Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

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Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

3 Stocks Under $50 with Warning Signs

CZR Cover Image

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.

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. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.

Caesars Entertainment (CZR)

Share Price: $25.80

Formerly Eldorado Resorts, Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR) is a global gaming and hospitality company operating numerous casinos, hotels, and resort properties.

Why Is CZR Not Exciting?

  1. Products and services fail to spark excitement with consumers, as seen in its flat sales over the last two years
  2. Earnings per share fell by 5.4% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
  3. High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 6× increases the risk of forced asset sales or dilutive financing if operational performance weakens

Caesars Entertainment is trading at $25.80 per share, or 31.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CZR.

Wolverine Worldwide (WWW)

Share Price: $27.91

Founded in 1883, Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE: WWW) is a global footwear company with a diverse portfolio of brands including Merrell, Hush Puppies, and Saucony.

Why Is WWW Risky?

  1. Annual sales declines of 1.6% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market
  2. Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last five years, showing each sale was less profitable
  3. Negative returns on capital show management lost money while trying to expand the business, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging

Wolverine Worldwide’s stock price of $27.91 implies a valuation ratio of 22.1x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with WWW, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Knight-Swift Transportation (KNX)

Share Price: $39.13

Covering 1.6 billion loaded miles in 2023 alone, Knight-Swift Transportation (NYSE: KNX) offers less-than-truckload and full truckload delivery services.

Why Do We Pass on KNX?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 4.3% over the last two years was below our standards for the industrials sector
  2. 9.1 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
  3. Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned

At $39.13 per share, Knight-Swift Transportation trades at 21.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including KNX in your portfolio.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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 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

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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