Market cap, or market capitalization, is one way of measuring a company's total value, based on outstanding shares of stock. A company's market cap will fluctuate with its share price. Investors can use market cap to gauge public interest and company strength.
 

Key takeaways

1.       Market cap, or market capitalization, is one way of measuring a company's total value, based on outstanding shares of stock.
2.       A company's market cap will fluctuate with its share price.
3.       Investors can use market cap to gauge public interest and company strength.
 

What is market capitalization?

Market capitalization represents the total market value of a company's outstanding shares in dollar terms. It is calculated by multiplying the total number of a company's shares by the current share price. This metric is widely used by investors to assess the size of a company and understand how the stock market values it.

Market cap is also helpful in classifying stocks by size, such as large-cap and small-cap categories. Additionally, it plays a role in various financial ratios and serves as an important input in other key metrics, some of which are outlined below.
 

Market-cap segments

Companies are typically categorized into three main market-cap groups: large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap. The exact boundaries between these groups are not fixed, and different investors may define them slightly differently. However, the following ranges are commonly accepted.

1. Large-cap companies
Large-cap companies generally have a market capitalization of $10 billion or more. These are often well-established businesses, and many large caps may pay dividends. As a group, large caps tend to carry less risk and experience less volatility compared to smaller companies. However, their size can limit growth potential, making them less likely to offer rapid expansion than smaller firms.

2. Mid-cap companies
Mid-cap companies fall between large- and small-cap firms, typically with a market cap between $2 billion and $10 billion. They are often considered a middle ground in terms of risk and growth potential—less risky than small caps but potentially offering more growth than large caps.

3. Small-cap companies
Small-cap companies generally have a market cap between $250 million and $2 billion. These businesses are often younger or in early stages of development, with ambitions for rapid growth. While small caps can offer strong gains if successful, they also come with greater risks, as they may be more vulnerable to economic downturns or financial instability.
In addition to these three main categories, there are two more at the extremes. Mega-cap companies, with market caps of $200 billion or more, are the largest businesses, while micro-cap companies, with values under $250 million, represent the smallest firms.
 

Why is market capitalization important?

Market capitalization offers a quick and simple estimate of a company's value in dollar terms.
While it's a convenient way to gauge a company's worth, it’s just one approach among many. For example, if you were to estimate a country’s value, you could consider the size of its economy, population, or land area. Similarly, evaluating a company’s value can be complex, but market cap provides a straightforward and popular method to quickly assess its size.

Market cap can also give insight into a stock's risk. Larger companies tend to be more stable with less volatile stocks, while smaller companies often have more volatile stocks but may present higher growth potential. However, individual companies can sometimes break these general patterns.

Market cap is crucial for portfolio building. Understanding it helps determine how a stock or fund fits into your overall asset allocation. For example, if your portfolio consists of 70% stocks and 30% bonds, you might distribute that 70% across companies of different market caps to match your risk tolerance.
 

How to use market capitalization to evaluate a stock?

Market capitalization is a valuable indicator of a company's overall worth as perceived by the market. Since companies have varying numbers of shares available for trading, market cap allows for a more standardized comparison between companies, regardless of their stock price.

Market cap is also used to classify stocks, as different investors often target companies of varying sizes. For example, large-cap companies are typically more established, stable, and have a significant market share, while small-cap companies may offer more volatility but also present potential growth opportunities.

Comparing companies of similar market caps is ideal; for instance, a small-cap growth stock should not be compared to a large-cap value stock.
 

When considering shares, indices, forex (foreign exchange) and commodities for trading and price predictions, remember that trading CFDs involves a significant degree of risk and could result in capital loss. 

Past performance is not indicative of any future results. This information is provided for informative purposes only and should not be construed to be investment advice.