The $10-50 price range often includes mid-sized businesses with proven track records and plenty of growth runway ahead. They also usually carry less risk than penny stocks, though they’re not immune to volatility as many lack the scale advantages of their larger peers.
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.
Perdoceo Education (PRDO)
Share Price: $28.71
Formerly known as Career Education Corporation, Perdoceo Education (NASDAQ: PRDO) is an educational services company that specializes in postsecondary education.
Why Do We Steer Clear of PRDO?
- Muted 3.7% annual revenue growth over the last five years shows its demand lagged behind its consumer discretionary peers
- Earnings growth underperformed the sector average over the last five years as its EPS grew by just 10.8% annually
- Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
At $28.71 per share, Perdoceo Education trades at 38.3x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including PRDO in your portfolio.
Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN)
Share Price: $45.68
With a diverse portfolio of eight FDA-approved medications targeting neurological conditions, Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SUPN) develops and markets treatments for central nervous system disorders including epilepsy, ADHD, Parkinson's disease, and migraine.
Why Is SUPN Risky?
- Annual revenue growth of 5.9% over the last five years was below our standards for the healthcare sector
- Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $681.5 million, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals
- Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value
Supernus Pharmaceuticals is trading at $45.68 per share, or 17.9x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with SUPN, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
Peoples Bancorp (PEBO)
Share Price: $31.29
Founded in 1902 in Ohio and expanding through both organic growth and acquisitions, Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ: PEBO) is a financial holding company that provides banking, insurance, equipment leasing, and investment services to consumers and businesses.
Why Does PEBO Worry Us?
- 5.9% annual revenue growth over the last two years was slower than its banking peers
- Net interest margin shrank by 44.7 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over the last two years, suggesting the profitability of its loan book is decreasing or the market is becoming more competitive
- Earnings per share fell by 13.5% annually over the last two years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
Peoples Bancorp’s stock price of $31.29 implies a valuation ratio of 0.9x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why PEBO doesn’t pass our bar.
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 6 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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% 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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