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Mid and Small-Cap Stocks Lead Gains in 2011

CNBC.com | July 07, 2011 | 06:05 PM EDT

The S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at an all-time high on Thursday, while the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index came within points of reaching record levels. So far in 2011, both indexes are up 10.8 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively. That compares to a 7.6 percent gain for large-cap stocks.

As investors turn their attention to Friday's job report , here is a look at where some of the major indexes stand in relation to their historic levels.

S&P 600 Smallcaps closed on Thursday at a record all-time high of 461.01, after trading as high as 462.38

S&P 400 Midcaps closed within 4 points of their all-time closing high of 1015.26 set on April 29, 2011, and traded within 5 points of their intraday all-time high of 1018.65

Midcaps are also one of the top performing US indexes year-to-date, up 11.51 percent

NASDAQ Composite closed near its highest level since December 12, 2000, when it settle at 2,931.77 (The 2011 closing high of 2,873.54 was hit on April 29)

On an intraday basis, the NASDAQ has to surpass the intraday 52-week high of 2,887.75 hit on May 2, 2011, to be trading at December 2000 levels

Dow Transports closed at record all-time highs

Dow Industrials : The 2011 closing high is 12,810.54 hit on April 29, while the all-time high level of 14,164.53 was hit on October 9, 2007

On an intraday basis, the Dow's high is 12,876 hit on May 2, 2011

S&P 500 : The 2011 closing high is 1,363.61 reached on April 29, while the all-time high of 1,565.15 was hit on October 9, 2007

On an intraday basis, the S&P's high is 1,370.58 hit on May 2, 2011

The table below highlights the best mid and small-cap companies in 2011.

bythenumbers.cnbc.com