Most publicly traded companies are mandated by their stock exchange to have an investor relations (IR) representative. IR reps help attract prospective investors, and an increased number of investors generally translates into higher stock prices and a broader shareholder base.
One of the responsibilities of IR reps is to answer any questions that shareholders have about the company. The IR can be a very valuable resource when doing your due diligence, although very few investors ever take the time to contact them.
Like paid analysts, investor relations representatives are beholden to whichever company they represent. However, you will find that they tend to be less about sales pitch and more about facts. IR representatives are also used to speaking with management personnel and media, so they need to convey accurate, detailed information.
