March 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing a proposal to eliminate the quarterly earnings report requirement and give companies the option to share results twice a year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The proposal could be published as soon as next month, the report said, adding that regulators are in conversations with major exchanges to discuss how rules may need to be adjusted.

The WSJ report said the rule is expected to make quarterly reporting optional and not eliminate them altogether.

The SEC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

Late last year, U.S. President Donald Trump renewed calls for ending quarterly reporting for companies, with SEC chair Paul Atkins saying the regulator was fast-tracking the push.