Dan Connelly of Kapitall.com has dredged up this list of breakout contenders under $5, especially given who's interested in buying up shares.

Looking for low-priced stocks institutional investors are buying? Large institutions and hedge funds, chock full of savvy financiers, do not get involved in investments if they haven’t done their research and aren’t prepared to stick it out for the long haul.

Therefore, if an asset is experiencing institutional buying it is likely that some of the savviest minds in the industry have done their due diligence before becoming invested in a stock. Are they always right? No, but they tend to be better stock pickers than the general investing public over the long-term.

We compiled a list of 11 stocks under $5 per share that have seen significant institutional buying.

If institutions continue investing do you think these stocks could price higher? Use this list as a starting-off point for your own analysis. A few of these stocks are small caps with “lowish” volume, so use caution and only invest in size according to your risk tolerance.

1. Avanir Pharmaceuticals (AVNR) engages in acquiring, developing, and commercializing novel therapeutic products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, primarily in the United States. It has a market capitalization of $408.54 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter are at 8.8 million shares, which represents about 6.55% of the company's float of 134.31 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

2. E-Commerce China Dangdang (DANG) operates as a business-to-consumer e-commerce company in China. It has an approximate market cap of $399.55 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter are at 4.5 million shares, which represents about 13.35% of the company's float of 33.72 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

3. DryShips (DRYS) engages in the ownership and operation of dry bulk carriers and drilling rigs that operate worldwide. Market cap at $981.2 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter are 24.8 million shares, which represents about 6.75% of the company’s float of 367.17 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

|pagebreak|

4. Exelixis (EXEL) is involved in the discovery, development, and commercialization of small-molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer, metabolic, and cardiovascular disorders. It has an approximate market cap of $483.92 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter have reached 13.3 million shares, which represents about 9.15% of the company's float of 145.42 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

5. Extreme Networks (EXTR) provides network infrastructure equipment and services to businesses, hospitals, schools, hotels, telecommunications companies, and government agencies worldwide. It has an approximate market cap of $315.4 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter are 7.5million shares, which represents about 10.53% of the company's float of 71.22 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

6. Shanda Games Limited (GAME) engages in the development and operation of online games in China. It has an approximate market cap of $972.12 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter at 4.8 million shares, which represents about 7.28% of the company's float of 65.89 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

7. Quicksilver Resources (KWK) engages in the exploration, development, and production of unconventional natural gas onshore in North America. It has an approximate market cap of $717.83 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter of 13.4 million shares represents about 14.77% of the company's float of 90.70 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

|pagebreak|

8. Orexigen Therapeutics (OREX) focuses on the development of pharmaceutical product candidates for the treatment of obesity. It has an approximate market cap of $297.44 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter are 9.9 million shares, which represents about 16.45% of the company's float of 60.18 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

9. SIRIUS XM Radio (SIRI) provides satellite radio services in the United States and Canada. It has an approximate market cap of $9.77 billion. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter at 290.6 million shares, which represents about 8.7% of the company's float of 3.34 billion shares.

Click to Enlarge

10. Teekay Tankers (TNK) engages in the ownership and operation of oil tankers. It has an approximate market cap of $339.04 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter at 4.2 million shares represents about 6.7% of the company's float of 62.67 million shares.

Click to Enlarge

11. MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry worldwide. It has an approximate market cap of $613.98 million. Net institutional purchases in the current quarter are 16.7 million shares, which represents about 8.28% of the company's float of 201.59 million shares.

Click to Enlarge