Everything You Need to Know About Market Capitalization

Everything You Need to Know About Market Capitalization

Introduction

A company's market capitalization is an important metric used to measure its size and health. Market capitalization refers to the total value of a company's shares of stock and is often used as an indicator of shareholders’ overall assessment of a company. It provides a snapshot of the financial standing of a company at any given time and assesses relative size to industry peers.

Typically, a company's market capitalization will be calculated by multiplying the total number of shares outstanding by the price per share. The purpose of assessing a company’s market capitalization is to determine its size and value, as well as compare it to peers in the industry in order to gain insight into its overall prospects.

When evaluating different types of market capitalizations for companies, there are three different classifications that can be used: small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap.


What Is Market Capitalization?

Market capitalization, also known as “market cap”, is a metric used to determine the value of a company. It is calculated by multiplying the total number of shares of a company by the current stock price.

What is capitalization?

The term “capitalization” refers to how much money a company has raised through issuing stocks or other means of cash flow. A company’s capitalization can also be used to determine its size and worth in comparison to its competitors.

What is the overall sum of a company's market cap?

The overall sum of a company’s market cap is the sum of all its stock that are publicly traded. These are the stocks that investors can buy and sell on the open market. Essentially, the market cap of a company shows how much it is worth, or the total market value of all its stocks combined.

What does market cap tell investors about companies?

The market cap of a company can be used to understand the size and financial health of the company. The key is to compare a company’s market cap to the industry’s average market cap. Higher market caps are usually indicative of larger and stronger companies, whereas lower market caps usually represent smaller, more vulnerable companies.

For example, if the industry has an average market cap of $100 million and a company has a market cap of $200 million, it would suggest that it is twice as large as the companies in the industry on average. Similarly, if the company’s market cap was $50 million, it would suggest that it is half the size of the industry’s average.


Different Types Of Market Capitalizations

Market capitalization (or market cap) is the most commonly used metric to evaluate companies and compare them to their peers. It is used to identify the size and value of companies and to measure their overall financial performance.

How is a company's market cap calculated?

Market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the total number of shares outstanding by the market price per share. It is used to measure the size and value of a company and to compare them to their peers. It is an important metric that investors use to evaluate investment opportunities.

What is the difference between the three types of market capitalization?

There are three types of market capitalization: calculated market capitalization, reported market capitalization, and float-adjusted market capitalization.

  • Calculated Market Capitalization: This is the most common type of market capitalization and it is calculated by multiplying the total number of shares outstanding by the market price per share.
  • Reported Market Capitalization: This type of market capitalization includes all the shares of the company, including those held by non-public shareholders, such as restricted stock and shares held by management. It is generally not an accurate measure of a company's true market capitalization.
  • Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization: This type of market capitalization adjusts for the impact that non-public shareholders can have on the stock price. It removes shares held by non-public shareholders from the calculation and provides a more accurate measure of the company's true market capitalization. This is the most accurate measure of a company’s size and value.


Calculated Market Capitalization

Calculated market capitalization is the way the financial statement of a particular company is analyzed in order to understand the company’s market value. It is used to get an idea of how much an investor would need to pay to obtain a stake in the company, or to compare the value of several companies side by side. Calculated market capitalization is a useful tool that can help investors determine the health of a particular stock or sector, as well as its potential for future success.

Overview of Calculated Market Capitalization

Calculated market capitalization, also known as market capitalization, is the total market value of a company’s shares. It is calculated by multiplying the number of issued shares of that company by the current price of a single share of the company. Market capitalization is a measure of the size and financial worth of a business and is used as a benchmark to compare the values of different companies in a given time frame.

How Calculated Market Capitalization is Determined

In order to calculate a market capitalization, an investor must first determine the company’s market price. This is the price of one share of the company’s stock. This is easily found by checking a stock’s current value on a foreign exchange or asking a securities broker. Once the current market value of a single share is determined, the investor can then multiply this amount by the number of shares the company has issued. This will give the investor the total market capitalization of the company.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Calculated Market Capitalization

The main benefit of calculating market capitalization is to give investors an idea of a company’s size and market value. It provides a good measure of the total value of a business and can be used as a benchmark to compare it to other companies. By analyzing market capitalization, investors can get a better understanding of the financial health of a particular company and its potential for future success.

However, calculated market capitalization does have some drawbacks. By its nature, calculated market capitalization is composed of two components – the current market value of the company’s shares and the number of shares issued by the company. This means that the calculated market capitalization can be manipulated to serve the interests of one party or another. Also, since the calculation is based on the current market value of a single share, it can be subject to change depending on the current economic conditions.


Reported Market Capitalization

Overview of reported market capitalization

Market capitalization, also known as market cap, is the total value of a company as indicated by its stock price. This value is usually reported by market exchanges and is used to determine the size and value of a company. Market capitalization reflects the value of a company’s equity and is an important measure of a company’s overall financial health. Knowing the value of a company can help investors determine the potential investment opportunities and help in risk management.

How reported market capitalization is determined

Market capitalization is calculated by taking the company’s stock price and multiplying it by the number of shares outstanding. A company’s market capitalization is also known as its market value. This is the market value of the company’s tangible assets as well as its intangible assets and liabilities. Market capitalizations are reported in most major exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

Benefits and drawbacks of reported market capitalization

The primary benefit of reported market capitalization is that it gives investors an indication of the size and value of a company. This can help investors make more informed investment decisions and understand their risk exposure. Furthermore, by tracking market capitalization, investors can spot trends in the market and assess the overall health of the economy. The primary drawback of reported market capitalization is that it does not account for any corporate actions such as mergers, acquisitions, or share buybacks, which can affect a company’s stock price.

  • Benefits
    • Gives an indication of size and value of a company
    • Can help make more informed investment decisions
    • Allows investors to spot trends and assess overall health of the economy

  • Drawbacks
    • Does not account for corporate actions



Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization

Overview of Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization

Market capitalization, often referred to as “market cap,” is one of the most frequently used indicators used to assess the worth of a company. Usually determined by multiplying the total number of a company's issued shares by the current market price of its stock, it is often used as a proxy for the company’s size. Float-adjusted market capitalization, however, offers an even more detailed and accurate estimation of a company’s size and worth.

How Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization is Determined

The float-adjusted market capitalization provides a much more precise reflection of the company’s size, and is estimated by multiplying the total number of shares freely-floating on the market by the actual traded price of the company’s stock. This method takes into account the total number of outstanding shares of a company that are actually available for trading on the open market, thus ignoring restricted and locked shares held by corporate insiders. This expansive algorithm is the one that is used to calculate the value of a company on major indices, such as the S&P 500.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization

The float-adjusted market capitalization allows an investor to get an in-depth understanding of the company, and without any form of bias. Moreover, it contributes to a better assessment of a company’s worth and gives investors an extra layer of protection and more credibility when evaluating a potential investment opportunity. On the other hand, the method can be complicated to calculate, and it can be hard to always have access to and to track the latest insider ownership data.


Conclusion

Market capitalization is one of the most important metrics used by investors when determining whether a company is worthy of investment. Generally speaking, market capitalization can be thought of as the total value of a company, and is calculated by multiplying the company's share price by the total number of outstanding shares. Market capitalizations can be broken down into three primary categories: market capitalization, enterprise value, and net asset value. Each type of market capitalization comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and investors must weigh each option before making a decision.

Summary of Different Types of Market Capitalization

Market capitalization is traditionally broken down into three distinct categories:

  • Market Capitalization – the total market value of a company’s publicly traded shares. It is calculated by multiplying the price of a single share by the total number of outstanding shares.
  • Enterprise Value – the enterprise value of a company is calculated by taking its market capitalization plus its debt, minority interest and preferred shares, minus total cash and cash equivalents.
  • Net Asset Value – the net asset value of a company is calculated by taking its market capitalization plus its debt, minus total assets and liabilities.

Advantages of Assessing Market Capitalization When Interpreting Different Companies

Investors can use market capitalization as a tool to get an understanding of a company’s value, both on an absolute and relative basis. It is important to note that market capitalization is affected by the company’s share price, but it is also heavily influenced by the company’s fundamentals—such as earnings potential and the company’s risk-reward profile. By understanding how the market is pricing a company, investors can make more informed investment decisions.

Final Thoughts on the Importance of Market Capitalization for Investors

In conclusion, assessing the market capitalization of different companies is an important part of the investment process. Market capitalization can provide investors with valuable insight into a company’s value and its potential future prospects. By taking this metric into consideration when evaluating potential investments, investors can make much more informed decisions.

DCF model

All DCF Excel Templates

    5-Year Financial Model

    40+ Charts & Metrics

    DCF & Multiple Valuation

    Free Email Support


Disclaimer

All information, articles, and product details provided on this website are for general informational and educational purposes only. We do not claim any ownership over, nor do we intend to infringe upon, any trademarks, copyrights, logos, brand names, or other intellectual property mentioned or depicted on this site. Such intellectual property remains the property of its respective owners, and any references here are made solely for identification or informational purposes, without implying any affiliation, endorsement, or partnership.

We make no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any content or products presented. Nothing on this website should be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, medical, or other professional advice. In addition, no part of this site—including articles or product references—constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, advertisement, or offer to buy or sell any securities, franchises, or other financial instruments, particularly in jurisdictions where such activity would be unlawful.

All content is of a general nature and may not address the specific circumstances of any individual or entity. It is not a substitute for professional advice or services. Any actions you take based on the information provided here are strictly at your own risk. You accept full responsibility for any decisions or outcomes arising from your use of this website and agree to release us from any liability in connection with your use of, or reliance upon, the content or products found herein.