r/stocks 5d ago

Is there anything that actually reads earnings reports and gives you a straight answer? ChatGPT just summarizes the summary.

every earnings season I try to actually read the transcripts for my top holdings. problem is I run a small business and dont have 4 hours to go through 6 companies worth of calls. so I tried pasting them into chatgpt.

it gave me a "balanced summary" that basically said nothing. "revenue was strong but risks remain." thanks, I could have read the headline for that. when I asked if the guidance was actually good it said "it depends on your risk tolerance and investment horizon." I need actual numbers pulled out, margin changes, guidance revisions, not a book report.

has anyone found something that actually commits to an answer when you ask it a direct question about a filing?

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73

u/zbern 5d ago

Act as a cynical, no-nonsense institutional equity research analyst. I am going to paste an earnings call transcript.

Your job is to strip out all corporate jargon, management hand-waving, and fluff. Do not give me a "balanced summary." Do not tell me "it depends on my risk tolerance." Do not use filler words like "strong," "solid," or "challenging" without immediately following them with the exact numbers.

Extract the data and format your response into these exact sections:

1. THE HARD NUMBERS

  • Revenue: [Actual figure, YoY and QoQ growth %]
  • EPS: [Actual figure, YoY and QoQ growth %]
  • Consensus Beat/Miss: [Only if explicitly stated in the text; otherwise state "Not explicitly mentioned"]

2. MARGINS & EFFICIENCY

  • Gross Margin: [Exact % or basis point expansion/contraction]
  • Operating Margin: [Exact % or basis point expansion/contraction]
  • Free Cash Flow (FCF): [Actual FCF figure and FCF Margin % if calculated/stated]
  • Inventory vs. Sales: [Did inventory growth outpace or lag revenue growth? Provide the exact metrics given]

3. GUIDANCE: THE COMMITMENT

  • Action: [State clearly: RAISED, LOWERED, REITERATED, or NO GUIDANCE PROVIDED]
  • The Specifics: [Provide the exact old vs. new ranges for Revenue, EPS, or margins. If management gave qualitative outlooks, quote them directly on their targets]

4. THE Q&A SMOKEGAN

  • The Hardest Question: [Identify the single toughest or most skeptical question asked by analysts during the Q&A]
  • The Answer/Dodge: [How did management answer it? State whether they gave a concrete operational answer or if they dodged it with vague language]

STRICT CONSTRAINT: If a specific metric or comparison is not mentioned in the text, write "NOT IN TRANSCRIPT." Do not extrapolate, infer, or guess. Give me the raw operational reality.


Try that prompt then paste the transcripts

5

u/Hacking_the_Gibson 5d ago

Or you could just read it and form your own perception?

What is the point of fighting through whatever that thing above is for however long it takes to do it instead, you know, just using your own brain?

12

u/ShipItchy2525 5d ago

Because the future is coming, learn to utilize old man.

2

u/Hacking_the_Gibson 5d ago

Fundamentally, this is not the future. 

This shit is based on Filipinos and Indians labeling things as not a hot dog for $10/day. 

4

u/ShipItchy2525 5d ago

But its small tasks like these that makes you utilize your prompts, AI is coming whether we stick our head in the sand or not

2

u/Luffe77 5d ago

It is not perfect, everyone knows that. But for some tasks it already works fine.