3 Stocks Under $50 in the Doghouse

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.

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.

TEGNA (TGNA)

Share Price: $17.11

Spun out of Gannett in 2015, TEGNA (NYSE:TGNA) is a media company operating a network of television stations and digital platforms, focusing on local news and community content.

Why Should You Sell TGNA?

1. Products and services aren't resonating with the market as its revenue declined by 2.8% annually over the last two years
2. Forecasted revenue decline of 9% for the upcoming 12 months implies demand will fall even further
3. Capital intensity will likely increase as its free cash flow margin is anticipated to drop by 8.8 percentage points over the next year

TEGNA is trading at $17.11 per share, or 8.2x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with TGNA, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Werner (WERN)

Share Price: $27.42

Conducting business in over a 100 countries, Werner (NASDAQ:WERN) offers full-truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal delivery services.

Why Are We Out on WERN?

1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 5.9% annually over the last two years
2. Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 34.2% annually
3. Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions

At $27.42 per share, Werner trades at 22.7x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why WERN doesn’t pass our bar.

Rithm Capital (RITM)

Share Price: $11.43

Evolving from a mortgage-focused REIT to a diversified asset manager with its 2023 acquisition of Sculptor Capital, Rithm Capital (NYSE:RITM) is a global asset manager focused on real estate, credit, and financial services that invests in mortgage servicing rights, residential properties, and loan portfolios.

Why Do We Avoid RITM?

1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last two years as its 4.7% annual growth was below the typical bank company
2. Earnings per share were flat over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were less profitable
3. 1.5% annual tangible book value per share growth over the last two years was slower than its bank peers

Rithm Capital’s stock price of $11.43 implies a valuation ratio of 0.9x forward P/B. If you’re considering RITM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025.

While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we’re homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver’s seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).

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