What the Smallest Public Companies Teach Us About Valuation
Valuation professionals often use market capitalization to select size premiums, but the smallest public companies may have very different underlying characteristics. In this episode, Dr. Michael Crane discusses research on the smallest decile of public companies, including differences in profitability, performance, delisting rates, and penny stocks. The discussion considers how valuation professionals apply size premiums, avoid double-counting risk, and use professional judgment.The central theme: valuation is not mechanical. The fundamentals behind the data may matter as much as the size category. Key Topics: Why Decile 10 is not a single homogeneous group The impact of penny stocks on observed returns Professional judgment versus mechanical application of size premiums Guest – Dr. Michael Crain , Director, CPA/ABV, CFA, CFE, Center for Forensic Accounting, Florida Atlanta University Hosts – Josh Shilts , CPA/ABV/CFF/CGMA, Director-Valuation and Dispute Services, Dean Dorton David Harkins, CPA/ABV/CFF, CFA, Vice President, Mercer Capital ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for listening. We'd welcome your feedback at https://www.aicpa-cima.com/podcastsurvey or contact us directly at podcast@aicpa-cima.com . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you're using a podcast app that does not hyperlink to the resources, please visit our podcast platform to access the show notes with direct links. RESOURCES FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION Webcast, 11/17/2026: Company-Specific Risk: Incorporating and Assessing Cash Flow Assumptions with Roger Grabowski and Anthony Pumphrey Join: The FVS Engage365 Member Community to collaborate with fellow AICPA® members, exchange ideas, and shape the future of the profession together. Early career guidance: Welcome to a career in forensic and valuation services AICPA Business Valuation School , Dec. 7-11, 2026 - Learn valuation essentials and build a solid foundation to gain the confidence to apply valuation techniques and establish a solid foundation in valuation knowledge before performing high-stakes valuations. Click here to join the AICPA FVS Section An active community of FVS peers. You will get 16 credits of complimentary CPE and access to exclusivetechnical content FVS Valuation Podcast archives: Why CSRPs Aren't a Catch-All Building More Defensible Valuation Reports How BV Experts Should Approach a Deposition LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING AICPA CREDENTIALS: Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV®) – Visit the home page and check out the ABV infographic Certified in the Valuation of Financial Instruments (CVFI®) – Visit the home page and check out the CVFI infographic Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF®) - Visit the home page and check out the CFF infographic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a podcast from AICPA & CIMA ( https://www.aicpa-cima.com ). Enjoy more conversations from our global community of accounting and finance professionals by exploring our network of free shows at www.aicpa-cima.com/podcast .






