3 Stocks Under $50 That Fall Short

Stocks trading between $10 and $50 can be particularly interesting as they frequently represent businesses that have survived their early challenges. However, investors should remain vigilant as some may still have unproven business models, leaving them vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of the broader market.

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. That said, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.

WillScot Mobile Mini (WSC)

Share Price: $21.20

Originally focusing on mobile offices for construction sites, WillScot (NASDAQ:WSC) provides ready-to-use temporary spaces, largely for longer-term lease.

Why Should You Dump WSC?

1. Annual sales declines of 1.8% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
2. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 10.5 percentage points
3. Issuance of new shares over the last five years caused its earnings per share to fall by 1.6% annually while its revenue grew

At $21.20 per share, WillScot Mobile Mini trades at 20.4x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with WSC, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Neogen (NEOG)

Share Price: $11.56

Founded in 1981 and operating at the intersection of food safety and animal health, Neogen (NASDAQ:NEOG) develops and manufactures diagnostic tests and related products to detect dangerous substances in food and pharmaceuticals for animal health.

Why Do We Steer Clear of NEOG?

1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 2.1% annually over the last two years
2. Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
3. Negative earnings profile makes it challenging to secure favorable financing terms from lenders

Neogen’s stock price of $11.56 implies a valuation ratio of 40.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NEOG.

Live Oak Bancshares (LOB)

Share Price: $36.60

Founded during the 2008 financial crisis with a vision to reimagine small business banking through technology, Live Oak Bancshares (NYSE:LOB) is a bank holding company that specializes in providing online banking services and SBA-guaranteed loans to small businesses across targeted industries nationwide.

Why Does LOB Worry Us?

1. Inferior net interest margin of 3.3% means it must compensate for lower profitability through increased loan originations
2. Incremental sales over the last two years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 6.4% annually while its revenue grew

Live Oak Bancshares is trading at $36.60 per share, or 1.3x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why LOB doesn’t pass our bar.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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