In this article, we will take a look at the 15 best low-priced stocks to buy now. To see more such companies, go directly to 5 Best Low-Priced Stocks To Buy Now.

2023 is turning out to be another surprising year for investors as they see no end in sight to their woes amid an economy that remains overheated on the back of strong employment, rising inflation and increased spending. Optimists who were forecasting a pause in rate hikes in 2023 and a normalization in inflation have been proven wrong. For example, a 2023 outlook report by JPMorgan had said that it was expecting inflation levels to show normalization in 2023. The firm was also expecting a pause in central banks’ rate hikes. However, so far it has not been the case. However, JPMorgan said was right on one account: it foresaw a temporary rally in the market when it said:

That’s exactly what happened in the start of this year as markets began to rally and the Federal Reserve’s chair Jerome Powell announced that the disinflationary process had started. While that optimism stands tarnished, now might be the right time to pile into low priced, undervalued stocks that could grow in the long term.

For this article, we used the Finviz stock screener to initially screen stocks trading under $20 as of March 10 with PE ratios (current or forward) under 25. This gave us a long list of low-priced stocks that are not overvalued. We then picked 15 of these stocks with highest number of hedge fund investors. We gauged hedge fund sentiment by using stock holdings data of 943 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey. The idea was to find the best low-priced stock to buy according to the smart money.

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Best Low-Priced Stocks To Buy Now

15. Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 6

French telecom company Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) is a low-priced stock with a high dividend yield. Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) has a strong market position in France. Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) has been deploying fiber network in major cities to tackle the rising competition in the local market.

6 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey had stakes in Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2022. The biggest hedge fund stakeholder of Orange S.A. (NYSE:ORAN) was Dmitry Balyasny’s Balyasny Asset Management which owns a stake worth over $1 million in the company.

14. Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE:PAA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 8

A total of 8 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported having stakes in Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE:PAA). The biggest stakeholder of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE:PAA) was Henry Breck’s Heronetta Management with a $595 million stake in the company. While Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE:PAA) missed analyst estimates for EPS and revenue for Q4, for 2023, it forecasts EBITDA at the high end of $2.55 billion with FCF of $1.60 billion.

13. Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13

Indian technology giant Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) ranks 13th in our list of the best low-priced stocks to buy now. In January, Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) posted results for fiscal third quarter. GAAP EPS in the period reached $0.07, meeting analyst estimates. Revenue in the quarter jumped 4.1% on a YoY basis to reach $2.81 billion but missed estimates by $30 million. IT services revenue saw an increase of 10.4% year over year.

12. Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

While Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) has been falling after announcing its Q4 results, the stock could be a decent long-term pick. Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS)’s profit before tax fell about 8% on a YoY basis in the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) said that the macroeconomic conditions were to blame for the results.

Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) said that based on the current macroeconomic outlook, it expects a loan loss ratio of 50-60 basis points in 2023, vs. 30bps reported in 2022.

Out of the 943 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 14 hedge funds reported having stakes in Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) at the end fourth quarter of 2022. The biggest stakeholder of Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) among these hedge funds was Mike Masters’ Masters Capital Management which owns a $23.4 million stake in the company.

11. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB) ranks 11th in our list of the best low-priced stocks to buy now. Insider Monkey’s proprietary database of 943 hedge funds shows that 15 hedge funds had stakes in Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2022. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB) is facing headwinds in global markets amid the current macroeconomic conditions. But Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB) could be a decent pick for the long term.

Recently, Bloomberg reported that Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft’s (NYSE:DB) asset management unit, DWS Group, was planning to buy monitory stakes in two crypto companies: Deutsche Digital Holdings and Tradias.

10. Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16

Brazil-based beverage company Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) ranks 10th in our list of the best low-priced stocks to buy now.

At the end of the last quarter of 2022, 16 hedge funds reported owning stakes in Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV). The total value of these stakes was about $244 million. The biggest hedge fund stakeholder of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) was Jean-Marie Eveillard’s First Eagle Investment Management which had a $777 million stake in the company.

Earlier in March, Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) posted its Q4 results. Adjusted EPS in the quarter came in at R$0.33. Revenue in the quarter increased by about 3.1% on a YoY basis to reach R$22.69 billion.

For 2023, Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) expects its revenue growth to be “more driven by net revenue per hectoliter performance than volumes.”

9. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17

Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) has been showing strong performance lately. It is one of the best low-priced stocks for the long term. Recently, Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) posted its Q4 results. Adjusted EPS in the quarter came in at ?0.16, beating estimates by ?0.03. Revenue in the quarter jumped about 12.2% on a YoY basis to total ?7.45 billion.

In February, Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) won a ten-year extension to its existing nationwide 5G network deal with Antina Pte. Ltd., which is a JV formed by M1 and StarHub in Singapore.

A total of 17 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey entered 2023 with stakes in Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK).

8. United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE:UMC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE:UMC) is a Taiwanese semiconductor company.

As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2022, 18 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE:UMC). The total value of these stakes was about $214 million. The most notable stakeholder of United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE:UMC) was  D. E. Shaw, with a $22.2 million stake.

During the fourth quarter, United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE:UMC)’s operating revenue increased by about 14.8% on a YoY basis to reach $2.21 billion. Earnings per ADS jumped by about 18.4% on a YoY basis to total $0.251.

7. Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

A total of 20 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2022. The total value of these stakes was about $336 million. The most significant stakeholder of Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) was D. E. Shaw, which a $19.3 million stake in the company.

In January, BofA upgraded Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) stock to Buy. The firm said that it sees Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) "bottoming out" with room for an upside. BofA said that it is hopeful on Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) because of a change in management that could “expedite a strategy to reallocate capital.”

In February, it was reported that Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LBTYA) has bought a 4.92% stake in Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD).

6. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21

Swedish telecom giant Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) ranks 6th in our list of the best low-priced stocks to buy now. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) is apparently bracing for a global economic slowdown as recently it announced to lay off 8,500 employees globally, according to Reuters. This comes after Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC)’s plan to cut about 1,400 jobs in Sweden.

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2022, 21 hedge funds reported having stakes in Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC), up from 17 hedge funds in the previous quarter. This shows that hedge fund sentiment on Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) is positive.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Best Low-Priced Stocks To Buy Now is originally published on Insider Monkey.