Large-Cap Stocks Top 10

A company's market capitalization or "cap" is its share price times the number of outstanding shares it has. Its market cap would is $50 million if its share price is $50, and it has one million outstanding shares.

Large-cap stocks are shares of a companiesd with market caps of more than $10 billion. These are well-known, well-established companies. Some are worth more than many small countries. Large-cap investments are less risky than small-caps, but you should still do thorough research before buying any stocks.

Reasons to Invest in Large-Cap Stocks

One of the main reasons to invest in large-cap stocks is their size. It makes them less likely to go out of business, which makes them safer than small-cap companies.

Investors tend to flock to large-cap stocks during a contraction in the business cycle. This doesn't mean that these stocks are immune to recessions, it just means that they're more able to withstand a slowdown without going under.

The downside is that their stock prices may not grow as fast. It's hard to grow quickly when you already lead the market. Most of these companies are at the top of their industries. They pay dividends to make up for their stagnant prices. Most smaller companies won't pay out dividends, because they must invest their profits for growth.

Dividend payments are ideal for conservative investors. They work well for those who invest for passive income. They add another income stream and can be useful sources of income when bond yields are low.

Large-Cap vs. Small-Cap Stocks

Large-cap stocks tend to outperform the market during the later years of the expansion phase of the cycle, which is when the economy is growing briskly. Investors have gained enough confidence to buy stocks, and they favor large-cap companies with brand names they know. Small-cap stocks—companies with caps between $300 million and $2 billion—outperform the market during the early years of recovery.

The simple structure of small companies allows them to make decisions more quickly. They can change direction in time to take advantage of shifts in the economy. Small-cap growth slows as the business cycle moves into the contraction phase, which is when they are more likely to go out of business. They don't have the resources and the cash reserves to sustain during a downturn.

Blue-Chip Stocks

Many large-cap companies are also blue-chip stocks. These are well-known companies with a history of growth. They pay dividends and have little debt. Their earnings tend to be stable. They represent diversified businesses, making them less vulnerable to market changes. It won't affect the stock price very much if one of their businesses has a bad year, since one of their other businesses is likely to have a good year.

Because of these factors, owning a blue-chip stock reduces your risk. However, even if you own blue-chip stocks, it's important to keep a diversified portfolio to further protect yourself.

Top 10 Companies by Market Cap

These are some of the top 10 largest companies by market capitalization as of November 2021.

A Mutual Fund Option

You might want to think about using mutual funds, which allow you to invest in many large-cap companies at once. You should still do some research. The diversification that mutual funds provide reduces your risk. It avoids the task of having to research individual stocks to build your portfolio.