Canada’s Infrastructure Boom May Be Closer Than You Think – Here’s How to Position Now

Canada’s infrastructure boom may reward the behind-the-scenes TSX suppliers, not just the headline megaproject names.

Key Points
  • ADF Group builds and coats steel for major projects, and its record backlog shows demand is real.
  • Dexterra profits from infrastructure through camps and facilities services, making it a steadier “picks-and-shovels” play.
  • ADF has more upside but tariff and margin risk, while Dexterra looks like the more consistent operator.

Positioning for Canada’s infrastructure boom doesn’t mean buying the most obvious mega-project headline and hoping for the best on the TSX today. It means finding companies that can benefit from more building, more maintenance, and more demand for steel, services, and support work as governments and private players spend on transport, energy, industrial sites, and public assets.

The sweet spot often sits with businesses that supply the boring but essential pieces, because those are the ones that can keep winning work even if the market mood shifts.

Safety helmets and gloves hang from a rack on a mining site.

Source: Getty Images

DRX

ADF Group (TSX: DRX) fabricates and coats steel superstructures used in commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects across Canada and the United States. Over the last year, it completed the acquisition of Groupe LAR and then announced another $157.3 million in new contracts in April, adding to a record backlog. That gives ADF a visible pipeline of work at a time when investors want proof, not just a story on the TSX today.

The latest annual results were softer, but not weak enough to kill the case. For the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2026, revenue came in at $258.7 million, down from $339.6 million, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell to $43.5 million from $91.3 million and net income dropped to $26.3 million, or $0.93 per share.

Tariffs hurt margins, and that’s the clear risk here. Still, backlog hit a record $561.1 million, up from $293.1 million a year earlier, with 57% tied to Canadian contracts. With the stock up roughly 54% over the last year on the TSX today, investors seem to be looking past the dip and toward the workload ahead.

DXT

Dexterra (TSX: DXT) is the cleanest fit of these two on the TSX today. It provides support services, facilities management, and workforce accommodation tied to infrastructure creation, management, and operation in Canada. That makes it a practical way to invest in the buildout without betting on one single project. Over the last year, Dexterra also bought Right Choice Camps and Catering, which added to its support-services footprint, and it recently set its Q1 2026 reporting date, keeping investor attention on near-term momentum.

The financials look solid. Dexterra reported 2025 revenue of $1 billion, up 3.8%, while adjusted EBITDA rose 16.1% to $113.8 million and earnings jumped to $40.5 million. Q4 revenue increased 9.3% to $271 million. The stock traded around $11.73 on the TSX today, giving it a market cap of about $733 million, and analyst estimates show expected sales growth this year as well.

It’s not flashy, but that may be the appeal. If Canada’s infrastructure boom really is closer than many think, Dexterra looks like the kind of steady operator that could quietly win.

Bottom line

If I were positioning now, I would want one name with direct project leverage, one with support-services exposure, and one with a healthy dose of caution. ADF offers backlog and torque. Dexterra offers steadier execution. The bigger point is simple: the infrastructure boom does not need to fully arrive before the right stocks start moving.

Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Dexterra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Stocks for Beginners

how to save money
Energy Stocks

Gasoline Is Up 27.8% in a Year: This Oilsands Giant Is Cashing In

Suncor's integrated operations generate substantial cash, although a strong oil quarter shouldn't become a permanent assumption.

Read more »

a person watches a downward arrow crash through the floor
Dividend Stocks

Got $2,000? 2 Canadian Dividend Stocks I’d Buy Before the Next Market Dip

If you are worried about the next market dip, buy these two dividend stocks with $2,000 to find safety from…

Read more »

happy woman throws cash
Dividend Stocks

5 TSX Dividend Stocks for Steady Cash Flow: What I’d Buy With $5,000

If you are looking for stable and growing income that you can depend on, these TSX dividend stocks are a…

Read more »

The sun sets behind a power source
Dividend Stocks

Taking CPP at 60 Shrinks Your Cheque 36%: This Dividend Stock Helps Bridge the Gap

Fortis can supplement retirement income, but dividend cash and a permanently reduced CPP pension aren't interchangeable.

Read more »

dividend stocks are a good way to earn passive income
Dividend Stocks

The Biggest Myths About Earning Passive Income From Stocks

You cannot get passive income from stocks. I explain why in this article.

Read more »

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Stocks for Beginners

Got $1,000 to Invest? Here Are 3 Ways Canadians Can Start

Learn how Canadians can start investing $1,000 using three low-cost index ETFs for U.S., Canadian, and international stock market exposure.

Read more »

Concept of multiple streams of income
Dividend Stocks

Hike Bets Just Surged From 30% to 80%: This Insurer Doesn’t Mind at All

Manulife offers a different angle on rising rates, with Asian growth providing a stronger reason to own it.

Read more »

Two seniors walk in the forest
Stocks for Beginners

Don’t Panic About Retirement: Do This Instead

An affordable monthly savings habit can improve a retirement plan substantially, while Dollarama shows why a good business still needs…

Read more »