Where I’d Put $12,000 in Canadian Stocks for Permanent TFSA Holdings

Got $12,000 to invest in your TFSA? Here are four Canadian stocks to buy and hold for decades inside a TFSA portfolio.

| More on:

The TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) is the smart place for permanent stock holdings. If you think a stock has big potential to multiply your hard-earned savings, you don’t want to pay any tax on those potential gains.

That is the beauty of the TFSA. You can accumulate a substantial amount of wealth and the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) has no share in it. If I had $12,000 to deploy into Canadian stocks, here are four stocks I would buy in a TFSA on any major pullback.

TFSA (Tax free savings account) acronym on wooden cubes on the background of stacks of coins

Source: Getty Images

A European software consolidator

Despite a volatile stock market in 2025, Topicus.com (TSXV:TOI) stock is actually up 24% this year. Topicus.com has been an attractive way to get technology exposure, but away from the U.S.

Topicus acquires specialized software companies around Europe and abroad. While the company has been delivering strong +25% growth in the past five years, it is also considered defensive. Its software is diversified across country and industry. Likewise, its software is specific, essential, and irreplaceable to its customers.

As a result, its business should perform well, even if there is a global recession. Topicus has the backing of its parent company, Constellation Software. It has ample firepower to deploy if acquisition opportunities arrive during an economic downturn.

A top Canadian technology stock

Another stock I’d buy as a permanent TFSA holding is Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG). It operates the top global logistic network in the world. It complements that with several transport/logistics-focused software offerings.

Concerns about global trade have caused this stock to pull back 14%. While that is a concern, goods still need to be moved. Trade partnerships will change, but then supply chains will adapt. Descartes has a suite of software services that can help companies quickly and efficiently adapt their supply chains to these changes.

This company is very well managed and has a strong cash-rich balance sheet, and there could be great opportunities to acquire more businesses into its fold.

A growing healthcare software company

VitalHub (TSX:VHI) is an up-and-coming software company worth holding in a TFSA. This company has been consolidating software in the healthcare industry. Its software focuses on healthcare flow, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Healthcare systems are incredibly stressed these days. Its software is gaining strong traction from major health systems around the world.

VitalHub has a founder-led management team, a cash-rich balance sheet, and dry powder to keep growing via acquisition. It is a nice buy-and-hold stock for any TFSA portfolio open to a small-cap stock.

A Canadian stock with a global opportunity

WSP Global (TSX:WSP) is another stock to hold long-term for a TFSA. Factors like population growth, urbanization, climate change, and the electrification/digitization of society all play favourably for this company.

WSP is one of the largest advisory, engineering, project management, and design firms in the world. Like the stocks above, it has used a market consolidation strategy to become a leading global player.

The company is projecting strong mid-teens annual growth over the coming three years. As it gets bigger, it gets more opportunities to take on larger, more complex, higher-margin projects. WSP has a large, diverse backlog and the ability to keep growing its capabilities and expertise. This is a great TFSA stock if you have a decades-long time horizon.

Fool contributor Robin Brown has positions in Constellation Software, Descartes Systems Group, Topicus.com, Vitalhub, and WSP Global. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Topicus.com and Vitalhub. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Software, Descartes Systems Group, and WSP Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Investing

person enjoys shower of confetti outside
Tech Stocks

A Top-Performing U.S. Stock That Canadian Investors Really Should Own

This top-performing U.S. stock is likely to deliver significant growth led by AI infrastructure boom, which makes it a compelling…

Read more »

chip glows with a blue AI
Tech Stocks

The AI Infrastructure Boom Is Just Getting Started: Here Are 2 Stocks to Buy

These Canadian companies are well-positioned to capitalize on growth spending on AI infrastructure and deliver significant growth.

Read more »

Oil industry worker works in oilfield
Energy Stocks

1 Canadian Energy Stocks Poised for Big Growth in 2026

This top Canadian energy stock could be the biggest winner from the recent global energy crisis. Here is why it…

Read more »

up arrow on wooden blocks
Dividend Stocks

This Canadian Dividend Stock Is Up 94% — and Still 1 of the Best on the TSX

This is a reasonably priced Canadian dividend stock for long-term wealth creation.

Read more »

Investor reading the newspaper
Stocks for Beginners

3 Resilient Canadian Stocks to Own in a Headline-Driven Market

These three Canadian stocks have their own momentum, driven by gold cash flow, logistics demand, and everyday packaging needs.

Read more »

Piggy bank on a flying rocket
Dividend Stocks

The Canadian Companies That’ve Been Quietly Raising Their Dividend Payouts

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (TSX:CP) increased its dividend 17.5%!

Read more »

man gives stopping gesture
Energy Stocks

Revealed: Here’s the Only Canadian Stock I’d Refuse to Sell

This Canadian stock stands out as a rare long‑term hold thanks to its stable cash flow, reliable dividends, and essential…

Read more »

top TSX stocks to buy
Dividend Stocks

2 TSX Dividend Stocks I’d Hold for the Next Decade

Two TSX dividend stocks stand out as buy-and-hold candidates for income-focused investors.

Read more »