What does "market capitalization" refer to?

Market capitalization, often referred to as "market cap," is a key metric in the financial world that represents the total market value of a company's outstanding shares of stock. It is calculated by multiplying the current share price by the total number of outstanding shares. This figure gives investors an indication of the size of a company and is often used to classify companies into categories such as large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap.

By focusing on the total market value of a company's shares, market capitalization helps investors assess the company's relative size compared to others in the marketplace. This information can be pivotal for investment decisions, portfolio diversification, and understanding market dynamics. In this context, it stands out distinctly compared to other financial metrics like cash reserves, earnings, or debt levels, which serve different purposes in financial analysis.