Earnings release takes infographic turn at GE

Diversified industrials giant GE has given its quarterly earnings release a sleek new look.

The first three pages of the mega-cap firm’s fourth quarter 2014 earnings results feature a new infographic style, followed by a deeper dive into the numbers.

‘Investors want transparency and simplicity,’ says Seth Martin, financial and corporate communications director of GE. ‘Our new earnings release contains the same details we have provided in the past, but in a simpler layout. The goal is to focus on the numbers that matter to our shareowners.’

As well as a statement from Jeff Immelt, GE’s chairman and CEO, the release includes a product focus and a section on deals, and highlights the $11 bn in cash returned to shareholders through buybacks and dividends during 2014.

Deb Wasser, executive vice president of financial communications and special situations at Edelman (and Veeco Instruments’ former award-winning IRO), says this style of corporate reporting is becoming increasingly popular with companies. ‘Infographics, videos and other visual aids… improve financial narrative, better communicate key milestones and tell a more compelling investor story,’ she says.