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3 Stocks Under $50 We Find Risky

USNA Cover Image

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.

These dynamics can cause headaches for even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the good companies from the bad. That said, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.

USANA (USNA)

Share Price: $19.55

Going to market with a direct selling model rather than through traditional retailers, USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA) manufactures and sells nutritional, personal care, and skincare products.

Why Do We Think Twice About USNA?

  1. Sales tumbled by 4.2% annually over the last three years, showing consumer trends are working against its favor
  2. Forecasted revenue decline of 1.4% for the upcoming 12 months implies demand will fall even further
  3. Performance over the past three years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 20.9% annually, worse than its revenue

At $19.55 per share, USANA trades at 10.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering USNA for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

GEO Group (GEO)

Share Price: $17.20

With a global footprint spanning three continents and approximately 81,000 beds across 100 facilities, GEO Group (NYSE: GEO) operates secure facilities, processing centers, and reentry services for government agencies in the United States, Australia, and South Africa.

Why Should You Sell GEO?

  1. Muted 1.1% annual revenue growth over the last five years shows its demand lagged behind its business services peers
  2. Efficiency has decreased over the last four years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 6.6 percentage points
  3. 11.7 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position

GEO Group is trading at $17.20 per share, or 14.7x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why GEO doesn’t pass our bar.

HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (HASI)

Share Price: $33.70

With a proprietary "CarbonCount" metric that quantifies the environmental impact of each dollar invested, HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (NYSE: HASI) is an investment firm that finances and develops climate-positive infrastructure projects across renewable energy, energy efficiency, and ecological restoration.

Why Does HASI Give Us Pause?

  1. Underwhelming 8% return on equity reflects management’s difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities

HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital’s stock price of $33.70 implies a valuation ratio of 11.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HASI.

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 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.

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

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