Public companies, also known as publicly traded companies, are corporations that have sold shares to the general public through a stock exchange. This means that anyone can buy and sell their shares on the open market. These companies are often large, well-known entities with a diverse range of shareholders. They also have certain regulatory requirements, such as having an external audit and regularly releasing financial information to the public.

There are four different types of public companies: large cap, small cap, mid cap, and micro cap. Each type of company has its own set of characteristics that make it unique.

Large Cap: A large cap company is defined as a company with a market capitalization of more than $10 billion. These companies are usually well-established and have a strong track record. They also tend to be household names.

Small Cap: A small cap company is defined as a company with a market capitalization of between $300 million and $2 billion. These companies are usually younger and less established than large cap companies. They may be more volatile, but they also offer the potential for higher growth.

Mid Cap: A mid cap company is defined as a company with a market capitalization of between $2 billion and $10 billion. These companies are in the middle ground between large and small cap companies. They may offer more stability than small cap companies, but they also have the potential for faster growth than large cap companies.

Micro Cap: A micro cap company is defined as a company with a market capitalization of less than $300 million. These companies are the smallest public companies. They tend to be the most volatile, but they also offer the highest potential for growth.