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 is one stock under $50 that could 10x and two that could be down big.
Two Stocks Under $50 to Sell:
Kratos (KTOS)
Share Price: $44.78
Established with a commitment to supporting national security, Kratos (NASDAQ:KTOS) is a provider of advanced engineering, technology, and security solutions tailored for critical national security applications.
Why Does KTOS Fall Short?
- 7 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
- Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
- Depletion of cash reserves could lead to a fundraising event that triggers shareholder dilution
At $44.78 per share, Kratos trades at 82.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including KTOS in your portfolio.
Vontier (VNT)
Share Price: $37.85
A spin-off of a spin-off, Vontier (NYSE:VNT) provides electronic products and systems to the transportation, automotive, and manufacturing sectors.
Why Do We Steer Clear of VNT?
- Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
- Free cash flow margin shrank by 14.8 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
- Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
Vontier’s stock price of $37.85 implies a valuation ratio of 11.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why VNT doesn’t pass our bar.
One Stock Under $50 to Buy:
Celsius (CELH)
Share Price: $45.68
With its proprietary MetaPlus formula as the basis for key products, Celsius (NASDAQ:CELH) offers energy drinks that feature natural ingredients to help in fitness and weight management.
Why Will CELH Outperform?
- Impressive 49.5% annual revenue growth over the last three years indicates it’s winning market share
- Earnings growth has massively outpaced its peers over the last three years as its EPS has compounded at 77.6% annually
- CELH is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
Celsius is trading at $45.68 per share, or 43.1x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even 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 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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