Shakeout is a term used in business and economics to describe the consolidation of an industry or sector, in which businesses are eliminated or acquired through competition. It may also refer to a situation in which many investors exit their positions, often at a loss, due to uncertainty in the market or recent bad news circulating around a particular security or industry.
Shakeouts can often occur after an industry has experienced a period of rapid growth in demand followed by overexpansion by manufacturers. Large, diversified companies are often most able to endure a weak business climate and can benefit from shakeouts. A shakeout of investors and internet businesses occurred during the dot-com bubble.
References
- Scott, David L. (1998). Wall Street Words. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-43747-4.
- Investopedia Shakeout Retrieved on July 25, 2007
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