10 Worst Affordable Stocks to Buy Under $10

7. Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY)

Price: $9.11

Forward P/E Ratio: 9.66

Earnings Growth This Year: 53.01%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY) is a regional bank holding and financial holding company headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey. Its primary subsidiary, Valley National Bank, operates over 230 branches and commercial banking offices across several US states.

On March 24, Piper Sandler analyst Frank Schiraldi upgraded Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY) from Neutral to Overweight, maintaining a price target of $11. Schiraldi expects significant profitability improvements over the next 12 months, projecting the bank to achieve a 1% return on assets by year-end, up from the 74 basis points reported in Q4 2024. He views the stock as undervalued, trading below tangible book value and at approximately 7.5 times expected 2026 earnings. Moreover, the bank’s credit profile remains strong, with credit costs anticipated to decline significantly year-over-year in line with guidance.

Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY) demonstrated strong financial performance in the fourth quarter of 2024, reporting a net income of $116 million, an improvement from the previous quarter’s $98 million. It is one of the worst affordable stocks to buy under $10.