March 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange

Commission is preparing a proposal to scrap the requirement for

companies to report their earnings every quarter and giving them

the option to share results twice a year, the Wall Street

Journal reported on Monday.

The proposal could be published as soon as next month, the

report said, citing people familiar with the matter, adding that

regulators are in talks with major exchanges to discuss how

their rules may need to be adjusted.

The SEC will vote on the proposal once it is published,

after a public comment period which typically lasts at least 30

days, the report said.

The WSJ report added that the rule is expected to make

quarterly reporting optional and not eliminate it altogether.

The SEC declined to 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 backing the push and saying the agency could release

a proposal by the end of 2025 or in early 2026.

The proposed change in the reporting standard would allow

listed companies to publish results every six months instead of

the current mandate to report figures every 90 days.

Trump, who first floated the idea in his first term as

president, has argued the change in requirements would

discourage shortsightedness from public companies while cutting

costs. Skeptics, however, caution delaying disclosures could

reduce transparency and heighten market volatility.