capitalization investment & finance definition

The amounts and types of long-term financing used by a firm. Types of financing include common stock, preferred stock, retained earnings, and long-term debt. A firm with capitalization including little or no long-term debt is considered to be financed very conservatively. Also called cap, capital structure, financial structure, total capitalization. See also complex capital structure, large-cap, market capitalization, recapitalization, small-cap.