Quarterly Trend Report: What CEOs talked about in Q1/2024

The Quarterly Trend Report: What CEOs Talked about in Q1 2024 is part of IoT Analytics’ ongoing coverage of the IoT and related technology markets. The information presented in this report is based on a database of 85,000+ earnings calls of US-listed companies from Q1 2019 through Q1 2024. Every quarter, IoT Analytics analyzes trends that emerge in the earnings calls and presents findings for the most recent quarter. The purpose is to inform other market participants about the current focus of CEOs and companies. To ensure objectivity, IoT Analytics did not alter or supplement any results and did not exclude any earnings call deliberately.​​

Key rising themes in Q1

1. AI
2. Sustainability
3. Elections

Declining themes in Q1

1. ChatGPT
2. Recession and most other
3. War

5 key questions that CEOs should ask themselves based on the insights in this article:

1. Sustainability: Given the increasing focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and emissions in earnings calls, how are we tracking against our own emissions and energy savings goals, and what new sustainability initiatives should we implement or enhance?
2. Elections: How might the upcoming elections in the US, India, Indonesia, and the UK—and related global political shifts—impact our business, and what strategies should we develop to mitigate potential risks?
3. Recession and economy: How should we adjust our financial planning and strategies in response to ongoing muted business confidence, muted global GDP growth for 2024 and 2025, and declining concerns about recession and the current economic landscape by peers?
4. AI: As companies ramp up AI efforts (specifically generative AI), does our company have the necessary infrastructure, talent, and data to test and implement AI solutions effectively? Do we know where AI technologies add the most value to your company and might help us differentiate from our competition?
5. Labor market: Given rising inflation and ongoing skill gaps, how can we ensure our salary structure is competitive enough to attract top talent while also being sustainable for our business?

5 key questions that those serving CEOs should ask themselves based on the insights in this article:

1. Strategic alignment: How can I ensure that our company’s strategy aligns with the current trends in AI, sustainability, and political climates, especially considering their growing importance in corporate discussions?
2. Competitive analysis: What are our competitors doing regarding AI and sustainability initiatives, and how can we differentiate ourselves or learn from their approaches?
3. Risk management: What potential risks (e.g., market changes, regulatory developments, geopolitical issues) should I monitor that could impact our business strategy and operations?
4. Training and development: What training or development programs should we consider to enhance our team’s understanding and capabilities in AI and sustainability?
5. Long-term vision: How does the current focus on AI, sustainability, and the political landscape influence our long-term business vision and strategy?

• How is the overall economic environment affecting companies’ earnings in Q1 2024?
• What are some of the upcoming trends that CEOs talked about?
• What keywords were most dominant in the earnings calls in the last quarter?
• Which themes have lost importance in the last few years?
• What are upcoming trends in different sectors?
• How did the sentiment change in earnings calls in Q1 2024?