I’m Holding These 5 Canadian Stocks for at Least the Next 5 Years

Find out which stocks may thrive in the next five years as Canada builds its energy infrastructure and AI capabilities.

Key Points
  • Key Canadian Stocks Positioned for Long-Term Growth: Descartes Systems, Bombardier, Bird Construction, Ballard Power Systems, and Hive Digital Technologies are poised to leverage Canada's infrastructure growth, AI advances, and emerging technologies over the next five years.
  • Strategic Investment and Growth Opportunities: These stocks offer diverse opportunities from high-margin aircraft and hydrogen fuel cells to AI data centers, promising significant returns as they capitalize on strong order books, innovative technologies, and strategic partnerships.

The post-pandemic world made investors in gold, semiconductors, and oil stocks millionaires over the last four years. However, those who invested in telecom and software stocks suffered losses or have barely made a profit. This market cycle shows that every growth spurt is not the same for all stocks. What has passed is history, and it may not define the next five-year growth cycle. However, it has left behind traces of the next growth cycle.

Data center servers IT workers

Source: Getty Images

Five Canadian stocks to hold for the next five years

The next five years could open a new chapter for Canada’s growth as it accelerates nation-building activities, building energy corridors, sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, and new export markets. The efforts are visible in the order books and capital expenditures. Here are five Canadian stocks worth holding on to for the next five years.

Descartes Systems

Descartes Systems’ (TSX: DSG) share price tanked after the US announced tariffs for all its export partners. After a 45% dip since January 2025, the stock is gearing up for a recovery rally. When the global trade momentum slowed amidst a tariff war, Descartes focused on

  • growing revenue through acquisitions,
  • increasing the adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) margin by cutting costs, and
  • increasing earnings per share (EPS) through share buybacks.

It kept preserving cash to fund other all-cash acquisitions. Improving fundamentals and a share price dip corrected its valuation to a 40 times price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio from 64 times in 2025. Considering the 34% EPS growth, the stock price shows reasonable growth expectations. Any EPS growth from here could support share price growth. The next five years could see a recovery in its share price to $160 and above, representing a 44% upside.

Bombardier stock

Bombardier (TSX: BBD.B) stock might look overvalued at its 26 times P/E ratio, but if you see its 30–50% EPS growth trajectory in the last two years, the valuation is still cheap. The year 2026 will be exceptionally strong for Bombardier as its $21.8 billion order book has a greater mix of high-margin Global 8000 aircraft. Moreover, Bombardier is using its years of losses as income tax recovery to boost EPS.

It has set its growth roadmap to 2030, focusing on the defence sector, pre-owned aircraft, and Global 8000. In the meantime, it will use the excess cash to repay debt, buy back shares, and grow through acquisitions and partnerships. All these efforts could continue to drive Bombardier stock into high-double-digit growth.

Bird Construction

After surging 936% since 2022, Bird Construction (TSX: BDT) might look overvalued. But it is just beginning to execute nation-building infrastructure projects. It is the construction partner for some of the large capital projects, like Woodfibre LNG plant, BCE’s AI data centre in Saskatchewan, and a nuclear power plant. Bird’s order book has surged 70% in two years to $11.1 billion.

Bird Construction’s share price is falling as the company sees execution pressure. However, the next two years could see the commissioning of two major projects, converting order book to revenue and profits. While growth may remain tepid in the short term, it could surge as projects get commissioned and new projects join the backlog.

Two high-risk, high-growth stocks worth owning now

The above stocks are viable businesses where EPS is a good performance measure. Here are two emerging technology stocks representing technology offerings with significant revenue growth potential.

Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLDP) has manufactured a commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell technology for commercial vehicles, like buses, trucks, trains, marine, and stationary power. It achieved a positive gross margin of 5% in 2025 and has sustained it at 17% in the first half of 2026.

Ballard has appointed a professional management team to help it improve efficiency and generate profits. If the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology picks up, Ballard stock could surge 400–800%. The next five years are crucial for this stock.

Hive Digital Technologies (TSX: HIVE) is tapping the AI data centre wave using its expertise in building graphics processing unit (GPU)-powered data centres. It is working on BCE’s AI fabric and seeking a hyperscaler client. If it succeeds in getting one, the stock could skyrocket.

Fool contributor Puja Tayal has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Descartes Systems Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Stocks for Beginners

oil pumps at sunset
Dividend Stocks

CIBC Just Put a $17.50 Target on This Homegrown Oil Stock

Tamarack's target implies roughly 24% upside, while a cleaner balance sheet gives its Clearwater strategy room to work.

Read more »

Concept of rent, search, purchase real estate, REIT
Stocks for Beginners

On a Variable Mortgage? Markets Are Now Betting on Hikes, Not Cuts

A rate hike remains possible, even after weak jobs data. Here's the household cost and the separate CIBC investment decision.

Read more »

data center server racks glow with light
Tech Stocks

AI Data Centres Need Power: This Canadian Stock Just Won a 1GW Contract

Enerflex has landed substantial data centre equipment work. The opportunity now depends on what reaches shareholders after delivery.

Read more »

dividends grow over time
Dividend Stocks

DRIPs Explained: How Reinvesting Dividends Can Grow Your Portfolio

Learn how dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) help Canadian investors compound, with a historical example via an S&P 500 ETF.

Read more »

Thrilled women riding roller coaster at amusement park, enjoying fun outdoor activity.
Stocks for Beginners

Risk Tolerance Explained: How to Know How Much Volatility You Can Handle

Learn how standard deviation measures historical investment volatility and how Canadian investors can use it to assess risk tolerance.

Read more »

man makes the timeout gesture with his hands
Tech Stocks

The Tax Rules Canadians Should Know Before Starting a Side Hustle

A side hustle can fund investments, but taxes, business expenses, and sales-tax obligations determine how much money is actually yours.

Read more »

gold prices rise and fall
Stocks for Beginners

Gold is Near $4,200: This Miner Pays You to Wait

Agnico's cash position supports its dividend, but gold-price sensitivity and a modest starting yield define what investors actually receive.

Read more »

woman checks off all the boxes
Stocks for Beginners

Using Your TFSA as a Retirement Account: Pros and Cons

The TFSA is an excellent tool to help you save and invest for your retirement nest egg, but there are…

Read more »