Q4 Blog

The Votes Are In: Analysts Choose Digital Conferencing

Written by The Q4 Insights Team | October 09, 2026

For decades, the standard earnings call experience has looked largely the same. Long hold times and operator queues, sometimes stretching to 15 minutes. For analysts, that meant unnecessary friction just to access the call. For IR teams, it meant more moving parts and more room for error on earnings day.

Today, they are increasingly accessing earnings information through digital channels, they expect the earnings call to work the same way. When given the option, 79% of analysts pre-register through the web, signaling a clear preference for a more digital-first experience.

Across earnings events hosted on the Q4 PlatformTM, we’re seeing the shift firsthand with customers. Web share of earnings call connections climbed in 2026 from 23% in Q1 to 34% in Q2 and 40% in Q3.

So why should the earnings call itself still depend on technology designed around the telephone when you're met with:

  • Inconsistent audio quality
  • High operator error rates
  • Analyst access delays
  • Fragmented tools and workflows
  • Limited control and visibility for IR teams

Digital Conferencing brings the earnings call into the modern investor experience, giving analysts a faster, simpler way to connect while giving IR teams greater control over the IR event.

Follow the clicks: Analysts are choosing the web

The shift becomes even clearer when you look at how analysts connect when Digital Conferencing is available.

Our earnings event data shows a clear move toward web-based access. Across Q1 to Q3 2026, Digital Conferencing events saw 46% of connections come through the web, compared with 18% for third-party calls. That's more than double the web share.

The behavior is already changing. When analysts are given a web-based path into the earnings call, they increasingly use it. The opportunity for IR teams is to make that preferred experience easier to access, while removing some of the operational friction that comes with a phone-first model.

Digital Conferencing: A better earnings call experience on both sides

Digital Conferencing is designed around two problems with the traditional earnings call: a cumbersome dial-in experience for analysts and multiple dependencies for IR teams. Moving the call to the web creates a more streamlined experience for both sides.

  • Superior audio and reliability. High-quality web audio, fewer drops, less reliance on phone lines.
  • A unified platform. Earnings calls run fully inside Q4 Platform, one connected experience without the extra vendors or fragmented tools.
  • Automated caller intake. Instant entry with no 15-minute hold queues or dial-in delays. Web-based registration with phone available as backup.
  • Q4-trained moderators. Your call is moderated by Q4’s internal IR-trained team with no outsourced moderators or third-party handoffs and up to 4x fewer errors.

For Q4 customers, this is included at no extra cost. All benefits included, no workflow changes required.

The IR impact: More control, less complexity

When the technology behind the call is simpler, so is the work of running it. Digital Conferencing gives IR teams greater visibility and control while reducing the operational burden around one of the most important events on the IR calendar.

  • Fewer errors and escalations. Reduce the operational issues that create unnecessary stress on earnings day.
  • A better analyst experience. Make it easier for analysts to access the call and participate.
  • Greater control over execution. Give IR teams clearer visibility into the event and more control over how it runs.
  • A simpler earnings workflow. Reduce the tools, vendors and handoffs your team has to manage across the earnings cycle.

What customers are saying:

For Moog Inc., the benefits came through on earnings day. Here’s what the team had to say.

"Q4's new digital conferencing platform and the support behind it were instrumental in ensuring a smooth and successful earnings event. During the live call, the platform was incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate, especially since it was our first time using it. Monitoring the queue, managing the Q&A, and engaging with the moderators and call operator all felt seamless.

From a user perspective, the interface is straightforward and well-designed, ensuring a stress-free experience from start to finish. The onboarding session was thorough, and the Q4 team was proactive and responsive, addressing all our questions clearly and thoughtfully. We appreciate the partnership and look forward to continuing to work together!"

— Steve Philistin, Investor Relations, Moog Inc.

 

Ready to make the switch?

Ready to give your analysts the option they already prefer? Ask about Digital Conferencing.