Beating the gun

Beating the gun

In the context of general equities, gaining an advantageous price in a trade through a quick response to market developments.

Beating the Gun

Informal; in equities, describing the act of securing an advantageous position at the perfect time. Beating the gun may describe taking a short position immediately before the price begins to fall or a long position before it begins to rise. Investors account for different reasons for beating the gun. Some may ascribe it to luck, but most attribute it to appropriate technical or fundamental analysis.