Stocks under $10 pique our interest because they have room to grow (as well as the most affordable option contract premiums). That doesn’t mean they’re bargains though, and we urge investors to be careful as many have risky business models.

The bad behavior exhibited by lower-quality companies in this space can spook even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to separate the good from the bad. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks under $10 to avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.

Snap (SNAP)

Share Price: $8.47

Founded by Stanford University students Evan Spiegel, Reggie Brown, and Bobby Murphy, and originally called Picaboo, Snapchat (NYSE: SNAP) is an image centric social media network.

Why Is SNAP Not Exciting?

1. Annual revenue growth of 7.5% over the last three years was below our standards for the consumer internet sector
2. Decision to emphasize platform growth over monetization has contributed to sluggish trends in its average revenue per user
3. Revenue growth over the past three years was nullified by the company’s new share issuances as its earnings per share fell by 2.3% annually

At $8.47 per share, Snap trades at 22.7x forward EV/EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including SNAP in your portfolio.

Peloton (PTON)

Share Price: $7.93

Started as a Kickstarter campaign, Peloton (NASDAQ: PTON) is a fitness technology company known for its at-home exercise equipment and interactive online workout classes.

Why Are We Out on PTON?

1. Number of connected fitness subscribers has disappointed over the past two years, indicating weak demand for its offerings
2. Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating margin losses
3. Projected 2.7 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin next year reflects the company’s plans to increase its investments to defend its market position

Peloton’s stock price of $7.93 implies a valuation ratio of 8.9x forward EV-to-EBITDA. If you’re considering PTON for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Smith & Wesson (SWBI)

Share Price: $9.43

With a history dating back to 1852, Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ: SWBI) is a firearms manufacturer known for its handguns and rifles.

Why Is SWBI Risky?

1. Products and services have few die-hard fans as sales have declined by 6.6% annually over the last five years
2. Cash burn makes us question whether it can achieve sustainable long-term growth
3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

Smith & Wesson is trading at $9.43 per share, or 7.9x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why SWBI doesn’t pass our bar.

Stocks We Like More

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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% 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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