"This game will play itself out; everybody can't keep racing to add international service" because profits will eventually erode, Mr. Allen said.

Their profits from trading operations have eroded.

Heinz has seen its profits erode in the last year because of a downturn in its Weight Watchers food and meetings business.

Over the last 20 years, sheep ranchers have seen their profits steadily erode.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, corporate profits as a share of national income eroded from 1997 until 2001.

Sales were steady, but pretax profits eroded by about 10 percent.

But ever since it began giving sellers a percentage of the premium over the last few years, its profits have eroded.

Naturally, it is worried that those profits could erode.

But sales and profits have eroded since September.

"As inflation picked up, the prices of securities changed, the cost of capital rose and profits eroded because human costs and systems costs rose."