Reputation is often treated like something that “happens” to a company — a score that rises or falls depending on the latest news cycle. But in 2026 and beyond, that mindset is no longer sufficient.
Caliber’s inaugural Stakeholder Intelligence Report, out now, was built for one core reason: to help leaders make smarter decisions about brand, reputation, and strategy in a world where stakeholder expectations shift faster than most companies can track.
This report has two goals. First, it aims to arm executives with actionable insights grounded in data rather than instinct, so they can navigate 2026 with more clarity and confidence. Second, it showcases the potential of stakeholder intelligence and the power of Caliber’s platform, which is built on millions of data points gathered continuously since 2016.
This isn’t another “top trends” PDF. It’s an evidence-backed look at how stakeholders actually think, and how those perceptions translate into trust, resilience, and business outcomes.
Most reputation analysis begins and ends with a ranking. Caliber’s inaugural Stakeholder Intelligence Report goes further by looking under the hood.
Reputation isn’t built in a vacuum. Stakeholders don’t judge companies in isolation — they judge them against the backdrop of economic anxiety, social instability, technological disruption, and personal financial pressure.
That’s why Caliber continuously asks stakeholders across markets what main topics will impact society in the next twelve months, and how concerned they are about their future financial situation. Understanding this context is essential because it shapes how every corporate action is interpreted.
Many companies spend millions increasing awareness, but awareness alone doesn’t necessarily create trust. This report explores one of the most overlooked questions in brand and reputation strategy: do companies that increase familiarity see correlated improvements in Trust & Like Scores? And does narrowing the gap between awareness and familiarity improve standing? The implications for marketing and communications are huge, and in the report, we quantify them.
Not all reputation problems are equal. This report benchmarks the reputation of major industries in 2025 and tracks how they’ve shifted and, crucially, why. We analyze which stakeholder segments are losing trust in which sectors, which aspects of brand and reputation drive standing by industry, and what levers matter most depending on where you operate. This allows leaders to stop guessing and start prioritizing.
After a year of layoffs, talent expectations have shifted. The report explores employer attractiveness across sectors, including among job seekers, STEM graduates, and high-value talent segments. We don’t just rank who’s winning — we identify what’s driving appeal and what HR, talent, and comms leaders should prioritize in 2026.
The central theme of the report is simple: reputation isn’t something you manage defensively. It’s something you build strategically. And the strongest companies in 2026 will be those who understand stakeholders deeply enough to lead with clarity, not just react.
Caliber’s inaugural Stakeholder Intelligence Report is out now, packed with data and actionable insights to enable smarter decision-making in 2026 and beyond.
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