17 Cheap Stocks Under $20 to Buy Now

2. Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR)

Stock Price: $11.47

Forward P/E: 12.63

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50

Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) is one of the top cheap stocks under $20 to buy now. Jefferies analyst Tycho Peterson from Jefferies downgraded Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) to Underperform from Hold on December 17, bringing the price target down to $9 from $12. The firm does not see a “quick fix” to Avantor, Inc.’s (NYSE:AVTR) margin headwinds and market share losses, telling investors that the company’s valuation alone is unlikely to act as a catalyst that propels the shares higher.

Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) was also downgraded to Neutral from Buy by BofA on December 15, with the firm bringing the price target down to $13 from $14. It told investors that 2026 is expected to be the third consecutive year where markets are expected to normalize, with Life Science Tools headwinds fading. However, it also believes that “a healthy amount of caution is warranted,” stating that the biggest upside risk for Tools/CRO markets would be a return to spending by Biopharma. The firm thus favors companies with a relatively higher R&D exposure, and believes that any setbacks or misses in the space “will be harshly punished.”

Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) is a life sciences tools company that provides mission-critical services and products to the advanced technology and life sciences industries. The company’s portfolio includes education and government, biopharma, healthcare, and applied materials and advanced technologies industries.