3 Stocks Under $50 We Keep Off Our Radar

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 three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.

nLIGHT (LASR)

Share Price: $54.57

Founded by a former CEO and Harvard-educated entrepreneur Scott Keeneyn, nLIGHT (NASDAQ:LASR) offers semiconductor and fiber lasers to the industrial, aerospace & defense, and medical sectors.

Why Do We Steer Clear of LASR?

1. 2.6% annual revenue growth over the last five years was slower than its industrials peers
2. Cash-burning history and the downward spiral in its margin profile make us wonder if it has a viable business model
3. Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions

At $54.57 per share, nLIGHT trades at 178x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including LASR in your portfolio.

Kimball Electronics (KE)

Share Price: $25.63

Founded in 1961, Kimball Electronics (NYSE:KE) is a global contract manufacturer specializing in electronics and manufacturing solutions for automotive, medical, and industrial markets.

Why Do We Think KE Will Underperform?

1. Annual sales declines of 10.9% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
2. Earnings per share have dipped by 5.6% annually over the past five years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
3. Ability to fund investments or reward shareholders with increased buybacks or dividends is restricted by its weak free cash flow margin of -0.8% for the last five years

Kimball Electronics’s stock price of $25.63 implies a valuation ratio of 19.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than KE.

OceanFirst Financial (OCFC)

Share Price: $19.57

Tracing its roots back to 1902 when it began serving coastal New Jersey communities, OceanFirst Financial (NASDAQ:OCFC) operates as a regional bank holding company that provides commercial and consumer banking services primarily in New Jersey and surrounding metropolitan areas.

Why Are We Out on OCFC?

1. Net interest income trends were unexciting over the last five years as its 2.9% annual growth was below the typical banking firm
2. Sales were less profitable over the last two years as its earnings per share fell by 10.4% annually, worse than its revenue declines
3. Estimated tangible book value per share decline of 2.2% for the next 12 months implies a challenging profitability environment

OceanFirst Financial is trading at $19.57 per share, or 0.8x forward P/B. If you’re considering OCFC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

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