Svenska aktiemarknadens reaktion på VD-byten : En kvantitativ eventstudie om abnormal avkastning på Stockholmsbörsen 2001-2021

Sammanfattning: Aim: We find that there is a gap in the current research where the research available tends to focus on a narrower time frame and with performance based variables. This study aims to examine how the stock market has reacted to the announcement of a CEO-change between the years 2001-2021 on the Swedish stock market. Method: The study is carried out with a positivistic and a deductive approach, which are frequently used in quantitative studies. The study also uses an event study as its research design, where 786 CEO-changes and 358 companies are subject of the study Results and conclusion: The results show that as a whole, there is no significant abnormal return when CEO-changes are announced on the Swedish stock market. When external CEO:s are appointed, there is a statistically significantly negative abnormal return. When internal CEO:s are appointed, there is a statistically significantly positive abnormal return. Contributions of the thesis: The descriptive results could possibly give a better understanding of CEO-changes between the years 2001-2021 depending on recruitment-type and the nature of the departure. The results of the event study gives rise to an understanding of the behaviors of the stock market and the reaction to a CEO-change. Suggestions for future research: To conduct an equivalent study but focusing on company- specific factors to see if there is significant abnormal returns based on the companies performances. One could also study whether it makes a difference if the CEO has been in his position for a long time or if the performance of the CEO makes a difference.