Comes Next?

bitcoinist7h ago

Trading

Spot

Futures