Stocks in the $10-50 range offer a sweet spot between affordability and stability as they’re typically more established than penny stocks. But their headline prices don’t guarantee quality, and investors should exercise caution as some have shaky business models.

This is precisely where StockStory comes in - we do the heavy lifting to identify companies with solid fundamentals so you can invest with confidence. That said, here are three stocks under $50 to avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.

Couchbase (BASE)

Share Price: $18.20

Formed in 2011 with the merger of Membase and CouchOne, Couchbase (NASDAQ: BASE) is a database-as-a-service platform that allows enterprises to store large volumes of semi-structured data.

Why Are We Cautious About BASE?

1. Revenue increased by 19.2% annually over the last three years, acceptable on an absolute basis but tepid for a software company enjoying secular tailwinds
2. Customer acquisition costs take a while to recoup, making it difficult to justify sales and marketing investments that could increase revenue
3. Poor expense management has led to operating losses

Couchbase is trading at $18.20 per share, or 4.1x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including BASE in your portfolio.

Victoria's Secret (VSCO)

Share Price: $21.21

Spun off from L Brands in 2020, Victoria’s Secret (NYSE: VSCO) is an intimate clothing and beauty retailer that sells its own brands of lingerie, undergarments, and personal fragrances.

Why Are We Out on VSCO?

1. Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand
2. Responsiveness to unforeseen market trends is restricted due to its substandard operating profitability
3. Earnings per share have contracted by 21.8% annually over the last three years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance

Victoria's Secret’s stock price of $21.21 implies a valuation ratio of 7.5x forward P/E. If you’re considering VSCO for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Yum China (YUMC)

Share Price: $43.48

One of China’s largest restaurant companies, Yum China (NYSE: YUMC) is an independent entity spun off from Yum! Brands in 2016.

Why Does YUMC Fall Short?

1. Weak same-store sales trends over the past two years suggest there may be few opportunities in its core markets to open new restaurants
2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 4.2%
3. Gross margin of 20.1% reflects the bad unit economics inherent in most restaurant businesses

At $43.48 per share, Yum China trades at 15.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why YUMC doesn’t pass our bar.

Stocks We Like More

The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025.

While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we’re homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver’s seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out 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 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.