Trading data
Market cap and float
A factual guide to market capitalization, shares outstanding, public float, and why share-count definitions matter.
What market cap means
Market capitalization is commonly calculated as share price multiplied by shares outstanding. It describes the market value of a company equity at a point in time.
Because both price and share count can change, market cap is a current-market measure rather than a fixed company attribute.
How float differs
Public float focuses on shares available for public trading, excluding some restricted or closely held shares depending on the definition.
Float matters for index eligibility, liquidity context, and trading supply, while total shares outstanding matters for market cap and per-share calculations.
What not to infer
Market cap does not measure revenue, profit, balance-sheet value, or future returns by itself. Float does not explain why a price moved.
Read these measures with financials, ownership, trading volume, and filing-based share-count disclosures.
Common questions
Is market cap the same as company enterprise value?
No. Market cap reflects equity market value, while enterprise value also considers items such as debt and cash under common definitions.
Can share count change?
Yes. Issuance, repurchases, stock compensation, conversions, and other events can change share count over time.
Why does float matter?
Float describes shares generally available for public trading, which can affect liquidity and index-related calculations.