Stocks trading in the $1-10 range are generally smaller players with less risk than their penny stock counterparts. But that doesn’t mean the underlying businesses are cheap, and we advise caution as many have questionable fundamentals.
The bad behavior exhibited by lower-quality companies in this space can spook even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to separate the good from the bad. That said, here are three stocks under $10 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.
ACV Auctions (ACVA)
Share Price: $6.60
Founded in 2014, ACV Auctions (NASDAQ: ACVA) is an online auction marketplace for car dealers and wholesalers to buy and sell used cars.
Why Are We Hesitant About ACVA?
- High servicing costs result in an inferior gross margin of 27.4% that must be offset through higher volumes
- Expensive marketing campaigns hurt its profitability and make us wonder what would happen if it let up on the gas
- Ability to fund investments or reward shareholders with increased buybacks or dividends is restricted by its weak free cash flow margin of 4.1% for the last two years
ACV Auctions’s stock price of $6.60 implies a valuation ratio of 16.9x forward EV/EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ACVA in your portfolio.
AMC Entertainment (AMC)
Share Price: $2.08
With a profile that was raised due to meme stock mania beginning in 2021, AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC) operates movie theaters primarily in the US and Europe.
Why Are We Cautious About AMC?
- Muted 1.8% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its consumer discretionary peers
- Cash-burning history makes us doubt the long-term viability of its business model
- Depletion of cash reserves could lead to a fundraising event that triggers shareholder dilution
AMC Entertainment is trading at $2.08 per share, or 1.7x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than AMC.
Grid Dynamics (GDYN)
Share Price: $8.10
With engineering centers across the Americas, Europe, and India serving Fortune 1000 companies, Grid Dynamics (NASDAQ: GDYN) provides technology consulting, engineering, and analytics services to help large enterprises modernize their technology systems and business processes.
Why Are We Wary of GDYN?
- Modest revenue base of $406 million gives it less fixed cost leverage and fewer distribution channels than larger companies
- Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 6.7 percentage points
- Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction
At $8.10 per share, Grid Dynamics trades at 19x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why GDYN doesn’t pass our bar.
Stocks We Like More
Your portfolio can’t afford to be based on yesterday’s story. The risk in a handful of heavily crowded stocks is rising daily.
The names generating the next wave of massive growth are right here in our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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
StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.
