Corporates report decrease in broker reliance for targeting

IROs are becoming less reliant on brokers for investor targeting, according to a new report from IR Magazine.

The Investor Targeting report shows that globally, more than a fifth (21 percent) of companies say they have reduced their reliance on brokers for targeting over the past year. This is a net 12-percentage point drop however, as 9 percent say they have increased their use of brokers for investor targeting over the past year. 

Europe – where Mifid II came into force in January 2018 – is the region where the highest number of firms report a reduction in the use of brokers for investor targeting, at 24 percent. But with 13 percent of European companies saying they have increased their use of brokers for this task, it is North America that reports the highest net drop.

There is a 16-percentage point difference between those North American firms that have seen a decrease in broker use (21 percent) and those who have seen an increase (5 percent).

The gap is closest among Asian companies, where just 2 percentage points separate the number of firms reporting a decrease in broker use for targeting over the past year (15 percent) and those reporting an increase (13 percent). 

Among the different cap sizes studied, small-cap companies report the lowest net decrease in broker reliance for investor targeting at 12 percentage points as 21 percent of small-cap companies report a drop in broker use for this task, while 13 percent report greater reliance. Large caps have not only the highest net drop with a 19-percentage point difference, but is also the group reporting the highest levels of broker reduction for targeting at 27 percent.

No mega-cap companies say they have increased their reliance on brokers for investor targeting. 

The report also looks at how investor use of brokers for corporate access has changed over the past year – with largely the same overall, global findings. 

‘While broker use is still high, their role as matchmaker between company and investor appears to be declining,’ writes Lloyd Bevan, report author and IR Magazine head of research.

Click here for more information or to download your copy of the IR Magazine Investor Targeting research report

Upcoming events

  • Forum & Awards – South East Asia
    Tuesday, December 2, 2025

    Forum & Awards – South East Asia

    Building trust and driving impact: Redefining investor relations in South East Asia Investor Relations in South East Asia is at a turning point. Regulatory fragmentation, macroeconomic volatility and the growing importance of retail investors require IROs to strategically analyze and reform traditional practices. The ability to deliver transparent, dependable and…

    Singapore
  • Briefing – The value of IR in an increasingly passive investment landscape
    Wednesday, December 3, 2025

    Briefing – The value of IR in an increasingly passive investment landscape

    In partnership with WHEN 8.00 am PT / 11.00 am ET / 4.00 pm GMT / 5.00 pm CET DURATION 45 minutes About the event Explore how IR teams can adapt to the rise of passive investing while effectively measuring and communicating their impact. As index funds and ETFs reshape…

    Online
  • Forum & Awards – Greater China
    Thursday, December 4, 2025

    Forum & Awards – Greater China

    Adapting to change in Greater China: IR strategies for a sustainable, digital and global era The investor relations landscape in Greater China is being reshaped by rapid technological advances, growing ESG expectations, tighter budgets and increasing geopolitical pressures. Digital tools such as automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming how…

    Hong Kong SAR

Explore

Andy White, Freelance WordPress Developer London