3 Dirt Cheap Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now

Market Overview - The S&P 500 has resumed its rally after a brief dip earlier this year due to tariff concerns, now trading at nearly 22 times its forward earnings, approaching its highest levels in the past 25 years [1] Company Highlights Alphabet - Alphabet is trading at around 19 times forward earnings, the lowest valuation among the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks, which average over 27 times [4] - Concerns about AI's impact on its search business have held back Alphabet's valuation, but its search revenue increased by 10% in the first quarter to nearly $51 billion [4] - The company is benefiting from AI, with CEO Sundar Pichai noting strong growth in search driven by AI features, and the rollout of the Gemini 2.5 AI model [5] Realty Income - Realty Income, a leading REIT, has a diversified portfolio that generates stable rental income, with management projecting adjusted funds from operations (FFO) between $4.22 and $4.28 per share this year [6] - The stock is trading below $57, offering a valuation of less than 13.5 times forward earnings and a dividend yield exceeding 5.5% [7] - Despite rising interest rates, Realty Income continues to grow, making $1.4 billion in acquisitions in the first quarter and projecting $4 billion for portfolio expansion this year [8][9] Energy Transfer - Energy Transfer is one of the largest master limited partnerships (MLPs) in the U.S., with a diverse portfolio of energy infrastructure assets generating stable cash flow, 90% of which comes from fee-based structures [10] - The company currently trades at the second-lowest valuation in its peer group, offering a high distribution yield of 7.5% [11] - Energy Transfer is in a strong financial position with a low leverage ratio and distribution payout ratio, expecting growth from upcoming project completions in 2026 and 2027 [12] Investment Opportunities - Despite the overall market's rising valuations, Alphabet, Realty Income, and Energy Transfer are identified as compelling investment opportunities due to their low valuations and solid growth prospects [2][13]