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In an environment of shifting expectations and uncertainty, the corporate website plays a vital role as a credible, official source of information. Understanding what capital market professionals expect from these platforms is key to helping companies meet rising demands.
That's why each year, Webranking by Comprend conducts our Capital Market survey to better understand what investors, analysts, and sustainability professionals expect from listed companies' corporate websites. In 2025, the survey collected insights from over 160 participants across Europe, with strong representation from fund managers and sustainability experts. Their feedback helps ensure that the Webranking criteria reflect the priorities of the capital market.
This year's survey shows that stakeholders rely on corporate websites for data collection, strategic decision-making, and competitor analysis. While overall satisfaction is high, nearly 30% of respondents report shortcomings in navigation, search functionality, and user experience. Transparency, particularly around sustainability efforts also remains a critical area for improvement as stakeholders seek clear, accessible, and up-to-date information in a volatile market environment.
Key takeaways
- Corporate websites are critical tools for decision-making: Over a third of stakeholders use them for data collection and strategic support.
- While satisfaction is relatively high: Nearly 30% of stakeholders find that websites only moderately or poorly meet their expectations, highlighting a need to improve navigation, search functionality and overall user experience.
- Outdated or incomplete content risks weakening company credibility: Corporate websites are widely used for competitor comparisons and strategic evaluation, making it even more important to maintain accurate and complete content. Outdated or incomplete information can risk weakening company credibility.
How corporate websites support decision-making
This year's results show that respondents rely on corporate websites to evaluate companies; not just for information but also for decision-making. Corporate websites are more than places to store information; they serve as tools for analysis, decision-making, and strategic benchmarking.
35% of respondents mentioned data collection and decision support as the most common use case, a clear indication that capital market stakeholders rely on digital content when forming views on company performance and strategy. The second most mentioned use case was financial information and reports, cited by 34%.
When asked about their usage, respondents said:
"I research corporate governance structures to evaluate the decision-making processes."
"I use corporate websites to gather and analyse information about companies, including their products, services, values, and industry positioning."
"I mainly use company websites to obtain information, check its accuracy, and understand companies' business models, services, and goods."
"I use corporate websites to collect detailed information about companies, such as their products, services, and corporate values. I explore sections like press releases, news updates, and investor relations to stay informed on the latest developments."
When asked which specific types of information matter most, respondents placed high value on financial results per business area, which received an average importance score of 4.18 out of 5. This was closely followed by overall business goals and targets (4.13).
Market and competitor analysis was another significant use for corporate websites, reported by 32%. This suggests that stakeholders see corporate websites both as a way to learn about one company and as a tool for comparing it with others. This makes it important for companies to keep their content updated and complete, as missing or outdated information can weaken a company's credibility and perception.
More general interest areas were also mentioned, such as finding information about a company's profile and values (23%) or press releases and news updates (22%). The interest in values often reflected a need to understand a company's culture, mission, and long-term direction. 8% mentioned contact details, implying that some visitors use corporate websites for purposes like lead generation, media outreach, or general enquiries.
Stakeholder satisfaction and areas for improvement
Nearly 30% of respondents say corporate websites only meet their expectations to a moderate or low extent, signalling a clear opportunity for improvement. While the overall perception is relatively positive, with 27% stating their expectations are met to a very high extent and 44% to a high extent, the fact that almost a third of stakeholders remain underwhelmed highlights a gap in digital communication performance that should not be overlooked.
UX/UI, navigation and search
When asked about areas of improvement for corporate websites, respondents frequently pointed to recurring issues in areas such as UX/UI, navigation and search, which were mentioned by 39% of participants. In particular, many pointed to challenges in finding content efficiently, navigating pages, or using search features that are too limited or inconsistent.
Stakeholder feedback included:
"It's common to forget the importance of a functional search bar. Making sure it's easy to locate and provides relevant results to quickly helps users avoid frustration and save time."
"Streamlining the layout and making it easier to quickly find the most important information would improve the overall user experience."
"Corporate websites should strive to make the user journey as seamless, engaging, and informative as possible. Focusing on usability, speed, and clear communication would greatly improve their effectiveness."
Website performance and transparency
Beyond navigation, other commonly cited challenges were website performance and transparency in communication (both 25%). Respondents highlighted the importance of efficient and responsive corporate websites; a smooth, responsive experience was seen as important to reduce user frustration and support continued engagement. Mobile responsiveness was also a frequently cited issue.
"Websites should focus on providing a seamless and intuitive experience with faster load times and easy navigation, particularly for mobile users."
"Slow-loading websites increase bounce rates because they annoy users and damage a company's reputation."
"While most corporate websites are responsive, some could benefit from better mobile design, ensuring smooth navigation on all devices."
Other commonly addressed issues relate to a perceived lack of transparency, which often leaves stakeholders frustrated, especially related to communication about sustainability efforts. As global markets continue to experience uncertainty, from economic instability and political tensions to rapid shifts in environmental policy, stakeholders are increasingly seeking reassurance through transparent communication. Companies are expected to show not just strong financials but a clear, credible commitment to sustainability and governance.
"An area of improvement could be the greater transparency and accessibility of sustainability efforts. Including detailed and easily accessible sustainability reports, progress on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, and data-backed commitments would help investors assess a company’s long-term viability and ethical standing."
"Some corporate websites could do a better job of being transparent about company practices, sustainability efforts, and ethics, which is increasingly important for consumers today."
"Corporate websites can often feel too formal or promotional. Offering clear, transparent communication about products, services, and company values can foster trust and a more personal connection with users."
Respondents also raised concerns around accessibility and the amount of available information, each flagged by 17% of participants. This suggests that even when content is present, it is not always easy to access or comprehensive enough.
Some respondents elaborated:
"Many websites require logins to access important information. This 'log-in wall' should be removed to make information available for investors."
"There should be more transparency in company information, regularly updated content, and better customer support."
Adapting to new stakeholder demands with Webranking
The Capital Market survey highlights a clear message: stakeholders expect seamless, transparent, and purposeful digital experiences.
Each year, Webranking evaluates how well companies communicate across key areas, including financial reporting, investor relations, ESG, governance, and careers. The ranking is based on 100 criteria and more than 400 measurement points, offering companies clear and actionable feedback.
The Webranking report gives you more than just a score; it is a practical guide that helps companies focus communication efforts, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and stay relevant in a changing market.
Humla TördHead of Webranking
[email protected]+46 70 971 12 75
Freja NilssonProject manager, Webranking
[email protected]+46 76 109 05 92