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 is one stock under $50 that could 10x and two that may have trouble.
Two Stocks Under $50 to Sell:
Laureate Education (LAUR)
Share Price: $33.09
Founded in 1998 by Douglas L. Becker and based in Miami, Laureate Education (NASDAQ:LAUR) is a global network of higher education institutions.
Why Are We Out on LAUR?
- Demand for its offerings was relatively low as its number of enrolled students has underwhelmed
- Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were less profitable, as its 4.2% annual earnings per share growth trailed its revenue gains
- Forecasted free cash flow margin suggests the company will fail to improve its cash conversion over the next year
Laureate Education’s stock price of $33.09 implies a valuation ratio of 15.1x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why LAUR doesn’t pass our bar.
Hilltop Holdings (HTH)
Share Price: $37.37
Transformed from a residential communities business to a financial services powerhouse in 2007, Hilltop Holdings (NYSE:HTH) is a Texas-based financial holding company that provides banking, broker-dealer, and mortgage origination services.
Why Should You Sell HTH?
- Net interest income trends were unexciting over the last five years as its 1.3% annual growth was below the typical banking firm
- Anticipated 29.9 percentage point rise in its efficiency ratio suggests its expenses will increase as a percentage of revenue
- Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last five years, showing each sale was less profitable
At $37.37 per share, Hilltop Holdings trades at 1x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with HTH, check out our full research report (it’s free).
One Stock Under $50 to Buy:
Paymentus (PAY)
Share Price: $24.28
Founded in 2004 to simplify the complex world of bill payments, Paymentus (NYSE:PAY) provides a cloud-based platform that helps utilities, municipalities, and service providers automate billing and payment processes.
Why Is PAY a Good Business?
- Annual revenue growth of 40.2% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
- Additional sales over the last two years increased its profitability as the 51% annual growth in its earnings per share outpaced its revenue
Paymentus is trading at $24.28 per share, or 27.6x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren’t just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meet near-term momentum — both boxes checked at the same time.
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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 Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.