Abstract
This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, to use value- and equal-weighted portfolios of U.S. retail firms to examine the stock market reaction to strategic and nonliquidating store closure announcements. Using event study methodology for a sample of 174 hand-collected store closure announcements during the period 1980–2017, we find a negative and significant stock price reaction on the announcement date. Given the highly competitive nature of the retail industry, we further investigate the market reaction for the closest competitors using a matched sample of 157 competing firms. We report a positive, albeit less significant stock price reaction for competing retail firms on the announcement date. Finally, a cross-sectional analysis shows that the stock price reaction to store closure announcements is positively associated with firm size.
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