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.
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.
PENN Entertainment (PENN)
Share Price: $19.45
Established in 1982, PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ: PENN) is a diversified American operator of casinos, sports betting, and entertainment venues.
Why Should You Dump PENN?
- Lackluster 13.6% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates the company is losing ground to competitors
- Low free cash flow margin of -0.9% for the last two years gives it little breathing room, constraining its ability to self-fund growth or return capital to shareholders
- Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
PENN Entertainment is trading at $19.45 per share, or 20.4x forward P/E. If you’re considering PENN for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Hayward (HAYW)
Share Price: $14
Credited with introducing the first variable-speed pool pump, Hayward (NYSE: HAYW) makes residential and commercial pool equipment and accessories.
Why Are We Cautious About HAYW?
- Annual revenue growth of 2% over the last five years was below our standards for the industrials sector
- Falling earnings per share over the last four years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term
- Free cash flow margin shrank by 8.9 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
Hayward’s stock price of $14 implies a valuation ratio of 16.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HAYW.
Kemper (KMPR)
Share Price: $25.45
Originally known as Unitrin until rebranding in 2011, Kemper (NYSE: KMPR) is an insurance holding company that provides automobile, homeowners, life, and other insurance products to individuals and businesses across the United States.
Why Should You Sell KMPR?
- Insurance policy sales contracted this cycle as net premiums earned decreased by 1.8% annually over the last five years
- Sales were less profitable over the last five years as its earnings per share fell by 17.5% annually, worse than its revenue declines
- Book value per share tumbled by 7.6% annually over the last five years, showing insurance sector trends are working against it during this cycle
At $25.45 per share, Kemper trades at 0.6x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including KMPR in your portfolio.
Stocks We Like More
ONE MORE THING: Top 6 Stocks for This Week. This market is separating quality stocks from expensive ones fast. AI is taking down whole sectors with no warning. In a rotation this fast, you need more than a list of good companies.
Our AI system flagged Palantir before it ran 1,662%. AppLovin before it ran 753%. Nvidia before it ran 1,178%. Each week it produces 6 new names that pass the same tests. Get Our Top 6 Stocks for Free HERE.
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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
