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 avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.

BILL (BILL)

Share Price: $48.59

Transforming the messy back-office financial operations that plague small business owners, BILL (NYSE: BILL) provides a cloud-based platform that automates accounts payable, accounts receivable, and expense management for small and midsize businesses.

Why Do We Think Twice About BILL?

1. Offerings struggled to generate meaningful interest as its average billings growth of 11.9% over the last year did not impress
2. Estimated sales growth of 10.5% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
3. Operating margin expanded by 3.1 percentage points over the last year as it scaled and became more efficient

At $48.59 per share, BILL trades at 2.9x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why BILL doesn’t pass our bar.

Macy's (M)

Share Price: $20.15

With a storied history that began with its 1858 founding, Macy’s (NYSE: M) is a department store chain that sells clothing, cosmetics, accessories, and home goods.

Why Do We Steer Clear of M?

1. Ongoing store closures and lackluster same-store sales indicate sluggish demand and a focus on consolidation
2. Weak same-store sales trends over the past two years suggest there may be few opportunities in its core markets to open new locations

Macy's is trading at $20.15 per share, or 9.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering M for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

First Advantage (FA)

Share Price: $13.64

Processing approximately 100 million background checks annually across more than 200 countries and territories, First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) provides employment background screening, identity verification, and compliance solutions to help companies manage hiring risks.

Why Are We Hesitant About FA?

1. Performance over the past two years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 4.6% annually
2. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 15.1 percentage points
3. ROIC of 0.9% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities, and its shrinking returns suggest its past profit sources are losing steam

First Advantage’s stock price of $13.64 implies a valuation ratio of 11x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including FA in your portfolio.

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 Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

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