JPMorgan "was forthright with the foreclosure problem, and it rode out the housing market problem successfully," one survey respondent wrote, as dutifully recounted in the IR Magazine program book.

Another category that might have taken a little internal "spin" for competitors was Most Progress in IR, won by Apple over fellow finalists Google, Oracle, GE, Applied Materials and Atmel Corp. "Despite its size and large resources, Apple hasn't always been praised by the investment community for its investor communications," of the awards proclaimed -- adding that Apple won "despite these concerns." The story added, "Indeed, only last month the technology giant had to requesting more information on succession planning."

After such faint praise, there was perhaps another reason for hitting the champagne.

To all the contestants, then -- and especially those who had to use a little PR to explain their IR successes -- Congratulations!