The Smartest Canadian Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now

Dexterra is a TSX dividend stock that trades at a cheap multiple and offers significant upside potential to investors in 2025.

| More on:
stock research, analyze data

Image source: Getty Images

The ongoing pullback in the equity markets allows Canadian investors with a long-term horizon to buy quality stocks at a lower multiple and benefit from outsized gains when sentiment recovers.

In this article, I have one such TSX stock that Canadian investors can buy with $1,000 right now. Let’s see why.

Is this Canadian stock a good buy today?

Valued at a market cap of $485 million, Dexterra Group (TSX:DXT) provides infrastructure support services across Canada. It has two primary business segments:

  • Support Services (operation, maintenance, and hospitality solutions)
  • Asset-Based Services (workforce accommodation, access solutions, and modular space rentals)

Dexterra serves diverse clients, including remote operations, governments, and natural resources sectors. The company has increased its sales from $477.8 million in 2020 to $1 billion in 2024.

In the last five years, the TSX stock has returned 377% to shareholders. After adjusting for dividend reinvestments, cumulative returns are closer to 520%. Despite these market-thumping gains, the Canadian stock also offers you a tasty dividend yield of 4.5%.

In 2024, Dexterra Group reported record revenue from continuing operations of $1 billion and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) of $107 million as it completes its transformation into a North American support services leader.

In recent years, Dexterra divested its Modular Solutions business and acquired CMI Management to streamline operations and provide investors with a clear strategic direction.

“We delivered a return on equity in 2024 of 13.3% from continuing operations and returned $30 million or about 40% of our free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks,” said Chief Executive Officer Mark Becker during the earnings call.

In the fourth quarter (Q4), the Support Services segment posted 18% revenue growth and improved adjusted EBITDA margins to 8.8%, compared to 7% in the same period last year.

Asset-Based Services saw expected decreases in revenue compared to 2023 due to a return to normalized wildfire activity. Despite lower volumes, the segment maintained high equipment utilization rates above 90%.

Dexterra ended 2024 with a net debt of $68 million, indicating a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 0.68 times. A low leverage ratio provides the company with financial flexibility for future acquisitions and share repurchases. Dexterra bought back 1.2 million shares for $8 million in 2024 and plans to remain opportunistic with buybacks in 2025.

Is the TSX stock undervalued?

Looking ahead, management expects 5-7% organic growth in Support Services and 2-5% growth in Asset-Based Services for 2025, with a target return on equity of 15%.

Dexterra is well-positioned to manage potential tariff impacts, as the majority of its materials are sourced domestically, and inflation adjustment mechanisms are built into its contracts.

Analysts tracking the TSX dividend stock expect it to grow EPS from $0.58 in 2024 to $0.85 in 2026. Priced at 9.1 times forward earnings, DXT stock is relatively cheap, given that it also pays shareholders an attractive annual dividend.

Analysts remain bullish on Dexterra stock and expect it to gain 39.4% over the next 12 months, given consensus price targets. If we include its dividends, cumulative returns could be closer to 43%.

Fool contributor Aditya Raghunath has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Dexterra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Dividend Stocks

woman checks off all the boxes
Dividend Stocks

5 Reasons to Buy and Hold This Canadian Stock Forever

Brookfield Corp (TSX:BN) is a Canadian stock that merits a long holding period.

Read more »

hand stacking money coins
Dividend Stocks

The 7.3% Dividend Stock You Can Depend On

Despite risks, this key Canadian dividend stock could continue to deliver sky-high yields for a very long time -- a…

Read more »

senior relaxes in hammock with e-book
Dividend Stocks

Top Picks: 3 Canadian Dividend Stocks for Stress-Free Passive Income

For investors looking to pick up reasonable dividend income, but also want to sleep well at night, here are three…

Read more »

Real estate investment concept with person pointing on growth graph and coin stacking to get profit from property
Dividend Stocks

A 7.4% Dividend Yield to Hold for Decades? Yes Please!

Think all high yields are risky? MCAN Financial’s regulated, interest-first model could be a dividend built to last.

Read more »

dividend growth for passive income
Dividend Stocks

3 Canadian Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold for 20 Years

Three TSX dividend stocks built to keep paying through recessions, rate hikes, and market drama so you can set it…

Read more »

top TSX stocks to buy
Dividend Stocks

How to Build a TFSA That Earns +$200 of Safe Monthly Income

If you want to earn monthly income, here is a four-stock portfolio that could collectively earn over $200 per monthly…

Read more »

diversification is an important part of building a stable portfolio
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Passive Income: 2 TSX Dividend Stocks to Consider Now

Building out a passive income portfolio with great TSX dividend stocks is easier than it sounds. Here are 2 stocks…

Read more »

Printing canadian dollar bills on a print machine
Dividend Stocks

My Blueprint for Generating $113/Month Using a $20,000 TFSA Investment

If you put $20,000 in and divide it 50/50 between both the companies, you could bring in around $113 in…

Read more »