Shakeout

A dramatic change in market conditions that forces speculators to sell their positions, often at a loss.

Shakeout

A consolidation of the number of companies in an industry. Shakeouts occur because of stiff competition and the ability of some companies to offer a better product at a lower price than other companies. Shakeouts are generally considered a normal part of an industry life cycle.

shakeout

A reduction in the number of firms that operate in a particular industry. An example of a shakeout is the decline in the number of commercial banks in the United States. Shakeouts often occur after an industry has experienced a period of rapid growth in demand followed by overexpansion by manufacturers. Large, diversified companies able to survive a weak business climate tend to benefit from shakeouts.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott. Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.

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