IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/transj/v64y2025i2ne70003.html

Recall Campaign Timing: The Impact on Sales and Stock Market Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Anupam Kumar
  • Adams Steven
  • Laharish Guntuka

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to build and test theory regarding the effects of product recall timing on a firm's stock performance and sales. The impact on firm performance is assessed from moving first with a recall campaign in an industry sector, the time relative to a competitor's recall campaign of substitutable products, and the time between the day the defect notification was submitted to a federal agency by the manufacturer and the day when owners are notified that a solution is in place. Using National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data for the period of 2010–2015, the study employs an event study methodology, which involves examining the changes in specific variables of interest around the time of an event. We find that delaying recall campaigns vis‐à‐vis your competitors, though advantageous, has a diminishing returns to impact on firm performance. In addition, we identify advantages of initiating the recall campaign first from a sales perspective. Finally, we also find a negative impact from delayed resolution to recalls.

Suggested Citation

  • Anupam Kumar & Adams Steven & Laharish Guntuka, 2025. "Recall Campaign Timing: The Impact on Sales and Stock Market Performance," Transportation Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 64(2), April.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:transj:v:64:y:2025:i:2:n:e70003
    DOI: 10.1002/tjo3.70003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/tjo3.70003
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/tjo3.70003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ujjal K. Mukherjee & George P. Ball & Kaitlin D. Wowak & Karthik V. Natarajan & Jason W. Miller, 2022. "Hiding in the Herd: The Product Recall Clustering Phenomenon," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 24(1), pages 392-410, January.
    2. Nicholas G. Rupp, 2004. "The Attributes of a Costly Recall: Evidence from the Automotive Industry," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 25(1), pages 21-44, August.
    3. Nicholas G. Rupp, "undated". "Newspaper Coverage of Automotive Safety Recalls," Working Papers 0113, East Carolina University, Department of Economics.
    4. Katharina Hetze, 2016. "Effects on the (CSR) Reputation: CSR Reporting Discussed in the Light of Signalling and Stakeholder Perception Theories," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(3), pages 281-296, October.
    5. Yan Zhang & Margarethe F. Wiersema, 2009. "Stock market reaction to CEO certification: the signaling role of CEO background," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 693-710, July.
    6. Zhang, Min & Hu, Haiju & Zhao, Xiande, 2020. "Developing product recall capability through supply chain quality management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    7. Rodney Thomas & Jessica L. Darby & David Dobrzykowski & Remko van Hoek, 2021. "Decomposing Social Sustainability: Signaling Theory Insights into Supplier Selection Decisions," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 57(4), pages 117-136, October.
    8. David J. Ketchen JR. & Kaitlin D. Wowak & Christopher W. Craighead, 2014. "Resource Gaps and Resource Orchestration Shortfalls in Supply Chain Management: The Case of Product Recalls," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 50(3), pages 6-15, July.
    9. Tim Loughran & Bill Mcdonald, 2014. "Measuring Readability in Financial Disclosures," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(4), pages 1643-1671, August.
    10. Donald D. Bergh & Brian L. Connelly & David J. Ketchen Jr & Lu M. Shannon, 2014. "Signalling Theory and Equilibrium in Strategic Management Research: An Assessment and a Research Agenda," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(8), pages 1334-1360, December.
    11. Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 1993. "Common risk factors in the returns on stocks and bonds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 3-56, February.
    12. David C. Hall & Tracy D. Johnson-Hall, 2017. "Learning from Conformance Quality Failures That Triggered Product Recalls: The Role of Direct and Indirect Experience," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 53(4), pages 13-36, October.
    13. Zhao, Xiande & Li, Yina & Flynn, Barbara B., 2013. "The financial impact of product recall announcements in China," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(1), pages 115-123.
    14. Berman, Barry, 1999. "Planning for the inevitable product recall," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 69-78.
    15. Carhart, Mark M, 1997. "On Persistence in Mutual Fund Performance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(1), pages 57-82, March.
    16. Astvansh, Vivek & Eshghi, Kamran, 2023. "The effects of regulatory investigation, supplier defect, and product age on stock investors’ reaction to an automobile recall," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    17. Hoffer, George E & Pruitt, Stephen W & Reilly, Robert J, 1988. "The Impact of Product Recalls on the Wealth of Sellers: A Reexamination," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 96(3), pages 663-670, June.
    18. Alfred Marcus, 1989. "The deterrent to dubious corporate behavior: Profitability, probability and safety recalls," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(3), pages 233-250, May.
    19. Sahitya Elluru & Hardik Gupta & Harpreet Kaur & Surya Prakash Singh, 2019. "Proactive and reactive models for disaster resilient supply chain," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 199-224, December.
    20. Jarrell, Gregg & Peltzman, Sam, 1985. "The Impact of Product Recalls on the Wealth of Sellers," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 93(3), pages 512-536, June.
    21. Laufer, Daniel & Coombs, W. Timothy, 2006. "How should a company respond to a product harm crisis? The role of corporate reputation and consumer-based cues," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 49(5), pages 379-385.
    22. Pamela R. Haunschild & Mooweon Rhee, 2004. "The Role of Volition in Organizational Learning: The Case of Automotive Product Recalls," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(11), pages 1545-1560, November.
    23. Laura N. Rickard, 2014. "Perception of Risk and the Attribution of Responsibility for Accidents," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(3), pages 514-528, March.
    24. Boulding, William & Kirmani, Amna, 1993. "A Consumer-Side Experimental Examination of Signaling Theory: Do Consumers Perceive Warranties as Signals of Quality?," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 20(1), pages 111-123, June.
    25. Ni, John Z. & Flynn, Barbara B. & Jacobs, F. Robert, 2014. "Impact of product recall announcements on retailers׳ financial value," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 309-322.
    26. Stanley E. Griffis & Judith M. Whipple, 2012. "A Comprehensive Risk Assessment and Evaluation Model: Proposing a Risk Priority Continuum," Transportation Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(4), pages 428-451, October.
    27. Mooweon Rhee & Pamela R. Haunschild, 2006. "The Liability of Good Reputation: A Study of Product Recalls in the U.S. Automobile Industry," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 101-117, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Huashan & Bapuji, Hari & Talluri, Srinivas & Singh, Prakash J., 2022. "A Cross-disciplinary review of product recall research: A stakeholder-stage framework," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Astvansh, Vivek & Eshghi, Kamran, 2023. "The effects of regulatory investigation, supplier defect, and product age on stock investors’ reaction to an automobile recall," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Hall, David C. & Johnson-Hall, Tracy D., 2021. "Recall effectiveness, strategy, and task complexity in the U.S. meat and poultry industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    4. David C. Hall & Tracy D. Johnson-Hall, 2021. "The value of downstream traceability in food safety management systems: an empirical examination of product recalls," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 61-77, June.
    5. Kathleen Cleeren & Marnik G. Dekimpe & Harald J. Heerde, 2017. "Marketing research on product-harm crises: a review, managerial implications, and an agenda for future research," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(5), pages 593-615, September.
    6. Cockrell, Seth & Friske, Wesley & Voorhees, Clay M. & Calantone, Roger J., 2024. "The effects of innovation on product recall likelihood," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    7. Unsal, Omer & Hassan, M. Kabir & Zirek, Duygu, 2017. "Product recalls and security prices: New evidence from the US market," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 62-79.
    8. Zhao, Xiande & Li, Yina & Flynn, Barbara B., 2013. "The financial impact of product recall announcements in China," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(1), pages 115-123.
    9. Ni, John Z. & Flynn, Barbara B. & Jacobs, F. Robert, 2014. "Impact of product recall announcements on retailers׳ financial value," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 309-322.
    10. Yao, Liufang & Parlar, Mahmut, 2019. "Product recall timing optimization using dynamic programming," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 1-14.
    11. Omer N. Gokalp & Sami Keskek & Abdullah Kumas & Marshall A. Geiger, 2020. "Insider trading around auto recalls: Does investor attention matter?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 1003-1033, October.
    12. Amir Javadinia & Manpreet Gill & Satish Jayachandran, 2024. "Recall environment and post-recall stock market response," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1171-1194, July.
    13. Hsu, Liwu & Lawrence, Benjamin, 2016. "The role of social media and brand equity during a product recall crisis: A shareholder value perspective," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 59-77.
    14. Rachna Shah & George P. Ball & Serguei Netessine, 2017. "Plant Operations and Product Recalls in the Automotive Industry: An Empirical Investigation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(8), pages 2439-2459, August.
    15. Kiesel, Florian & Ries, Jörg M. & Tielmann, Artur, 2017. "Reprint of “The impact of mergers and acquisitions on shareholders' wealth in the logistics service industry”," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 261-277.
    16. Andrew M. Malec & Patricia K. Smith & Anson E. Smuts, 2021. "Recall and Vehicle Characteristics Associated with Vehicle Repair Rates," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 59(1), pages 37-55, August.
    17. Kong, Dongmin, 2012. "Does corporate social responsibility matter in the food industry? Evidence from a nature experiment in China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 323-334.
    18. Zavala, Araceli & Ramirez-Marquez, Jose Emmanuel, 2019. "Visual analytics for identifying product disruptions and effects via social media," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 544-559.
    19. David C. Hall & Tracy D. Johnson-Hall, 2017. "Learning from Conformance Quality Failures That Triggered Product Recalls: The Role of Direct and Indirect Experience," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 53(4), pages 13-36, October.
    20. Garcia-Fuentes, Pablo & Ferreira, Gustavo & Harrison, R. Wes & Kinsey, Jean D. & Degeneffe, Dennis, 2014. "Consumer Confidence in the Food System, Media Coverage and Stock Prices for the Food Industry," Journal of Food Distribution Research, Food Distribution Research Society, vol. 45(2), pages 1-20, July.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:transj:v:64:y:2025:i:2:n:e70003. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.