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.
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 swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.
Caesars Entertainment (CZR)
Share Price: $19.00
Formerly Eldorado Resorts, Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR) is a global gaming and hospitality company operating numerous casinos, hotels, and resort properties.
Why Do We Pass on CZR?
- Products and services fail to spark excitement with consumers, as seen in its flat sales over the last two years
- Lacking free cash flow generation means it has few chances to reinvest for growth, repurchase shares, or distribute capital
- 7× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio makes lenders less willing to extend additional capital, potentially necessitating dilutive equity offerings
Caesars Entertainment’s stock price of $19.00 implies a valuation ratio of 7.6x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including CZR in your portfolio.
MDU Resources (MDU)
Share Price: $20.82
Founded to provide electricity to towns in Minnesota, MDU Resources (NYSE:MDU) provides products and services in the utilities and construction materials industries.
Why Are We Out on MDU?
- Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 19.5% annually over the last five years
- 14.1 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position
- Depletion of cash reserves could lead to a fundraising event that triggers shareholder dilution
At $20.82 per share, MDU Resources trades at 21.1x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with MDU, check out our full research report (it’s free).
First Commonwealth Financial (FCF)
Share Price: $18.25
Tracing its roots back to the Great Depression era of 1934, First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF) is a financial holding company that provides consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and insurance services across Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Why Are We Cautious About FCF?
- Sales trends were unexciting over the last two years as its 4.1% annual growth was below the typical banking company
- Muted 9.7% annual net interest income growth over the last five years shows its demand lagged behind its banking peers
- Earnings per share fell by 5.4% annually over the last two years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
First Commonwealth Financial is trading at $18.25 per share, or 1.1x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than FCF.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.
Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).
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 Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.