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Stocks for Beginners

Investing in stocks can feel intimidating at first, but it’s one of the most effective ways to build long-term wealth. For beginners, the key idea to understand is that there’s no “perfect” time to start—because historically, markets have trended upward over long periods despite short-term ups and downs. Whether markets are rising or falling, consistent investing over time has rewarded patient investors, making any time a good time to begin if your focus is long-term growth.

More importantly, the stock market allows your money to work for you, rather than relying solely on your own time and effort to generate income. By investing in stocks, you’re putting your capital to work in businesses that grow, innovate, and generate profits—often compounding returns year after year. Instead of trading hours for dollars, investing gives you the opportunity to build wealth in the background while you focus on your career, goals, or everyday life.

To learn more about Stocks for Beginners and how to actually buy stocks in Canada, take a look at our Guide to How to Start Investing in Canada for all the details.

Top Articles

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Stocks for Beginners

3 Canadian Companies Powering the AI Revolution [PREMIUM PICKS]

| Motley Fool Staff

AI energy consumption is expected to double by 2026, and these companies could be set to profit from the boom.

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Striking match creates fire and light.
Stocks for Beginners

10 Stocks Every Canadian Should Own in 2025 [PREMIUM PICKS]

| Iain Butler

The Motley Fool's yearly list of "Starter Stocks" is our attempt to answer a simple question: “Where do I go…

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Stocks for Beginners

Can You Guess the 10 Most Popular Canadian Stocks? (If You Own Them, You Might Be Losing Out.)

| Iain Butler

The list is woefully predictable.

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Striking match creates fire and light.
Stocks for Beginners

Just Released: 10 Stocks Every Canadian Should Own in 2024 [PREMIUM PICKS]

| Iain Butler

The Motley Fool's yearly list of "Starter Stocks" is our attempt to answer a simple question: “Where do I go…

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top TSX stocks to buy
Stocks for Beginners

Just Released: The 5 Best Stocks to Buy in February 2023 [PREMIUM PICKS]

| Iain Butler

Making money investing in stocks is not hard -- often, all you need is patience.

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Stocks for Beginners

TFSA Investors: 10 Stocks Every Canadian Should Own in 2023 [PREMIUM PICKS]

| Iain Butler

Motley Fool Stock Advisor's yearly list of "Starter Stocks" is our attempt to answer a simple question: “Where do I…

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Stocks for Beginners

Just Released: The 5 Best Stocks to Buy in January 2023 [PREMIUM PICKS]

| Iain Butler

Let’s cut to the chase: It’s absolutely true that shares of Redfin, an online real estate platform, have fallen 93%…

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Striking match creates fire and light.
Stocks for Beginners

Just Released: 10 Stocks Every Canadian Should Own in 2023 [PREMIUM PICKS]

| Iain Butler

Our yearly list of "Starter Stocks" is our attempt to answer a simple question: “Where do I go first?”

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Recent Stocks for Beginners News

Stocks for Beginners

Risky Market Round-Up: 3 Fun Ways to (Probably) Lose Money on the TSX Index

| Victoria Hetherington

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:REI.UN) heads up a triple-layered “risk sandwich” of shaky Canadian industries. Find out which ones…

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Dividend Stocks

Is Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU) Stock a Top Pick for Your TFSA Retirement Fund?

| Andrew Walker

Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) has generated strong returns for long-term investors. Are more big gains on the way?

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Tech Stocks

Dow Crashes 832 Points on “Worrisome Wednesday”: Seek Shelter in This Stock As “Crazy Fed” Pushes Economy to the Brink of Recession

| Joey Frenette

Shaw Communications (TSX:SJR.B)(NYSE:SJR) is deeply discounted and will serve as a nice hiding place if things turn ugly.

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

3 Top TSX Index Stocks to Buy on the Market Dip

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY)(NYSE:RY) and another two top TSX Index stocks look attractive on the pullback.

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Dividend Stocks

Despite the Hype, Restaurant Brands (TSX:QSR) Stock Still Isn’t Worth Buying

| Victoria Hetherington

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (TSX:QSR)(NYSE:QSR) still isn't good value, but should investors look past poor multiples?

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Dividend Stocks

Young Investors: 3 “Hold Forever” Canadian Investments to Get Your TFSA Portfolio Started

| Joey Frenette

Restaurant Brands International (TSX:QSR)(NYSE:QSR) and two other essential investments for a young person's TFSA.

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Dividend Stocks

2 Top Dividend Stocks to Get Your TFSA Snowball Rolling

| Joey Frenette

Shaw Communications (TSX:SJR.B)(NYSE:SJR) and one other stock for TFSA dividend investors to buy right now.

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Dividend Stocks

Here’s Why You Might Want to Get Out of Stocks Like Saputo (TSX:SAP) Right Now

| Victoria Hetherington

Food stocks like Saputo Inc. (TSX:SAP) are not looking all that solid since USMCA. Could Canadian tech become the better…

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Dividend Stocks

TFSA Investors: 3 Top Stocks to Boost Retirement Wealth

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (TSX:BAM.A)(NYSE:BAM) and another two top Canadian stocks deserve to be on your radar.

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors Still Think These 2 Dividend Stocks Are the Same Quality: They’re Not

| Victoria Hetherington

It seems nothing touches Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) stock for defensiveness – but is another contender a buy?

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The Motley Fool
Stocks for Beginners

Marijuanageddon: Here’s Why You Should Get Out of Pot Stocks This Week

| Victoria Hetherington

Can stocks like Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED)(NYSE:CGC) outrun next week's potential pot stock bust?

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Stocks for Beginners

Beginners: Effective Adoption of Warren Buffett’s Principles Could Make You Very Rich

| Joey Frenette

By following the principles of Warren Buffett, beginners will be better able to tell the difference between a value play…

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Dividend Stocks

5 Stocks to Hold in Your RRSP For 25 Years

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY) (NYSE:RY) and another four top Canadian companies are worth a closer look right…

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Dividend Stocks

Is This the Best Time to Lock-In BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE) Stock’s 6% Dividend Yield?

| Haris Anwar

It's the best time of the year to buy BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE) stock as its dividend yield gets closer to…

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Dividend Stocks

Who Wants to Be a Millennial Millionaire With Non-Cannabis Stocks?

| Joey Frenette

Why you could get rich slowly with names like Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS)?

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Dividend Stocks

TFSA Investors: 3 Canadian Stocks to Own for 30 Years in Your Retirement Fund

| Andrew Walker

Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ) (NYSE:CNQ) and another two market leaders deserve to be on your TFSA radar. Here's why.

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Dividend Stocks

Forget Interest Rates: Start Buying Solid Dividend Stocks Today

| Kris Knutson

Rising interest rates are driving the stock prices of dividend payers like BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE) down hard. Take advantage of…

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Stocks for Beginners

Use These 3 Strategies to Protect Your Gains in Cannabis Stocks

| Kris Knutson

Investing in high-growth, high-valuation stocks like Aphria Inc. (TSX:APH) can lead to massive gains or catastrophic losses. Use these three…

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors: 2 Quality Dividend Stocks for Your TFSA

| Kay Ng

Buy Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS)(NYSE:BNS) and another stock in your TFSA for +10% long-term returns.

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Dividend Stocks

You Probably Own 1 of These Top Canadian Stocks, But How Safe Is It?

| Victoria Hetherington

We examine three classically defensive stocks and ask: are Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) and two others stable enough to hold…

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Dividend Stocks

A 3-Stock Portfolio for New and Nervous Investors

| Victoria Hetherington

One thing that nobody seems to want at the moment is more risk. While the marijuana stock phenomenon rattles along…

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Dividend Stocks

This Overlooked and Attractively Valued Oil Stock Is a Strong Buy

| Victoria Hetherington

We put Tourmaline Oil Corp. (TSX:TOU) through a home-made stock screening tool to see whether or not it's a buy…

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The Motley Fool
Stocks for Beginners

Stocks for Beginners: Avoid These 3 Costly Rookie Mistakes!

| Jason Phillips

Avoid these three common investing pitfalls and save yourself the expense of paying "trader's tuition." Find out how these tips…

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Dividend Stocks

3 Reasons Why Now Is the Time to Boost Your Returns With Margin Leverage

| Kris Knutson

These three reasons prove why now is the time to boost your returns by buying shares of dividend companies like…

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Dividend Stocks

So You Think You Know Canada’s Top 5 Defensive Stocks? Think Again!

| Victoria Hetherington

Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX:LUN) and four other well-valued stocks with good past performance make the cut for this list of…

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The Motley Fool
Stocks for Beginners

Putting Money in Cannabis Is Speculation: Don’t Confuse it With Investing

| Kris Knutson

Cannabis stocks like Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX:ACB) are trading at high valuations that are not fundamentally justified. Money put into…

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Dividend Stocks

Discount Lumber or Auto Stocks? 1 of These Sectors Offers More Shelter

| Victoria Hetherington

We put West Fraser Timber (TSX:WFT) head-to-head with an auto stock to see which one offers the best shelter for…

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Dividend Stocks

Can a Big Food and Drinks Name Beat CIBC (TSX:CM) Stock on Defensiveness?

| Victoria Hetherington

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSX:CM)(NYSE:CM) is one of the sturdiest stocks on the TSX index. Can it be dethroned…

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Dividend Stocks

Top Dividend Stocks That Could Help Build a Perfect TFSA Portfolio

| Haris Anwar

For do-it-yourself investors. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) is one top dividend stock to consider for an income-focused TFSA portfolio.

Read more »

Dividend Stocks

Which of My 2 Favourite Undervalued Lumber Stocks Is a Better Buy?

| Victoria Hetherington

Canfor Corp. (TSX:CFP) is a strong buy today, with attractive valuation and some growth ahead. But how does it fare…

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Dividend Stocks

TFSA Retirement Investors: 3 Top Canadian Dividend Stocks That Look Oversold

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Sun Life (TSX:SLF) (NYSE:SLF) and another two Canadian dividend stocks deserve to be on your radar.

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Stocks for Beginners

Are Marijuana Mutual Funds the Future of Canadian Pot Stocks?

| Victoria Hetherington

By spreading risk, funds such as Horizons Medical Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF (TSX:HMMJ) could take over from individual pot…

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Dividend Stocks

Here Are My 3 Best Buys for Sturdy Balance Sheets

| Victoria Hetherington

Magna International (TSX:MG)(NYSE:MGA) and two other stocks have solid balance sheets. Find out which is the healthiest stock on the…

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Dividend Stocks

3 Top Dividend Stocks to Start Your RRSP Nest Egg

| Andrew Walker

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (TSX:CNQ)(NYSE:CNQ) and another two Canadian dividend stars are attractive picks to start your RRSP portfolio. Here's…

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Dividend Stocks

2 Green Energy Stocks for a Lucrative and Ethical Investment

| Victoria Hetherington

Polaris Infrastructure (TSX:PIF) and one other overlooked green energy stock offer investors an opportunity to build a lucrative ethical portfolio.

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Stocks for Beginners

Today’s Top 3 Unloved High-Growth Canadian Stocks

| Victoria Hetherington

Alacer Gold Corp. (TSX:ASR) and two other stocks have great multiples, undervaluation, and yet all signal high growth. Which should…

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Dividend Stocks

Is It Better to Invest in Quality Stocks or Bargain Stocks?

| Kay Ng

Which of these stocks will you invest in today? Manulife Financial Corporation (TSX:MFC)(NYSE:MFC) or Intact Financial Corporation (TSX:IFC)?

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

Are These Really the Top 3 Dividend Rock Stars of the TSX Index?

| Victoria Hetherington

Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS)(NYSE:BNS) and two other great Canadian stocks are among the best dividend payers today.

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Dividend Stocks

Is Attractive Valuation Enough to Lure Investors Back to Auto Stocks?

| Victoria Hetherington

Is Uni-Select (TSX:UNS) too exposed to Brexit uncertainties, and would its competitor be a better buy all round?

Read more »

Dividend Stocks

2 Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for the Next Decade

| Haris Anwar

Here is what makes Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO) a dividend stock you can buy and hold to earn growing income…

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