Before we try to understand the difference between large-cap and small-cap stocks, let’s figure out how these terms relate to market capitalization.
Market capitalization is the total value of shares of a publicly traded company. Investing in stocks through the market is an effective way of mitigating the inherent risks in a portfolio. As such, large-cap stocks are shares of larger companies, while small-cap stocks denote smaller companies. These labels, however, have led people to assume that they can only make money by investing in large-cap stocks.
Options Returns > Stock Returns
Accelerated returns with limited downside have made stock options the hottest investing vehicle. Even Buffett is using options to make billions on the side of his value investing technique! MarketClub’s Top Options List ranks the top optionable stocks for you.
While that is entirely untrue, there are advantages and disadvantages of investing in both types of stocks. We will discuss the pros and cons of investing in both types of stocks and the key differences between them to help readers decide on the right investment for them.
What Are Large-Cap Stocks?
Large-cap stocks are companies that have been on the market long enough to become successful in the stock market. They are at the top because they have demonstrable experience in their industry and have accumulated a lot of capital as a result of it.
A large capital stock company should have a market capitalization of almost $10 billion, making them more stable investments. Such companies usually make the headlines for their annual reported earnings.
As of April 8, 2021, the five largest stock companies are:
Apple
Microsoft
Amazon
Google
Facebook
Advantages of Large-Cap Stocks
Added Stability
The most significant advantage of investing in large-cap stocks is the stability they provide. Because they have a well-established reputation of being in the stock market and already have a market capitalization of $10 billion, there is little chance of becoming insolvent.
Dividend Payouts
Large-cap companies also offer steady dividend payments across time. This means that even for periods of high growth or low growth in the stock market, the dividend payments will not be affected since they are already established.
These dividends can also garner sufficient returns for large-cap investors when added to the performance calculation over time.
Ease Of Research And Valuation
Before investing in a specific stock, one of the key drivers of your decision is the company’s availability of information. Because large-cap companies have been in the market for a long time, investors and stakeholders can easily obtain information about company operations, investments and get access to profitability reports.
Additionally, a company’s financial statement can also help you determine accurate valuation with your current business activity. These aspects play an important role in understanding the risk and potential reward of investing in a large-cap company.
Disadvantages of Large-Cap Stocks
Reduced Ownership Levels
Whenever you purchase stocks in a company, you are given partial ownership to sit in board meetings and company decisions where shareholders can also vote. However, given the massive scale of large-cap stocks, your power to vote will be much less, granting you fewer ownership levels.
Not Good For Short-Term Investments
Large-cap stocks are great if you are planning for a long-term investment. However, if you are looking for a short-term investment, this might not be the option for you.
What Are Small-Cap Stocks?
Small-cap companies have enough market capitalization to make them an attractive investment for people, especially if they want short-term returns.
Their capital accumulation ranges from $2 million to $3 billion. For example, GameStop can be classified as a small-cap retailer.
Advantages of Small-Cap Stocks
With greater risks come bigger rewards, which is essentially why investors should be aware of the pros and cons of both.
Growth Potential
Small-cap companies have a wider growth scale as they can win government contracts and expand market share with parabolic share movement. This growth potential also makes small-cap companies an attractive option for investors.
Inefficiencies In The Market
Typically, financial analysts don’t really care for small-cap companies compared to large-cap companies. This may result in improper pricing of small-cap stocks, creating vast opportunities for investors to benefit from market inefficiencies and earn a greater return on their investments.
Disadvantages of Small-Cap Stocks
High-Risk Potential
Small-cap stocks have an unreliable business model, which can result in a risky operational and financial result. Moreover, they may be unable to bridge gaps in cash flows, resulting in an inability to accept future investments.
Not Adequate Research Present
Since small-cap companies often get overlooked by financial institutions, there is very little research and valuation about their stocks present. This lack of information can put investors at a disadvantage when determining whether an investment would be feasible for them.
Key Differences of Small-Cap Stocks and Large-Cap Stocks
Investment Risks
If you want a long-term investment with confidence in your returns, then large-cap companies are the option for you. On the other hand, small-cap companies are relatively new to the stock market. They are more prone to bankruptcies and earnings misses. As such, returns from small-cap companies are not predictable.
Growth
Large-cap companies are usually at the top of the market and have reached their full potential. They are more concerned with returning capital to shareholders, while small-cap companies focus more on market expansion and growth.
MarketClub’s Top Rated Small & Large-Cap Stocks – April 8, 2021
Large-Cap Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) +100
Large-Cap Facebook, Inc. (FB) +90
Large-Cap Vale S.A. (VALE) +100
Small-Cap Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (DLPN) +100
Small-Cap Kopin Corporation (KOPN) +100
Small-Cap Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (HOFV) +100
While all these organizations play an important role in financial markets, both large-cap companies and small-cap companies can uniquely impact your investment plans. You have to assess your propensity for risk and appetite for profitability to see whether you value your exponential growth or returns.
Understand your investment goals and carry out a cost-benefit analysis to determine the kind of investment that will align with your needs.
