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 two stocks under $50 that could 10x and one best left ignored.
One Stock Under $50 to Sell:
Kulicke and Soffa (KLIC)
Share Price: $36.60
Headquartered in Singapore, Kulicke & Soffa (NASDAQ: KLIC) is a provider of production equipment and tools used to assemble semiconductor devices
Why Should You Dump KLIC?
- Annual sales declines of 10.8% 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 23.4 percentage points
- Earnings per share have contracted by 20.3% annually over the last five years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
Kulicke and Soffa is trading at $36.60 per share, or 34.6x forward P/E. If you’re considering KLIC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Two Stocks Under $50 to Watch:
Astronics (ATRO)
Share Price: $35
Integrating power outlets into many Boeing aircraft, Astronics (NASDAQ:ATRO) is a provider of technologies and services to the global aerospace, defense, and electronics industries.
Why Are We Fans of ATRO?
- Annual revenue growth of 15.1% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
- Performance over the past two years shows its incremental sales were extremely profitable, as its annual earnings per share growth of 89.9% outpaced its revenue gains
- Historical investments are beginning to pay off as its returns on capital are growing
Astronics’s stock price of $35 implies a valuation ratio of 20.9x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
First Busey (BUSE)
Share Price: $23.19
Tracing its roots back to 1868 during America's post-Civil War reconstruction era, First Busey (NASDAQ:BUSE) is a bank holding company that provides commercial and retail banking, wealth management, and payment technology solutions across Illinois, Missouri, Florida, and Indiana.
Why Are We Positive On BUSE?
- Annual net interest income growth of 12.9% over the last five years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
- Demand for the next 12 months is expected to accelerate above its five-year trend as Wall Street forecasts robust net interest income growth of 50.7%
- Annual tangible book value per share growth of 19% over the last two years was superb and indicates its capital strength increased during this cycle
At $23.19 per share, First Busey trades at 0.9x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.
The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check 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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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
StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.