We recently published a list of 10 Best US Stocks to Buy Under $5. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Ardagh Metal Packaging SA (NYSE:AMBP) stands against the other stocks to buy under $5.

Investors are becoming increasingly nervous amid a slowing U.S. economy. Signs of weakness in consumer spending and manufacturing points to an economy that is overheating amid the high interest rate environment

In August, nonfarm payrolls grew by 142,000, an increase from 89,000 in July but short of the 161,000 forecast. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.2%, while the “real” unemployment rate climbed to 7.9%, the highest since October 2021.

According to Dan North, an economist at Allianz Trade, the recent string of economic data has been disappointing, signaling something is wrong. A slowing economy always takes a significant toll on investors sentiments in the equity market.

The slowdown comes when the stock market is at a pivotal level heading into the year-end. The leading market indices are hovering close to all-time highs amid a slowing economy that needs the U.S. Federal Reserve to tweak its monetary policy.

The earnings season has also added another caveat seen by increased volatility. After months of blockbuster gains, significant stock sell-offs linked to artificial intelligence and semiconductors have come into play. Geopolitical worries, the forthcoming presidential race, and shifts in Federal Reserve strategy usher in uncertainty.

Valuations have gotten out of hand as most stocks are trading way above their historical highs. Given that the stock market experiences about four deep pullbacks of more than 5% every year, there is growing concern that one could be on the way heading into the year-end.

Appearing in an interview on CNBC, George Lagarias, the head economist at Forvis Mazars, stated that although it’s impossible to predict the magnitude of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming rate adjustment, he is in favor of a 25-basis point reduction. Analysts do not see the need for a 50 basis point or more reduction as it could confuse the markets and the economy, portraying a sense of urgency.

A more profound interest rate cut would take a significant toll on stocks trading at premium valuations as they would be the hardest hit with heightened volatility. On the other hand, emerging stocks that haven’t caught the Street’s attention yet could offer some good buying opportunities.

Currently, the market appears favorable for the growth of penny stocks and small-cap companies. Chris Retzler, portfolio manager at Needham Small Cap Growth Fund, suggests that while smaller companies are volatile, their long-term outlook is positive. He anticipates a market broadening in the second half of 2024, which could benefit smaller companies that have recently underperformed.

Retzler highlights the liquidity of smaller companies as a key growth factor. As funds shift from larger to smaller companies, many small-cap stocks may see significant price increases. Additionally, the expectation of lower interest rates over the next year is favorable for penny stocks, which require less capital to see price and valuation growth.

Investing in penny stocks or small-cap companies can be risky due to their volatility and limited historical data. However, these high-risk investments can also offer substantial rewards for those with a higher risk tolerance. While many of these companies face significant issues, some are hidden gems.

Our Methodology

We screened for US-listed companies that are trading under $5 and picked the stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Ardagh Metal Packaging SA (NYSE:AMBP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29

Current Share Price: $3.57

Ardagh Metal Packaging SA (NYSE:AMBP) is a consumer cyclical company that supplies consumer metal beverage cans. Its products are used in various end-use categories, including beer, carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, hard seltzers, juices, and pre-mixed cocktails.

It stands out as one of the best U.S. stocks to buy under $5 owing to its ability to drive value through organic and inorganic growth. The company delivered solid second-quarter results, marking another consecutive quarter of outperformance.

Adjusted earnings were up 18% to $178 million, exceeding guidance. Global beverage can shipments grew by 3%, driven by 5% growth in Europe. Revenue remained stable at $1.25 billion. From a business perspective, Ardagh Metal Packaging SA (NYSE:AMBP)’s revenue for the last 12 months ending Q2 2024 amounts to $4.826 billion, showing a slight increase of 4.12%, indicating a consistent performance in its industry sector.

It is hopeful about the rise in profits for 2025 and 2026, mainly due to an increase in sales volume. Even though there are some difficulties in certain markets, like a brief downturn in the energy drink segment, Ardagh Metal Packaging SA (NYSE:AMBP) continues to have a strong financial perspective and is in a strong position for further expansion.

The company improved its 2024 outlook, projecting shipments growth approaching mid-single digit percentage and full-year Adjusted EBITDA of $640-660 million. Even though there’s been a 7% drop in beverage can deliveries in Brazil, the area is expected to see double-digit expansion.

Ardagh Metal Packaging SA (NYSE:AMBP) also achieved notable progress in sustainability on securing a $300 million loan agreement. It has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share. While trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 15, the company boasts a solid 11.275 dividend yield, affirming its status as one of the best U.S. stocks to buy under $5 for passive income.

A total of 29 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey had stakes in Ardagh Metal Packaging SA (NYSE:AMBP) as of the end of the second quarter of 2024. Of those, Canyon Capital Advisors was the top stockholder in the company and held a position worth $34.53 million.

Overall AMBP ranks 6th on our list of best US stocks to buy under $5. While we acknowledge the potential of AMBP as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AMBP but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.