The effect of the Fukushima nuclear accident on stock prices of electric power utilities in Japan

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, which is owned by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), on the stock prices of the other electric power utilities in Japan. Because the other utilities were not directly damaged by the Fukushima nuclear accident, their stock price responses should reflect the change in investor perceptions on risk and return associated with nuclear power generation. Our first finding is that the stock prices of utilities that own nuclear power plants declined more sharply after the accident than did the stock prices of other electric power utilities. In contrast, investors did not seem to care about the risk that may arise from the use of the same type of nuclear power reactors as those at the Fukushima Daiichi station. We also observe an increase of both systematic and total risks in the post-Fukushima period, indicating that negative market reactions are not merely caused by one-time losses but by structural changes in society and regulation that could increase the costs of operating a nuclear power plant.

► This paper examines the effect of the Fukushima accident on stock prices of electric power firms. ► We find that stock prices of firms with nuclear power plants declined more sharply after the accident. ► The use of the same type of reactors as those at the Fukushima station did not affect stock prices. ► We observe an increase of both systematic and total risks in the post-Fukushima period. ► This indicates that negative reactions are caused by structural changes in society and regulation.