What is market cap?

Market capitalization (market cap) is a key metric used to determine the value of publicly traded companies and asset classes worldwide, helping investors compare size and influence across industries. As of November 2025, tech companies dominate the list of highest market caps, and the largest asset classes include commodities and real estate. Here’s an easy-to-understand guide and up-to-date lists.​

What is Market Cap?

Market capitalization represents the total value of a company’s outstanding shares in the stock market. It is calculated using the formula:

Market Capitalization=Current Share Price×Total Outstanding SharesMarket Capitalization=Current Share Price×Total Outstanding Shares

This value shows how much the market collectively values a company. Companies are often categorized into small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap groups, which helps investors assess company size, stability, and growth potential. Market cap is also used to compare asset classes like gold, tech stocks, and real estate.​

Top 10 Companies by Market Cap (November 2025)

RankCompanyMarket Cap (USD)Industry

1.Nvidia$5.04 trillionSemiconductors

2.Microsoft$4.02 trillionTechnology

3.Apple$4.00 trillionTechnology

4.Alphabet$3.32 trillionTechnology

5.Amazon$2.46 trillionE-commerce

6.Meta Platforms$1.89 trillionSocial Media

7.Broadcom$1.82 trillionSemiconductors

8.Saudi Aramco$1.67 trillionOil & Gas

9.TSMC$1.58 trillionSemiconductors

10.Tesla$1.53 trillionAutomotive

Tech giants now dominate global market cap rankings, underlining the influence of AI and cloud computing in today’s economy.​

Top 10 Assets by Market Cap (November 2025)

Rank Asset Market Cap (USD)

1.Real Estate$380 trillion

2.Gold$27.3 trillion

3.Nvidia$5.04 trillion

4.Microsoft$4.02 trillion

5.Apple$4.00 trillion

6.Alphabet$3.32 trillion

7.Amazon$2.46 trillion

8.Meta$1.89 trillion

9.Broadcom$1.82 trillion

10.Saudi Aramco$1.67 trillion

Real estate ranks as the single largest asset class globally, far exceeding all individual company and commodity market caps. Gold continues to be the leading commodity by total value.​

Why Investors Value Market Cap (1 trillion dollars is 1000 billion dollars -88 lakhs, crores Indian rupees)

Market capitalization serves as a snapshot for investors to assess a company’s or asset’s size, influence, and market stability quickly. Large market cap often signals stability and leadership, while smaller caps can mean higher growth potential but more risk.​

Understanding market cap can help in building informed investment strategies, especially when comparing companies and assets in global markets.