Introduction
For decades, the S&P 500 has served as the benchmark for U.S. stock market performance. Its blue-chip constituents—giant companies with global reach—are synonymous with stability, resilience, and long-term growth. Yet, beneath the surface, a less-heralded group of small-cap stocks has, at times, delivered returns that far outpace the S&P 500. These companies, typically valued between $300 million and $2 billion, offer investors a unique blend of risk and reward. In recent years, and especially in 2024 and 2025, small-cap stocks have begun to shine anew, capturing the attention of savvy investors eager for outsized gains.
This essay explores the drivers behind small-cap outperformance, presents recent examples, and examines why the current environment may be especially favorable for these nimble market players.
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The Cyclical Nature of Small-Cap vs. Large-Cap Performance
Stock market leadership is cyclical. For much of the past decade, large-cap stocks—especially the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants—have dominated returns, overshadowing small- and mid-cap peers2. However, history shows that these cycles eventually reverse. According to Furey Research Partners, leadership alternates between large- and small-caps in cycles typically lasting seven to ten years2. The current era of large-cap outperformance has been unusually long, but signs suggest a shift is underway as we move through 2025.