How to Transcribe an Earnings Call
Transcribing earnings calls creates a permanent, searchable record of important financial information. This article explains why transcription is valuable, how to prepare for it, and various methods to create accurate transcripts—both manually and using AI tools. It also covers common challenges, best practices, and where to find existing transcripts if you don't want to create them yourself.
Why transcribe earnings calls?
Earnings call transcripts are useful because they:
Create a permanent record you can search and reference
Let you analyze what executives say and how they say it
Help team members who missed the call catch up
Provide documentation for compliance requirements
Make it easier to write reports or research based on the call
Preparation before the call
Good transcription starts with homework:
Get to know the company. Learn its business model, recent results, who the key people are, and industry terms they might use.
Make sure you have what you need to record the call or access to the official recording.
Create a simple list of who will likely speak, with their names and titles. This helps you identify voices later.
Set up a document template with space for basic information like the date, company name, and who participated.
Manual transcription process
If you're doing it yourself:
Record the call (with permission)
Take notes during the call about key moments and who's speaking
Transcribe in small chunks, using headphones for better clarity
Mark each speaker clearly:
Include important non-verbal cues in brackets:
Review everything carefully, especially numbers and technical terms
Using AI-powered transcription tools
Tools like Circleback make transcription much easier:
Pick a tool that handles business terminology well
Upload your recording or connect directly to your conference platform
Choose the right language settings
Review what the AI produces and fix any errors
Circleback helps by:
Finding action items automatically
Pulling out key insights
Handling technical terms accurately
Making it easy to search for specific points
Key challenges in earnings call transcription
Watch out for these common problems:
Financial jargon and technical terms
Multiple speakers who might sound similar
Numbers and financial figures that must be exactly right
People talking over each other, especially during Q&A
Poor audio quality that makes words hard to understand
Best practices for earnings call transcription
For the best results:
Use the same format throughout your transcript. Be consistent with how you identify speakers and organize information.
Include all the basic details at the start:
Company name and stock ticker
When the call happened
Who participated from the company
Who moderated the call
Follow the natural structure of the call:
Operator introduction
Legal disclaimers
Management presentation
Questions and answers
Closing remarks
Double-check all numbers. A single wrong digit can change the meaning significantly.
If you can't understand something, mark it as [inaudible] rather than guessing.
Finding and using existing transcripts
If you don't want to create transcripts yourself:
Check the company's investor relations website
Use financial platforms like Seeking Alpha or Quartr
Subscribe to services like Bloomberg or FactSet
Look for free resources on forums like Reddit
Final steps after transcription
Once you have your transcript:
Read it through carefully. Check especially for accuracy of numbers and executive statements.
Make sure the formatting looks clean and consistent.
Add any necessary legal disclaimers about forward-looking statements.
Use tags or keywords to make the transcript easy to find later.
Store it somewhere secure where people who need it can access it easily.
