The market has an irritating habit of becoming comfortable only after much of the easy money has already been made. During a decline, investors wait for the bad news to stop. During a rally, they wait for prices to become reasonable again.
Meanwhile, cash remains impressively calm, though it accomplishes very little.
Investing $1,000 today doesn’t require predicting tomorrow’s market direction. It means purchasing a small ownership stake in a durable business, while leaving room to add if the stock declines. That starter position can be especially useful for anyone learning how to buy stocks in Canada.
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Start before certainty
Waiting becomes dangerous when “not yet” has no deadline. The market might correct next month, but it could also climb another 10% first and surrender only part of that gain.
I’d rather divide a planned investment into several purchases. Put the first $1,000 to work now, add a similar amount later, and keep buying at regular intervals. This approach won’t produce the lowest possible entry price, but it can prevent five years of research from producing a beautifully informed cash balance.
The important part is buying a company with a reason to grow beyond general market enthusiasm. One Canadian stock currently checking that box is Nutrien (TSX: NTR).
The stock I’d buy
Nutrien stock produces potash, nitrogen, and phosphate fertilizers. It also operates an enormous agricultural retail network supplying farmers with crop nutrients, seeds, crop-protection products, and related services.
Fertilizer demand can fluctuate from quarter to quarter, but crops continually remove nutrients from the soil. Farmers can postpone some applications when the economy becomes difficult. They cannot underfeed fields indefinitely without affecting future yields.
Nutrien stock delivered record potash sales volumes and production during the first half of 2026. Potash adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased to US$1.24 billion, helped by stronger benchmark prices and efficient operations.
Management subsequently raised the lower end of its full-year potash sales-volume guidance. It now expects between 14.2 million and 14.8 million tonnes. That provides a current catalyst beyond simply hoping investors decide to pay more for Canadian stocks.
What $1,000 buys
At approximately $111.29 per share, $1,000 would purchase eight full Nutrien shares. That leaves a little cash available for the next contribution. Here’s what that could bring in today from dividends alone.
| COMPANY | RECENT PRICE | NUMBER OF SHARES | ANNUAL DIVIDEND | ANNUAL TOTAL PAYOUT | FREQUENCY | TOTAL INVESTMENT | CASH REMAINING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTR | $111.29 | 8 | $3.09 | $24.72 | Quarterly | $890.32 | $109.68 |
Nutrien stock recently traded around 16.4 times trailing earnings. That appears reasonable for a global industry leader, although the stock is also relatively close to its 52-week high. Starting with eight shares rather than attempting to establish an enormous position in one afternoon makes sense.
That said, Nutrien stock remains a cyclical commodity producer. Lower fertilizer prices, weaker farmer economics, expensive natural gas, geopolitical changes, or poor weather could pressure earnings. Second-quarter fertilizer volumes were also weaker in parts of the business, showing that stronger prices don’t automatically improve every operating measure.
I’d therefore hold Nutrien stock alongside companies from other industries and add gradually. A $1,000 investment should begin a diversified portfolio, not turn fertilizer prices into a personality trait.
Bottom line
Nutrien stock offers record potash activity, raised sales guidance, shareholder returns, and a valuation that hasn’t completely wandered away from the underlying business.
The stock could decline after a strong run. It could also keep climbing while hesitant investors wait for an engraved invitation. I’d put the first $1,000 to work today, keep future purchases scheduled, and allow time, not perfect timing, to perform the heavier lifting.
