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.
Conagra (CAG)
Share Price: $18.13
Founded in 1919 as Nebraska Consolidated Mills in Omaha, Nebraska, Conagra Brands today (NYSE: CAG) boasts a diverse portfolio of packaged foods brands that includes everything from whipped cream to jarred pickles to frozen meals.
Why Is CAG Risky?
- Shrinking unit sales over the past two years imply it may need to invest in product improvements to get back on track
- Estimated sales decline of 3.4% for the next 12 months implies an even more challenging demand environment
- Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging
Conagra’s stock price of $18.13 implies a valuation ratio of 7.4x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CAG, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Movado (MOV)
Share Price: $18.76
With its watches displayed in 20 museums around the world, Movado (NYSE: MOV) is a watchmaking company with a portfolio of watch brands and accessories.
Why Do We Pass on MOV?
- Annual revenue declines of 4.3% over the last two years indicate problems with its market positioning
- Estimated sales growth of 1.5% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand
- Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam
At $18.76 per share, Movado trades at 0.7x trailing 12-month price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why MOV doesn’t pass our bar.
Matrix Service (MTRX)
Share Price: $13.04
Founded in Oklahoma, Matrix Service (NASDAQ: MTRX) provides engineering, fabrication, construction, and maintenance services primarily to the energy and industrial markets.
Why Do We Steer Clear of MTRX?
- Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 6.9% annually over the last five years
- High input costs result in an inferior gross margin of 3.9% that must be offset through higher volumes
- Performance over the past five years was negatively impacted by new share issuances as its earnings per share dropped by 34.8% annually, worse than its revenue
Matrix Service is trading at $13.04 per share, or 20.8x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MTRX in your portfolio.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.
Take advantage of the rebound by checking out 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 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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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