3 Canadian Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 20 Years

Do you want to hold a stock for years, even decades? These three Canadian stocks could deliver exceptional returns in the long term!

| More on:
Piggy bank on a flying rocket

Source: Getty Images

Key Points

  • High‑quality Canadian names have pulled back in 2025, creating buy‑and‑hold entry points—build positions slowly if you have a 10–20 year horizon.
  • Three longs: Topicus (TSXV:TOI) — acquisitive European vertical‑market software with recent weakness; TerraVest (TSX:TVK) — disciplined industrial acquirer and capital allocator with outsized historical returns; Firan (TSX:FTG) — small‑cap aerospace components supplier with strong growth and backlog.
  • Looking for other great long-term picks? Check out these five top expert picks now!

There is an assortment of high-quality Canadian stocks that have provided exceptional returns for shareholders in the long term. Many high-quality stocks have taken a hit in 2025. The market has favoured mining, banking, and speculative stocks. As a result, you can add some very good stocks at reasonable valuations.

If you have an extended time frame (like 10 or 20 years), you don’t need to pick a bottom in these stocks. Slowly build a position over a year or two, then just hold on and do very little else.

Long-term investing is boring, but it can be extremely profitable. Here are three Canadian stocks I’d look to buy and hold for the next 20 years ahead.

A top Canadian software stock for the long run

With a market cap of $11 billion, Topicus.com (TSXV:TOI) is the largest stock on the TSX Venture Exchange. It has been a rocky ride for Topicus shareholders this year. Its stock rose 64% to a new high of $194 per share. However, it has given up most of those gains with a recent 30% decline to $137 per share today.

It looks like an opportunity. Topicus.com has made very good progress in 2025. It acquired several larger businesses, including a large stake in a Polish vertical market acquirer. Year to date, revenues, earnings per share, and free cash flow rose 18%, 97%, and 11%, respectively.

It is a very resilient business with a large focus on government, education, and financial clients. Europe has a large, fragmented market of software companies, so it has a wide net to cast. It has a strong balance sheet to continue executing on its growth-by-acquisition strategy.

Being a spin-out from Constellation Software, it has a focus on smart capital allocation and high returns on invested capital. The recent pullback creates a long-term buying opportunity where the stock is attractively valued.

An industrial stock with great capital allocation

Another Canadian stock to consider for the next 20 years is TerraVest Industries (TSX:TVK). Even though it only has a market cap of $2.9 billion, it has delivered incredible returns for shareholders. Its stock is up 800% in the past five years and 2,192% in the past 10 years.

With those types of returns, you might be surprised to discover that it operates in some mundane industries. It operates several industrial businesses focused on tanks, trailers, and boiler manufacturing, as well as energy services.

Its strength is in its ability to deploy its capital into these relatively cheap businesses, improve and optimize operations, and yield attractive cash flows. Over the past 10 years, net operating profits after tax are up 500% for a 20% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR). If it can continue this 20% growth rate, long-term shareholders should be very happy.

A Canadian small-cap stock with more to go

Canadian small-cap stocks can be a great place to hunt for long-term value. With a market cap of $256 million, Firan Technologies (TSX:FTG) is an interesting small-cap today.

Firan makes specialized cockpit components, circuits, and high-tech airplane intelligence and communication hardware. Since COVID-19, aircraft demand has rapidly surged. Major aircraft manufacturers have decades of backlog from airlines desperately seek more efficient vehicles.

In the past three years, revenues have risen by a 30% CAGR. Earnings per share have soared by a 47% CAGR. Wise acquisitions have expanded its product assortment and manufacturing geography. This has smartly diversified its production to help manage tariff threats and customer concentration.

This Canadian stock is targeting 15% annual growth. If it can continue to quietly execute like it has, this could be an excellent stock to buy on the recent pullback and hold it for several decades ahead.

Fool contributor Robin Brown has positions in Constellation Software, TerraVest Industries, and Topicus.com. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Firan Technology Group and Topicus.com. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Software and TerraVest Industries. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Investing

tsx today
Stock Market

TSX Today: Why Canadian Stocks Could Rise on Friday, December 5

The TSX may extend its record-setting rally on Friday with overnight gains in copper and silver while Canada’s jobs and…

Read more »

Piggy bank with word TFSA for tax-free savings accounts.
Dividend Stocks

Here’s the Average TFSA Balance at Age 55 in Canada

Turning 55? See how a TFSA and a low‑volatility income ETF like ZPAY can boost tax‑free retirement cash flow while…

Read more »

dividends can compound over time
Dividend Stocks

TD Bank’s Earnings Beat & Dividend Hike: Told You So!

The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD) just released its fourth quarter earnings and hiked its dividend by 2.9%.

Read more »

senior couple looks at investing statements
Dividend Stocks

Here’s the Average TFSA Balance at Age 54 in Canada

Holding the iShares S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index Fund (TSX:XIC) in a TFSA can maximize your wealth.

Read more »

Train cars pass over trestle bridge in the mountains
Dividend Stocks

1 Top-Tier TSX Stock Down 18% to Buy and Hold Forever

Down almost 20% from all-time highs, Canadian Pacific Kansas City is a blue-chip TSX stock that offers upside potential in…

Read more »

ETF is short for exchange traded fund, a popular investment choice for Canadians
Investing

2 Smart ETF Moves to Help Rebalance by Year’s End

Sprott Physical Gold Trust (TSX:PHYS) and another ETF to help bring balance back to your TFSA.

Read more »

View of high rise corporate buildings in the financial district of Toronto, Canada
Dividend Stocks

How to Use Your TFSA to Earn $275 in Monthly Tax-Free Income

Discover how True North Commercial REIT’s government‑anchored leases could help turn a TFSA into monthly, tax‑free income even amid a…

Read more »

man looks surprised at investment growth
Investing

3 TSX Stocks Under $30 That Are Screaming Buys Today

Several high-quality TSX stocks with solid growth prospects are trading under $30, proving a solid opportunity for buying.

Read more »