7 Safe Small-Cap Stocks to Buy Now Let’s begin by defining the realm of small-cap stocks before we discuss those that appear to be strong, safe investments currently. As their name implies, small-cap stocks have lower market capitalizations than both mid-cap and large-cap stocks. The range of market cap defining the class is typically from $300 million to $2 billion. Large-cap stocks carry a market cap of at least $10 billion. Mid-caps bridge the difference. A point to remember is that investing in small-cap stocks is inherently riskier than investing in their mid-cap and large-cap counterparts. That volatility is intriguing to many investors. But there are other reasons, outside of quick gains, to consider small-cap stocks. They aren’t all simply startup companies and fledgling investments. Some represent household names as well. And, according to Investopedia , they often perform as well or better than large-cap stocks over similar time horizons. Let’s take a look at seven safe small-cap stocks that investors should consider buying now.