Individual investors are relying more on their own research when making financial decisions, allowing I/R professionals the opportunity to speak directly to them instead of
through media channels.
January investor requests for annual reports increased more than 100% over the same period last year and nearly 200% over January 1998, reports the World Investor Link Inc., a
distributor of financial data to individual investors.
Peter Wakeham, CEO for the firm, says his company sent more than 505,000 investors annual reports this past January.
The Internet and the increasing popularity of investing online is what's spurring individuals to make their own financial decisions, says Wakeham.
Individual investors have also become targets for mid-sized companies that find it difficult attracting institutional cash. Before, this niche was neglected because of the
time, cost and effort required tapping into it, reasons the Internet alleviated. (Richard Dukas, 212/896-1270)