3 Top Stocks Under $20

Low-priced stocks are often ignored, despite promising potential. Do your portfolio a favour and see why companies like Inter Pipeline Ltd (TSX:IPL) can maximize your upside while limiting losses.

| More on:

Some of the best stocks on the market are under $20 per share. In fact, there’s one promising stock on this list that’s under $5 per share.

If you’re looking for low-priced investments with big upside, the following options deserve your immediate attention.

Growth and stability

Algonquin Power & Utilities (TSX:AQN)(NYSE:AQN) has an $8 billion market cap, but at $16 per share, it simply hasn’t gotten the recognition it deserves.

Since 2009, shares are up more than 400%. As a bonus, the stock pays a dividend just over 4.6%.

What’s the secret to its success?

Roughly three-fourths of Algonquin’s business is fully regulated. This is one of the most reliable ways to make money. The company has long-term contracts to supply power at a guaranteed price and rate base. All it has to do is deliver.

The remaining quarter of the business isn’t fully regulated, but it has higher growth potential. Management expects to deploy billions in capital to grow EBITDA by 15% annually over the next few years.

In a nutshell, Algonquin has perfected the balance of stability and growth.

Luckily for you, this proven formula should continue working for decades. The stock isn’t as cheap as it used to be, but it’s still underpriced compared to its peers.

Huge dividends

At $8 billion, Inter Pipeline (TSX:IPL) doesn’t get as much attention as Enbridge, but it should.

Like Enbridge, the company operates critical energy infrastructure, including oil sands pipelines, natural gas processing, and bulk liquid storage. This is an incredibly difficult, if not impossible business to replicate.

Inter Pipeline’s customers need these assets to survive, meaning the company has impressive pricing power.

Today, around 70% of the business is considered “fee-based” as opposed to “margin-based.” Essentially, this means that most of Inter Pipeline’s profits are insulated from swings in commodity prices. This is an ideal situation to be in.

Over the last five years, oil prices have been difficult to predict. One thing has been more certain: supply.

Throughout North America, production is surging. Inter Pipeline’s assets help store, refine, and ship this output. No matter where oil prices head, the company will likely see mounting demand for its services.

Today, shares trade at 14 times trailing earnings with an 8.6% dividend. Compare that to Enbridge’s 21 times trailing earnings valuation and a mere 6.2% dividend.

Now looks like the time to scoop up this underrated stock.

Calculated risk

Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) has been a difficult stock to pin down. Since 1995, the stock has doubled in valued more than a dozen times. In all of the cases, shares ultimately gave up the gains entirely.

At $2.40 per share, the company is a shell of its former self, but buying when expectations hit rock bottom has been a durable, winning strategy for this stock.

Last July, shares topped $5 from renewed optimism for its rail and aviation segments. This May, management blew up the party by lowering long-term financial targets and announcing a slew of restructuring initiatives.

The market has punished the stock severely, but shares now look like a reasonable risk given the reward potential.

In June, the company signed a contract to provide 74 train coaches to Israel Railways. The deal was worth nearly $200 million, yet the stock barely budged.

Two days before, the company agreed to supply 14 high-speed trains to Trenitalia with a decade-long maintenance contract. This deal was worth $350 million. Yet again, the stock barely moved.

Throw in the fact that Bombardier was revealed as a preferred bidder to build and supply a new monorail system in Cairo worth $1.7 billion, and you start to get the idea that business is, in fact, turning around quickly, despite the market’s pessimism.

Shares remain at a 52-week low, despite rapidly improving fundamentals.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

The Motley Fool owns shares of Enbridge. Fool contributor Ryan Vanzo has no position in any stocks mentioned. Enbridge is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.

More on Dividend Stocks

Train cars pass over trestle bridge in the mountains
Dividend Stocks

Is CNR Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for 2025?

Can CNR stock continue its long-term outperformance into 2025 and beyond? Let's explore whether now is a good time to…

Read more »

coins jump into piggy bank
Dividend Stocks

The Smartest Dividend Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now

These top dividend stocks both offer attractive yields and trade off their highs, making them two of the best to…

Read more »

Middle aged man drinks coffee
Dividend Stocks

Here’s the Average TFSA Balance at Age 35 in Canada

At age 35, it might not seem like you need to be thinking about your future cash flow. But ideally,…

Read more »

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Dividend Stocks

How to Invest Your $7,000 TFSA Contribution in 2024

Here's how I would prioritize a $7,000 TFSA contribution for growth and income.

Read more »

a man relaxes with his feet on a pile of books
Dividend Stocks

CPP Pensioners: Watch for These Important Updates

The CPP is an excellent tool for retirees, but be sure to stay on top of important updates like these.

Read more »

Technology
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Investors: 3 Dividend Stocks I’d Buy and Hold Forever

These TSX dividend stocks are likely to help TFSA investors earn steady and growing passive income for decades.

Read more »

four people hold happy emoji masks
Dividend Stocks

Love Dividend Growth? Check Out These 2 Income-Boosting Stocks

National Bank of Canada (TSX:NA) and another Canadian dividend-growth stock are looking like a bargain going into December 2024.

Read more »

An investor uses a tablet
Dividend Stocks

A Dividend Giant I’d Buy Over Enbridge Stock Right Now

Enbridge stock may seem like the best of the best in terms of dividends, but honestly this one is far…

Read more »