Do small caps outperform the S&P 500?

In the realm of financial markets, investors often ponder if smaller capitalization stocks, commonly referred to as "small caps," are able to outperform the benchmark S&P 500 index. This question arises due to the inherent risk-return trade-off associated with investing in companies with lower market capitalizations. On one hand, small caps offer the potential for significant growth as they often represent emerging companies with innovative ideas and technologies. However, their smaller size and lesser liquidity can also lead to increased volatility and greater risks. Therefore, investors are keen to understand if small caps, despite their inherent risks, are capable of delivering superior returns compared to the broad market represented by the S&P 500.