Canadian investors often get into investing for long-term retirement goals or perhaps some shorter-term goals like saving for a house. But what if I told you there are Canadian stocks out there that investors could hold far longer. Canadian stocks that allow you not only to save for your children, but also your grandchildren.
That’s what we’re going to consider today. So let’s get into what investors need to consider before picking up these long-term holds and one Canadian stock that fits the bill.
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What to watch
Start with one simple question: Will this business still matter 50 years from now? The best multigenerational investments are companies that provide essential goods or services. You’re looking for durable relevance, the kind of Canadian stock whose role in society doesn’t fade with trends. This allows the company to also expand, diversifying investments and earnings to lower risk in the long run.
Furthermore, while the current CEO can be a good reason to purchase, the better reason is a culture of good stewardship. Look for companies that have a long history of responsible capital allocation, whereby management consistently reinvests profits in ways that create long-term value.
Then there are the numbers. Markets rise and fall, but enduring companies make money in both good times and bad. You want a business that thrives during expansion but doesn’t crumble in recessions. Check the company’s 10-year return on equity (ROE) and return on invested capital (ROIC). If those numbers are stable and above 10% through multiple economic cycles, you’ve found a compounder that can outlast market storms. These measures of healthy profits and free cash flow help fund dividends, which can multiply wealth quietly through compounding, even if shares don’t soar.
Consider FFH
Fairfax Financial Holdings (TSX: FFH) is one of those rare Canadian companies that fits perfectly into the “buy, hold, and pass down” category. It’s a Canadian stock you could realistically tuck away for your grandchildren and be confident it will keep compounding wealth long after you’re gone. The financial services firm is simply a long-term compounding machine run by one of the country’s most disciplined capital allocators, Prem Watsa, often dubbed the “Canadian Warren Buffett.”
At its core, Fairfax operates a global insurance and reinsurance empire, underwriting policies in property, casualty, and specialty lines across North America, Europe, and Asia. But what makes it truly special is its dual-engine model of underwriting profits and investment returns. Insurance companies earn premiums today but pay out claims years later. That gap or “float” can be invested in stocks, bonds, or private businesses. Fairfax has been exceptional at this for decades, using the float to buy undervalued businesses, hold high-quality bonds, and compound wealth patiently.
Even as Watsa approaches his late 60s, the company has carefully built out a deep bench of management talent and succession planning across its global insurance subsidiaries. Therefore Fairfax isn’t just one man’s legacy, but a culture of conservative, long-term thinking that can endure for decades.
A quiet compounder
Fairfax’s most recent quarterly earnings (Q2 2025) underline why it continues to stand apart from most insurers. Net earnings almost doubled from last year, with operating income up 30%. Book value increased 14% year over year, with gross premiums written rising 9%. Therefore, both organic growth and acquisitions led to major movements.
Yet don’t let that make you think you’ve missed out. Even with shares up 33% in the last year, as mentioned, this is a quiet compounder. It’s not meant for trading, but long-term holding. In fact, even with all that growth it still trades at just 8.4 times earnings, offering a bonus 0.93% dividend yield.
And there’s plenty more to come in the future. While insurance remains its foundation, Fairfax has broadened into other long-lived sectors through smart acquisitions and partnerships. These, along with its global reach, it can continue to bring in cash for decades to come.
Bottom line
Fairfax is the definition of a legacy compounder. The Canadian stock is conservative, diversified, and led by one of Canada’s most disciplined capital allocators. Its combination of steady insurance earnings, long-term investment acumen, global exposure, and balance sheet strength make it the kind of Canadian stock you can buy, hold, and comfortably pass down to future generations.
