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 are three stocks under $50 to avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.
Hillenbrand (HI)
Share Price: $26.60
Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI) is an industrial company that designs, manufactures, and sells highly engineered processing equipment and solutions for various industries.
Why Is HI Risky?
- Muted 3.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its industrials peers
- Free cash flow margin dropped by 18.9 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
- Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
Hillenbrand is trading at $26.60 per share, or 11.1x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including HI in your portfolio.
CONMED (CNMD)
Share Price: $47.16
With over five decades of experience in surgical innovation since its founding in 1970, CONMED (NYSE:CNMD) develops and manufactures medical devices and equipment for surgical procedures, specializing in orthopedic and general surgery products.
Why Are We Wary of CNMD?
- Smaller revenue base of $1.33 billion means it hasn’t achieved the economies of scale that some industry juggernauts enjoy
- ROIC of 5.5% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities
CONMED’s stock price of $47.16 implies a valuation ratio of 10.4x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CNMD, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Horace Mann Educators (HMN)
Share Price: $44.43
Founded in 1945 and named after the 19th-century education reformer known as the "father of American public education," Horace Mann Educators (NYSE:HMN) is an insurance company that specializes in providing auto, property, life, and retirement products tailored for educators and other public service employees.
Why Do We Steer Clear of HMN?
- Sluggish 5.4% annualized growth in net premiums earned over the last five years indicates the firm trailed its insurance peers
- Book value per share tumbled by 3.4% annually over the last five years, showing insurance sector trends are working against its favor during this cycle
- ROE of 6.3% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities
At $44.43 per share, Horace Mann Educators trades at 1.3x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why HMN doesn’t pass our bar.
Stocks We Like More
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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
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