Are Small Cap Stocks And Penny Stocks The Same?
Small cap stocks and penny stocks are not the same and its easy to get them confused. Investors sometimes think that small cap and penny stock have to do with the price of stocks. This is somewhat true but does not encompass the entire picture. We will have to take a look at the definitions of small cap stocks and penny stocks to get to the bottom of this.
What Are Penny Stocks?
The definition of penny stocks is pretty simple to guess. It is what it is. Stocks you can buy in companies for a couple pennies. Investors usually classify a penny stock as a stock you can buy that costs less than $1.
What Are Small Cap Stocks?
Small cap stocks get their name in a different way then penny stocks. Small caps get their distinction from their market capitalization. Stock brokers determine the market capitalization by multiplying the stock price and the number of outstanding shares. If this number falls in between $300 million and $2 billion then the brokers would determine it to be a small cap stock.
Whats Better To Invest In – Small Cap Stocks Or Penny Stocks?
With any investment you should always do your research. Small cap stocks typically have a bit of traction behind them and could make the leap into a large cap stock in the future which results in profits for the investor. Penny stocks are a different story. There is usually a reason why penny stocks are so cheap to buy such as its going bankrupt or in a stagnant sector. There are also many instances where price manipulation occurs. This happens when an individual or organization buys up a lot of the penny stocks and uses websites, press releases, or e-mail blasts to make that penny stock look like the next best thing. The end result is people get misleading info, end up buying the penny stock, which drives up the price of the shares. The original individual or organization who started the mess will then turn around and dump all of their penny stocks for a quick profit. Everybody else who bought in after that person ends up getting stuck with worthless shares which they cannot sell back to the company because most companies who have a penny stock price do not have the liquidity to pay.
In Review: Whats The Difference Between Penny Stocks And Small Cap Stocks?
Small cap stocks are determined by their market capitalization and not their share price. Penny stocks are those stocks that are traded for less than $1 a share. Small cap stocks can have a share price that can be considered a penny stock due to how that particular business is ran. Do your research before deciding to invest in small cap or penny stocks.