The $10-50 price range often includes mid-sized businesses with proven track records and plenty of growth runway ahead. They also usually carry less risk than penny stocks, though they’re not immune to volatility as many lack the scale advantages of their larger peers.
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. That said, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.
CSX (CSX)
Share Price: $30.51
Established as part of the Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries merger, CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) is a transportation company specializing in freight rail services.
Why Should You Dump CSX?
- Flat unit sales over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its strategy
- Performance over the past two years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 7.4% annually, worse than its revenue
- Free cash flow margin shrank by 15.6 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
At $30.51 per share, CSX trades at 16.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CSX, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Vishay Precision (VPG)
Share Price: $26.31
Emerging from Vishay Intertechnology in 2010, Vishay Precision (NYSE: VPG) operates as a global provider of precision measurement and sensing technologies.
Why Should You Sell VPG?
- Annual sales declines of 9.6% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
- Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 6.3 percentage points
- Incremental sales over the last five years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 16.2% annually while its revenue grew
Vishay Precision is trading at $26.31 per share, or 21.7x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including VPG in your portfolio.
Dentsply Sirona (XRAY)
Share Price: $16
With roots dating back to 1877 when it introduced the first dental electric drill, Dentsply Sirona (NASDAQ: XRAY) manufactures and sells professional dental equipment, technologies, and consumable products used by dentists and specialists worldwide.
Why Do We Pass on XRAY?
- Constant currency growth was below our standards over the past two years, suggesting it might need to invest in product improvements to get back on track
- Performance over the past five years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 7% annually, worse than its revenue
- Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value
Dentsply Sirona’s stock price of $16 implies a valuation ratio of 8.4x forward P/E. If you’re considering XRAY for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Stocks We Like More
Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.
While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our 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 176% over the last five years.
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 Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
