Stocks trading between $10 and $50 can be particularly interesting as they frequently represent businesses that have survived their early challenges. However, investors should remain vigilant as some may still have unproven business models, leaving them vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of the broader market.
Luckily for you, our mission at StockStory is to help you make money and avoid losses by sorting the winners from the losers. That said, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.
Insteel (IIIN)
Share Price: $30.38
Growing from a small wire manufacturer to one of the largest in the U.S., Insteel (NYSE: IIIN) provides steel wire reinforcing products for concrete.
Why Does IIIN Give Us Pause?
- Sales stagnated over the last two years and signal the need for new growth strategies
- Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 5.9 percentage points
- Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam
At $30.38 per share, Insteel trades at 10.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why IIIN doesn’t pass our bar.
Pediatrix Medical Group (MD)
Share Price: $22.91
With a network of approximately 2,620 affiliated physicians caring for some of the most vulnerable patients, Pediatrix Medical Group (NYSE: MD) provides specialized physician services focused on neonatal, maternal-fetal, pediatric cardiology and other pediatric subspecialty care across 37 states.
Why Does MD Worry Us?
- Disappointing comparable store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its offerings and value proposition
- Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 1.1%
- Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value
Pediatrix Medical Group’s stock price of $22.91 implies a valuation ratio of 10.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than MD.
Provident Financial Services (PFS)
Share Price: $17.77
Founded in 1839 and serving communities across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, Provident Financial Services (NYSE: PFS) operates a regional bank providing commercial, residential, and consumer lending alongside wealth management and insurance services.
Why Do We Think Twice About PFS?
- Net interest margin of 3.3% reflects its high servicing and capital costs
- Loan losses and capital returns have eroded its tangible book value per share this cycle as its tangible book value per share declined by 1.3% annually over the last two years
Provident Financial Services is trading at $17.77 per share, or 0.9x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with PFS, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Your portfolio can’t afford to be based on yesterday’s story. The risk in a handful of heavily crowded stocks is rising daily.
The names generating the next wave of massive growth are right here in our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today
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