A company’s financial communication encompasses all communication efforts, whether legally mandated, voluntary, or strategic, aimed at informing the public about its economic and financial performance. This area primarily concerns publicly traded entities such as companies, groups, and holding companies. Integrated into the company’s overall communication strategy, financial communication is disseminated through various channels, including legal notices in the BALO (Bulletin d’annonces légales obligatoires – Official Gazette of Mandatory Legal Notices), financial statements, newsletters, online services, letters to shareholders, annual reports, and more.

This aspect of communication aims to tailor its message to its target audience: financial analysts, institutional investors, influencers, employees, small shareholders, etc. Sometimes referred to as “eco-fi communication,” this practice, according to Laurent Arnone and his colleagues, aims to anticipate the questions of potential investors, answer them clearly and comprehensively, while fostering interaction with these essential partners of the company. The advent of the internet has revolutionized investor relations, giving the financial community and investors the ability to evaluate companies based on readily available information.

More than just a product promotion tool, the internet has become a preferred means of cultivating relationships with current and future investors. This has led to the creation of websites designed to foster these relationships, in addition to providing data on company performance. For example, Sanofi employs a communication approach that goes beyond simply presenting its results in a conventional manner, encouraging the public to visit its website for more information and stay informed about upcoming publications.