ASX small-cap shares outperformed the larger players by almost 2.5 times last year, according to S&P Global data.
S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares delivered total returns (capital growth plus dividends) of 10.56% last year.
The ASX All Ords tracks the performance of the market's top 500 companies by market capitalisation.
The S&P/ASX Small Ords Index (ASX: XSO), which tracks companies ranked 101 to 300 by market cap, delivered a total return of 24.96%.
Small-cap shares typically have market caps between a few hundred million dollars and $2 billion.
So, why was it such a great year for the smaller players?
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ASX small-cap shares make a comeback
Blackwattle Investment Partners portfolio managers, Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren, who run the fund manager's Small Cap Quality Fund, said ASX small-cap shares outperformed largely due to the rising value of junior gold explorers.
In a recent update, Hawkesford and Broeren said geopolitical instability prompted investors to buy precious and critical metals shares.
Additionally, interest rate cuts worldwide encouraged investors to buy companies in earlier stages of growth because "smaller cap companies offer the greatest range of opportunities".
Lower interest rates reduce smaller companies' debt servicing costs and boost their earnings potential.
Perpetual portfolio managers Alex Patten and James Rutledge, co-portfolio managers of the Perpetual Smaller Companies Fund, said the economic landscape "decisively" turned in favour of ASX small-cap shares in 2025.
They point out that during the August earnings season, the ASX Small Ords Index lifted 8.5% while the S&P/ASX 100 rose by 2%.
Patten said:
You're starting to see some decent outperformance from small caps and micro caps.
This is the first time that's happened in a number of years.
Over the past few years, when rates were going up quite quickly, that's not typically a great environment for small caps.
But now that rates are starting to come down, we're seeing more interest in small and micro caps and bit more liquidity in the market.
Exposure to Aussie economy
Patten and Rutledge also point out that ASX small-cap shares are more influenced by the domestic economy while large-caps are globally exposed.
Many ASX small-cap shares are domestic cyclicals, with retailers and residential building companies reporting an uptick in demand last year.
Smaller companies also benefitted from moderating wage growth.
ETF provider Global X reported strong inflows into its ASX small-cap shares ETFs in November.
This reflected investors' desire to diversify away from large-caps with stretched valuations, such as the ASX bank shares.
Global X said:
Whether investors are aiming for the top 300 Australian companies rather than just the top 200, or focusing exclusively on smaller companies, small-caps could be making a comeback.
The impact of rising small-caps last year can be seen in the annual returns of Australia's key indices.
Total returns of key ASX indices
| Index | This index tracks | Total return in 2025 |
| ASX Small Ords | ASX companies ranked 101 to 300 by market cap | 24.96% |
| S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) | Top 300 companies by market cap | 10.66% |
| ASX All Ords | Top 500 companies by market cap | 10.56% |
| S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) | Top 200 companies by market cap | 10.32% |
5 best ASX small-cap shares for price growth in 2025
These were the five best-performing ASX small-cap shares for capital growth in 2025.
1. Anti-drone technology company DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO), up 300%
2. Gold miner Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR), up 220%
3. Gold explorer Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI), up 220%
4. Gold producer Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG), up 206%
5. Gold explorer Southern Cross Gold Consolidated CDI (ASX: SX2), up 204%
