• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Finance

CEO Exodus: Here’s What Happens to a Company’s Stock Price When There’s Turnover at the Top

Anne Sraders
By
Anne Sraders
Anne Sraders
Down Arrow Button Icon
Anne Sraders
By
Anne Sraders
Anne Sraders
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 23, 2019, 8:52 PM ET

The CEO exodus continues.

On Tuesday, two prominent retail companies—Nike and Under Armour—announced their CEOs were stepping down. Nike’s long time CEO Mark Parker will be handing over the reigns in 2020 (but stay on as executive chairman), while Under Armour’s founder and CEO Kevin Plank will resign but remain the struggling clothing company’s executive chairman and brand chief.

While neither departure was inundated with controversy, investors seemed a bit skittish on the news—with Nike’s and Under Armour’s stocks closing down some 3.4% and 2.6% respectively on Wednesday.

Still, a bit of post-executive-departure jitters isn’t anything new in the markets. In fact, according to data compiled by YCharts, an investment research platform, companies whose CEOs departed saw their stocks’ returns drop an average of 4.19% in the 30 days following compared to the S&P 500. However, in most cases, the companies’ stocks recovered over the long term, up an average 11.53% after 1 year compared to the S&P 500.

In light of CEO departure announcements from $UAA & $NKE, we analyzed how companies with recent leadership changes performed relative to the broader market (#SP500), on average:

After 30 days: -4.19%
After 180 days: 4.58%
After 1 year: 11.53% pic.twitter.com/MLOytFCQz8

— YCharts (@ycharts) October 23, 2019

One factor you might think would impact how stocks react to an executive departure is, of course, the nature of the departure—namely, if it was unexpected or on good terms. However, according to YChart’s analysis, historically, companies whose CEOs departed unexpectedly didn’t necessarily perform worse than those whose executives left on good terms. In fact, out of the five companies with unexpected CEO departures that were analyzed (Intel, Papa Johns, Texas Instruments, CBS and Tyson Foods all in 2018, according to data), only two had negative returns in the following 30 days.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—Maven, the company that slashed Sports Illustrated, has had its own share of financial woes
—Trump’s hosting G7 at Doral Resort raises questions about struggling property, Deutsche Bank loans
—What Warren Buffett’s move to increase his Bank of America stake says about the health of the economy
—How would you spend a universal basic income? We asked participants around the world—and their answers might surprise you
—Why JPMorgan Chase wants to give more former criminals a second chance
Don’t miss the daily Term Sheet, Fortune’s newsletter on deals and dealmakers.

About the Author
Anne Sraders
By Anne Sraders
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Strategy co-founder and executive chairman Michael Saylor speaks during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas
CryptoBitcoin
Bitcoin drives back toward $80k—but one billionaire may be fueling much of the rally
By Jack KubinecApril 27, 2026
42 minutes ago
students walk on a brick-paved path surrounded by trees with fall-colored leaves
Future of WorkColleges and Universities
Meet a 20-year-old student who changed her major to marketing to ‘AI-proof’ her career
By Jocelyn Gecker, Linley Sanders and The Associated PressApril 27, 2026
2 hours ago
A pile of shredded plastic in Vietnam
Healthfertility
Toxic chemicals are raising infertility in humans, fish, birds, and insects: ‘A whisper that is powerful enough to redirect a hurricane’
By Tristan BoveApril 27, 2026
2 hours ago
A frontier plane with the New York-New York Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip in the background
EnergyAirline industry
As Spirit Airlines looks for a lifeline, Frontier and Avelo are asking the Trump administration for $2.5 billion to cover jet fuel costs
By Jacqueline MunisApril 27, 2026
2 hours ago
Marc benioff
AIHiring
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says AI won’t kill entry-level jobs. He’s hiring 1,000 new grads to prove it
By Jake AngeloApril 27, 2026
3 hours ago
United Airlines CEO says a proposed merger would benefit travelers, but American still won’t return his calls
PoliticsAirline industry
United Airlines CEO says a proposed merger would benefit travelers, but American still won’t return his calls
By Matt Ott and The Associated PressApril 27, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
Politics
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
By Sasha RogelbergApril 24, 2026
3 days ago
Elon Musk says saving for retirement is irrelevant because AI is going to create a world of abundance: 'It won't matter'
Future of Work
Elon Musk says saving for retirement is irrelevant because AI is going to create a world of abundance: 'It won't matter'
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 26, 2026
1 day ago
Baby boomers have now 'gobbled up' nearly one-third of America's wealth share, and they're leaving Gen Z and millennials behind
Investing
Baby boomers have now 'gobbled up' nearly one-third of America's wealth share, and they're leaving Gen Z and millennials behind
By Sasha RogelbergApril 26, 2026
1 day ago
More than 90,000 tech workers have been laid off this year. But here’s why companies like Microsoft are offering voluntary buyouts instead
Big Tech
More than 90,000 tech workers have been laid off this year. But here’s why companies like Microsoft are offering voluntary buyouts instead
By Jacqueline MunisApril 26, 2026
1 day ago
'You feel radicalized': A Meta AI exec watched agents beat her top workers. Now she's built a nonprofit to help Gen Z find jobs before they disappear
Future of Work
'You feel radicalized': A Meta AI exec watched agents beat her top workers. Now she's built a nonprofit to help Gen Z find jobs before they disappear
By Jake AngeloApril 26, 2026
1 day ago
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
Success
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
By Preston ForeApril 25, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.