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.
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. Keeping that in mind, here are two stocks under $50 with massive upside potential and one that may have trouble.
One Stock Under $50 to Sell:
Brookdale (BKD)
Share Price: $13.55
With a network of over 650 communities serving approximately 59,000 residents across 41 states, Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD) operates senior living communities across the United States, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities.
Why Do We Think Twice About BKD?
- Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 2% annually over the last five years
- Forecasted revenue decline of 5.9% for the upcoming 12 months implies demand will fall off a cliff
- 11× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio makes lenders less willing to extend additional capital, potentially necessitating dilutive equity offerings
Brookdale is trading at $13.55 per share, or 16.8x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including BKD in your portfolio.
Two Stocks Under $50 to Watch:
Planet Labs (PL)
Share Price: $34.77
Pioneering the concept of "agile aerospace" with hundreds of small but powerful satellites, Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) operates the world's largest fleet of Earth observation satellites, capturing daily images of our planet to provide insights on deforestation, agriculture, and climate change.
Why Are We Backing PL?
- Demand is greater than supply as the company’s 157% average backlog growth over the past two years shows it’s securing new contracts and accumulating more orders than it can fulfill
- Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 65.4% over the last two years outstripped its revenue performance
- Free cash flow turned positive over the last five years, showing the company is at an important crossroads
Planet Labs’s stock price of $34.77 implies a valuation ratio of 1,345.4x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
Old Second Bancorp (OSBC)
Share Price: $21.31
Dating back to 1871 as one of the Chicago area's longest-standing financial institutions, Old Second Bancorp (NASDAQ: OSBC) is an Illinois-based community bank offering deposit services, commercial and consumer loans, wealth management, and mortgage products through its 53 branch locations.
Why Do We Like OSBC?
- Market share has increased this cycle as its 26.1% annual net interest income growth over the last five years was exceptional
- Projected net interest income growth of 13.2% for the next 12 months suggests its momentum from the last five years will persist
- Differentiated product suite is reflected in its Strong performance of its loan book is reflected in its High-yielding loan book and low cost of funds lead to a best-in-class net interest margin of 4.8%
At $21.31 per share, Old Second Bancorp trades at 1.1x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
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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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
