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.
This is precisely where StockStory comes in - we do the heavy lifting to identify companies with solid fundamentals so you can invest with confidence. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.
Ball (BALL)
Share Price: $48.22
Started with a $200 loan in 1880, Ball (NYSE: BLL) manufactures aluminum packaging for beverages, personal care, and household products as well as aerospace systems and other technologies.
Why Should You Sell BALL?
- Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
- High input costs result in an inferior gross margin of 21.5% that must be offset through higher volumes
- Lacking free cash flow generation means it has few chances to reinvest for growth, repurchase shares, or distribute capital
Ball is trading at $48.22 per share, or 12.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why BALL doesn’t pass our bar.
Artisan Partners (APAM)
Share Price: $40.44
Founded in 1994 with a focus on autonomous investment teams and a "high-value-added" approach, Artisan Partners (NYSE: APAM) is an investment management firm that offers actively managed equity and fixed income strategies to institutional and individual investors.
Why Are We Cautious About APAM?
- Sales trends were unexciting over the last five years as its 6.5% annual growth was below the typical financials company
- Incremental sales over the last five years were less profitable as its 4.3% annual earnings per share growth lagged its revenue gains
At $40.44 per share, Artisan Partners trades at 9.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including APAM in your portfolio.
Equitable Holdings (EQH)
Share Price: $43.80
Tracing its roots back to 1859 as one of America's oldest financial institutions, Equitable Holdings (NYSE: EQH) provides retirement planning, asset management, and life insurance products through its two main franchises, Equitable and AllianceBernstein.
Why Should You Dump EQH?
- Annual sales growth of 2.4% over the last five years lagged behind its insurance peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand
- Book value per share tumbled by 162% annually over the last five years, showing insurance sector trends are working against its favor during this cycle
- High debt-to-equity ratio of 8.7× shows the firm carries too much debt relative to shareholder equity, increasing bankruptcy risk
Equitable Holdings’s stock price of $43.80 implies a valuation ratio of 5.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering EQH for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
The market’s up big this year - but there’s a catch. Just 4 stocks account for half the S&P 500’s entire gain. That kind of concentration makes investors nervous, and for good reason. While everyone piles into the same crowded names, smart investors are hunting quality where no one’s looking - and paying a fraction of the price. Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. 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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