Best Stocks Under $2.00 for 2018

The stock market has had an incredible bull-run since the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009. Stocks continue to hit new all-time highs and the price-to-earnings ratios of most S&P 500 companies look very expensive. Many investors are having trouble finding low-priced stocks that haven't already appreciated greatly during the last decade. It's hard to find a good deal on Wall Street right now when even small S&P 500 companies are trading at market caps above $1 billion.

Stocks have gotten expensive both in-terms of share price and their valuation relative to earnings. In more normal markets, a typical S&P 500 company has traded at about fifteen times their earnings. Most stocks are currently trading closer to 25 times their annual earnings. While the stock market has become more expensive as a whole, there are still a handful of undervalued stocks that are trading at less than $2.00 per share.

Value investing opportunities do exist if you're looking in the right places. Putting together a list of the best stocks under $2.00 requires investors to look at smaller and riskier companies and in sectors that are either undiscovered or unloved by the market as a whole. Some of these cheap stocks may not look especially attractive today, but long-term investors will profit if they are willing to exercise patience and hold on to shares of these comapnies through multiple economic cycles.

Some of these companies are solid investing ideas because they are too little and considered too risky to attract the interest of most managed mutual funds and Wall Street money managers. Others operate in unloved and untested areas of the market. You may find even find crypto stocks, marijuana stocks and bitcoin stocks on this list. Others have been beat up by Mr. Market after a long period of slowing profits, but are now actively trying to turn around their business and bounce back. These low-priced stocks operate in a lot of different industries, but these picks all carry two common characteristics. They all have a super-low share price of $2.00 or less and consisently-receive "buy" and "strong buy" ratings from Wall Street's top-rated research analysts.

#1 - Aqua Metals (NASDAQ:AQMS)

Stock Price: $1.81
Market Cap: $71.64 million
P/E Ratio: -1.5
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 5 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $9.50 (424.9% Upside)

Aqua Metals, Inc. engages in the recycling of lead primarily in the United States. It produces and sells hard lead, lead compounds, and plastics. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Alameda, California.

#2 - Nabriva Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NBRV)

Stock Price: $1.96
Market Cap: $1.31 billion
P/E Ratio: -0.8
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 7 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $11.60 (491.8% Upside)

Nabriva Therapeutics plc, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the research and development of anti-infective agents to treat infections in humans. The company focuses on the pleuromutilin class of antibiotics. Its lead product candidate is lefamulin, which is in Phase III clinical trials in intravenous and oral formulations for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia; and has completed Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection. The company is also developing BC-7013, a semi-synthetic compound derived from pleuromutilin, which has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of Gram-positive infections, including uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections. In addition, it is developing lefamulin for use in the treatment of ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia or hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and sexually transmitted infections. The company was formerly known as Nabriva Therapeutics Forschungs GmbH and changed its name to Nabriva Therapeutics plc in 2007. Nabriva Therapeutics plc was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

#3 - Abraxas Petroleum (NASDAQ:AXAS)

Stock Price: $1.25
Market Cap: $234.91 million
P/E Ratio: 10.4
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 4 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $3.6250 (190.0% Upside)

Abraxas Petroleum Corporation, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, and production of oil and gas properties in the United States. The company operates oil and gas assets in the Permian/Delaware Basin, the Rocky Mountain, and South Texas regions. As of December 31, 2017, its estimated net proved reserves were 65.4 million barrels of oil equivalent. The company was founded in 1977 and is based in San Antonio, Texas.

#4 - Capstone Turbine (NASDAQ:CPST)

Stock Price: $0.64
Market Cap: $44.88 million
P/E Ratio: -3.2
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 4 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $2.3750 (271.1% Upside)

Capstone Turbine Corporation develops, manufactures, markets, and services microturbine technology solutions for use in stationary distributed power generation applications worldwide. It offers microturbine units, components, and various accessories for applications, including cogeneration comprising combined heat and power (CHP) and integrated CHP, as well as combined cooling, heat, and power; and renewable energy, natural resources, and critical power supply. The company's microturbines are also used as battery charging generators for hybrid electric vehicle applications. It also provides various accessories, including rotary gas compressors with digital controls; heat recovery modules for CHP applications; dual mode controllers that allow automatic transition between grid connect and stand-alone modes; batteries with digital controls for stand-alone or dual-mode operations; batteries with digital controls; power servers for multipacked installations; protocol converters for Internet access; packaging options; and miscellaneous parts, such as frames, exhaust ducting, backflow dampers, and installation hardware. In addition, the company remanufactures microturbine engines; and provides after-market parts and services. It markets and sells its products primarily through distributors and original equipment manufacturers. Capstone Turbine Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Van Nuys, California.

#5 - Interpace Diagnostics Group (NASDAQ:IDXG)

Stock Price: $1.02
Market Cap: $28.59 million
P/E Ratio: -1.3
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 5 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $3.55 (248.0% Upside)

Interpace Diagnostics Group, Inc. develops and commercializes molecular diagnostic tests to detect genetic and other molecular alterations associated with gastrointestinal and endocrine cancers. It offers PancraGEN, a pancreatic cyst and pancreaticobiliary solid lesion molecular test that helps physicians better assess risk of pancreaticobiliary cancers using its proprietary PathFinder platform; ThyGenX, an oncogenic mutation panel that helps identify malignant thyroid nodules; and ThyraMIR, an microRNA gene expression assay that helps to classify risk of cancer in thyroid nodules. The company's customers consist primarily of physicians, hospitals, and clinics. The company was formerly known as PDI, Inc. and changed its name to Interpace Diagnostics Group, Inc. in December 2015. Interpace Diagnostics Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1986 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.

#6 - Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG)

Stock Price: $1.37
Market Cap: $338.41 million
P/E Ratio: -2.3
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 6 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $3.50 (155.5% Upside)

Plug Power Inc., an alternative energy technology provider, engages in the design, development, commercialization, and manufacture of hydrogen and fuel cell systems for the material handling and stationary power markets primarily in North America and Europe. It focuses on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell and fuel processing technologies, fuel cell/battery hybrid technologies, and related hydrogen storage and dispensing infrastructure. The company offers GenDrive, a hydrogen fueled PEM fuel cell system that provides power to material handling electric vehicles; GenFuel, a hydrogen fueling delivery, generation, storage, and dispensing systems; GenCare, which is an ongoing maintenance program for GenDrive fuel cells, GenSure products, GenFuel products, and ProGen engines; and GenSure, a stationary fuel cell solution that provides scalable modular PEM fuel cell power to support the backup and grid-support power requirements of the telecommunications, transportation, and utility sectors. It also provides GenKey, a turn-key solution for transitioning to fuel cell power; ProGen, a fuel cell stack and engine technology that is used in mobility and stationary fuel cell systems, and as engines in electric delivery vans; and GenFund, which offers financing solutions to customers. The company offers its products to distribution and manufacturing businesses, and government agencies through direct product sales force, original equipment manufacturers, and dealer networks. Plug Power Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Latham, New York.

#7 - Melinta Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MLNT)

Stock Price: $1.18
Market Cap: $72.27 million
P/E Ratio: -0.1
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 6 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $12.30 (942.4% Upside)

Melinta Therapeutics, Inc., a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes various anti-infectives for the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases in North America. It offers Baxdela, an antibiotic for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI); Vabomere, a carbapenem used in treatment of gram-negative infections; Orbactiv, an antibiotic of the lipoglycopeptide class for the treatment of adult patients with ABSSSIs; and Minocin, a IV antibiotic of the tetracycline class with activity against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens, as well as Solithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic for the treatment of CABP. The company also develops Baxdela that in a Phase III clinical trial for treating community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP)); Fusidic Acid, which is in Phase III clinical trial for treating ABSSSIs; and radezolid, a melinta molecule that is in Phase II clinical trial for dermatological applications, as well as ESKAPE pathogen program, which is in preclinical stage targeting superbugs. Melinta Therapeutics, Inc. was formerly known as formerly Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changed its name to Melinta Therapeutics, Inc. in October 2013. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut.

#8 - SCYNEXIS (NASDAQ:SCYX)

Stock Price: $0.49
Market Cap: $24.94 million
P/E Ratio: -0.5
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 7 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $5.2857 (978.7% Upside)

SCYNEXIS, Inc., a drug development company, develops and commercializes anti-infectives to address unmet therapeutic needs. It is developing its lead product candidate, SCY-078, as a novel oral and intravenous drug for the treatment of various fungal infections, including serious and life-threatening invasive fungal infections. The company also develops SCY-078, which is in various Phase I studies for the oral and intravenous formulations, as well as has completed Phase II study as a step-down therapy in patients with invasive candidiasis and vulvovaginal candidiasis. It has research collaborations with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. and R-Pharm, CJSC, to develop and commercialize rights for SCY-078. The company was formerly known as SCYNEXIS Chemistry & Automation, Inc. and changed its name to SCYNEXIS, Inc. in June 2002. SCYNEXIS, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey.

#9 - Resonant (NASDAQ:RESN)

Stock Price: $1.44
Market Cap: $37.93 million
P/E Ratio: -1.1
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 6 Buy Ratings, 0 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $7.40 (413.9% Upside)

Resonant Inc., a late-stage development company, engages in the development of filter designs for radio frequency (RF) front-ends used in the mobile device industry in the United States. It uses Infinite Synthesized Networks technology to configure and connect resonators, the building blocks of RF filters. The company develops a series of single-band designs for frequency bands; and multiplexer filter designs for two or more bands to address the carrier aggregation, as well as filter designs to replace various filters and associated componentry for various bands. Resonant Inc. was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Goleta, California.

#10 - Baytex Energy (NYSE:BTE)

Stock Price: $1.76
Market Cap: $1.01 billion
P/E Ratio: -88.0
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 9 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $5.50 (212.5% Upside)

Baytex Energy Corp., an oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, development, and production of oil and natural gas in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and in the Eagle Ford in the United States. It offers heavy oil, heavy gravity crude oil, bitumen, light oil, and natural gas liquids. Its primary oil resource plays include the Eagle Ford in Texas, and the Peace River Oil Sands and Lloydminster heavy oil projects in North America. The company provides 612 million barrels of oil equivalent; bitumen in low estimate to 1,181 million barrels of oil equivalent; and bitumen in the high estimate to 798 million barrels of oil equivalent. Baytex Energy Corp. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

#11 - Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG)

Stock Price: $1.89
Market Cap: $1.03 billion
P/E Ratio: -4.0
Dividend Yield: 2.01 %
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 8 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $3.4625 (83.2% Upside)

Scorpio Tankers Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the seaborne transportation of refined petroleum products worldwide. As of March 22, 2018, its fleet consisted of 109 tankers, including 38 LR2, 12 LR1, 45 MR, and 14 Handymax tankers with an average age of approximately 2.6 years; and 20 time or bareboat chartered-in tankers, which include 2 LR2, 10 MR, and 8 Handymax tankers. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Monaco.

#12 - Viveve Medical (NASDAQ:VIVE)

Stock Price: $1.32
Market Cap: $45.74 million
P/E Ratio: -0.6
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 6 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $7.60 (475.8% Upside)

Viveve Medical, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for the non-invasive treatment of various post-partum conditions. The company offers Viveve System, a radio frequency generator, a reusable hand piece, and single-use treatment tip, as well as other consumable accessories. It markets its products through sales employees and distributors in the United States, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Canada. Viveve Medical, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

#13 - Bombardier (OTCMKTS:BDRBF)

Stock Price: $1.53
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 4 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: N/A

Bombardier Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells transportation equipment worldwide. The company operates in four segments: Business Aircraft, Commercial Aircraft, Aerostructures and Engineering Services, and Transportation. The Business Aircraft segment designs, manufactures, and provides aftermarket support for Learjet, Challenger, and Global business jets. The Commercial Aircraft segment designs and manufactures a portfolio of commercial aircraft in the 60- to 150-seat categories, including Q400 turboprops; the CRJ700 regional jets; and C series mainline jets, as well as provides aftermarket support services. The Aerostructures and Engineering Services segment designs and manufactures aircraft structural components, such as engine nacelles, fuselages, and wings; and provides aftermarket component repair, overhaul, and other engineering services. The Transportation segment offers a range of products and services in the rail industry, including trains, subsystems, system integration, signaling, and e-mobility solutions. The company was formerly known as Bombardier Limited. Bombardier Inc. was founded in 1942 and is headquartered in Montréal, Canada.

#14 - Histogenics (NASDAQ:HSGX)

Stock Price: $0.55
Market Cap: $32.10 million
P/E Ratio: -0.6
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 4 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $3.3750 (515.3% Upside)

Histogenics Corporation, a clinical-stage company, focuses on the development of restorative cell therapies in the United States. The company offers NeoCart, a tissue implant, which is in Phase III clinical trial to treat tissue injury in the field of orthopedics, specifically cartilage damage in the knee. It has an exclusive channel collaboration agreement with Intrexon Corporation for the development and commercialization of allogeneic genetically modified chondrocyte cell therapeutics for the treatment or repair of damaged articular hyaline cartilage in humans. Histogenics Corporation was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

#15 - Proteon Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PRTO)

Stock Price: $1.84
Market Cap: $35.75 million
P/E Ratio: -0.9
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 4 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $3.6667 (99.3% Upside)

Proteon Therapeutics, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of pharmaceuticals to address the needs of patients with renal and vascular disease. Its lead product candidate is vonapanitase, an investigational drug intended to improve hemodialysis vascular access outcomes. The company develops vonapanitase, a recombinant human elastase, which has completed Phase II and Phase III clinical trials for patients with chronic kidney disease. It is also evaluating vonapanitase in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with peripheral artery disease. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.

#16 - Conatus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CNAT)

Stock Price: $1.52
Market Cap: $46 million
P/E Ratio: -2.5
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 4 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $11.1150 (631.3% Upside)

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biotechnology company, focuses on the development and commercialization of novel medicines for the treatment of liver diseases in the United States. Its product candidates include Emricasan, an orally active pan-caspase protease inhibitor that is in Phase IIb clinical trials for post-orthotopic liver transplant as a result of hepatitis C virus infection with sustained viral response; for patients with portal hypertension; for patients liver fibrosis caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; and for liver function. The company has collaboration agreement with Novartis to conduct three Phase IIb clinical trials Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

#17 - Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TTPH)

Stock Price: $1.51
Market Cap: $84.73 million
P/E Ratio: -0.6
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 7 Buy Ratings, 2 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $6.5714 (335.2% Upside)

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, develops various antibiotics for the treatment of serious and life-threatening multidrug-resistant infections. The company's lead product candidate is eravacycline, a synthetic fluorocycline intravenous and IV antibiotic for use as a first-line empiric monotherapy to treat resistant and multidrug-resistant infections, including multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. It conducted Phase III clinical trials with eravacycline through investigating Gram-negative infections treated with eravacycline (IGNITE). The company has completed IGNITE1 and IGNITE4, a Phase III clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of eravacycline with IV administration for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections; IGNITE2, a Phase III clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of eravacycline with IV-to-oral transition therapy for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI); and IGNITE3, a Phase III clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of eravacycline with IV administration for the treatment of cUTI. It is also developing TP-271, a synthetic broad-spectrum fluorocycline that is in Phase I clinical trial for respiratory diseases caused by bacterial biothreat pathogens; and TP-6076, a synthetic fluorocycline derivative, which is in Phase I clinical trial for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a license agreement with Everest Medicines Limited to develop and commercialize eravacycline for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections and other indications in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Singapore. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts.

#18 - Lipocine (NASDAQ:LPCN)

Stock Price: $1.39
Market Cap: $29.62 million
P/E Ratio: -1.3
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 3 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $6.3750 (358.6% Upside)

Lipocine Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of pharmaceutical products in the area of men's and women's health. Its primary development programs are based on oral delivery solutions for poorly bioavailable drugs. The company has a portfolio of product candidates designed to produce pharmacokinetic characteristics, facilitate lower dosing requirements, bypass first-pass metabolism in certain cases, reduce side effects, and eliminate gastrointestinal interactions that limit bioavailability. Its lead product candidate is TLANDO, an oral testosterone replacement therapy. The company's pipeline candidates also include LPCN 1111, an oral testosterone therapy product for once daily dosing that is currently in Phase II testing; and LPCN 1107, an oral hydroxyprogesterone caproate product for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth and has completed an end-of-Phase II meeting with the Food and Drug Administration. Lipocine Inc. is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

#19 - Precision Drilling (NYSE:PDS)

Stock Price: $1.86
Market Cap: $578.75 million
P/E Ratio: -6.6
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 9 Buy Ratings, 1 Hold Ratings, 1 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $4.5625 (145.3% Upside)

Precision Drilling Corporation provides oil and natural gas drilling and related services and products. The company operates in two segments, Contract Drilling Services, and Completion and Production Services. The Contract Drilling Services segment offers onshore well drilling services to exploration and production companies in the oil and natural gas industry. This segment's services include land drilling, directional drilling, and turnkey drilling; and procurement and distribution of oilfield supplies, as well as manufacture and refurbishment of drilling and service rig equipment. As of December 31, 2016, this segment operated 255 land drilling rigs, including 135 in Canada; 103 in the United States; 5 in Mexico; 4 in Saudi Arabia; 5 in Kuwait; 2 in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; and 1 in the country of Georgia. The Completion and Production Services segment offers completion and workover services, and ancillary services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. It provides service rigs for well completion, workover, abandonment, maintenance, and re-entry preparation services; snubbing units for pressure control services; camp and catering services; and water system services. This segment also engages in the rental of oilfield surface equipment, and wellsite accommodations. This segment operated 196 well completion and workover service rigs, and 11 snubbing units in Canada and the United States; approximately 2,200 oilfield rental items, including surface storage, small-flow wastewater treatment, and power generation and solids control equipment; and 132 wellsite accommodation units in Canada. It also had 43 drilling camps and 4 base camps in Canada; and 10 large-flow wastewater treatment units, 24 pump houses, and 8 potable water production units in Canada. Precision Drilling Corporation was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

#20 - Agile Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AGRX)

Stock Price: $0.74
Market Cap: $28.27 million
P/E Ratio: -0.8
Consensus Rating: Buy
Ratings Breakdown: 5 Buy Ratings, 2 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
Consensus Price Target: $3.75 (406.8% Upside)

Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a women's healthcare company, focuses on the development and commercialization of prescription contraceptive products for women. Its lead product candidate is Twirla, also known as AG200-15, a once-weekly prescription combination hormonal contraceptive patch, which completed Phase III clinical trials. The company is also developing a pipeline of other transdermal contraceptive products, including AG200-ER, a regimen that allows a woman to extend the length of her cycle; AG200-SP, which is a regimen designed to provide shorter lighter periods; AG200-ER (SmP), a regimen to allow a woman to extend the length of her cycle, as well as experience shorter and lighter periods; and AG890, a progestin-only contraceptive patch intended for use by women who are unable or unwilling to take estrogen. Agile Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.