DEFINITION of Market Overhang

Market overhang has multiple contexts within finance. Both of the common uses involve customers or investors waiting for future events before they buy.

In a business context, overhanging the market or a market overhang, happens when a leader in a product space announces they will begin producing a product in a new industry. Since the company is already a respected competitor in their first industry, this announcement that they will enter a new industry causes people to wait for their product to hit the market instead of buying the already available products. This waiting period can create a backlog of demand.

Market overhang can also describe the observational theory that in certain stocks at certain times, there is a buildup of selling pressure. This occurs as a combined result of sales and a strong wish to sell among those who still hold the stock but fear that selling it may cause further declines. Depending on the overall liquidity in the stock, a market overhang can last for weeks, months or longer. Market overhang usually relates to trading in one security but can also apply to larger areas of the market, such as an entire sector.

BREAKING DOWN Market Overhang

Overhanging the market is at times an intentional move by companies. The act of announcing a new product well in advance of its availability is meant to stall purchases of currently available products and create a backlog of demand that will increase purchases when the new product finally becomes available.

Market overhang is most often felt and created by institutional investors, who may have a large block of shares they wish to sell and are aware of high selling interest across the market for the stock. Another scenario arises when a large shareholder is thought to be looking at selling his or her stake. This creates an overhang in the stock, which prevents investors from selling the stock until the large shareholder is done selling his stake. Market overhang can also develop in a poorly performing IPO when the lockup period ends and insiders look to unload their recently acquired shares.