Not too long ago it looked like earnings guidance from big companies was on its way to extinction--a victim of Reg FD as much as anything. The thinking back then was that it was helpful to investors, but opened the company up to some possible liability, not to mention aggressive questioning by analysts. But a recent survey by the National Investor Relations Institute, reported in cfo.com, has found that guidance is back in vogue; about two-thirds of respondents offer earnings guidance, up from 51 percent a year ago. For some companies, this may reflect the market turmoil that we've seen recently. Especially for financial firms, earnings estimates are tricky endeavors. The sense may be that guidance done right may be the best way to control what could be a troubling earnings message.  

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