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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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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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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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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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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

Dividend Stocks

2 Dividend Growth Stocks That Market-Beating Investors Should Buy Now

| Joey Frenette

Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) and National Bank of Canada (TSX:NA) are two long-term market-beaters that investors should feel comfortable…

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Stocks for Beginners

Follow These Tips and You Too Can Easily Beat the TSX

| Joey Frenette

The S&P/TSX Composite Index (TSX:^GSPTSE) keeps disappointing. So, if you're a Canadian index investor, here are stock-picking tips that will…

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

BMO vs. Toronto-Dominion Bank: Which Dividend Stock Is a Better Buy Today?

| Haris Anwar

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) and Bank of Montreal (TSX:BM)(NYSE:BMO) have long histories of rewarding dividend investors. But which stock is a…

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Stocks for Beginners

If You Own These Frothy Stocks, it’s Time to Do Some Trimming

| Joey Frenette

Shopify Inc. (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) or Dollarama Inc. (TSX:DOL) are incredible growth stocks that have crushed the market. But here's why it'd…

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Dividend Stocks

3 Dividend Superstars to Buy and Hold

| Joseph Solitro

Ready to add a dividend stock to your portfolio? If so, Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (TSX:ENF), Genworth MI Canada…

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Stocks for Beginners

2 Low P/E Stocks to Back Up the Truck on and 1 to Toss to the Curb

| Joey Frenette

Investors should be aware of National Bank of Canada (TSX:NA) and two other low-P/E stocks.

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The Motley Fool
Stocks for Beginners

How to Use Insider Trading Activity to Your Advantage to Obtain Market-Beating Results

| Joey Frenette

Here's a closer look at recent insider selling activities at Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX:ATD.B). Why investors should be aware of…

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors: 3 Stocks to Start Your TFSA Retirement Portfolio Today

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) and two other top Canadian companies might be attractive picks today.

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Stocks for Beginners

Beginners: Don’t Get Caught in This Value Trap!

| Joey Frenette

Here's why Equitable Group Inc. (TSX:EQB) is a risky stock that investors should be wary of.

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

How to Build Your Retirement Income With Market-Beating Dividend Stocks

| Haris Anwar

Here is how you can build your retirement income portfolio by investing in market-beating dividend stocks such as Bank of…

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Dividend Stocks

2 Dividend Stocks to Own in a Volatile Market

| Andrew Walker

Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) and Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) are good picks for conservative investors.

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Dividend Stocks

3 Sure-Fire Strategies That Will Help You Outperform in Any Market

| Jason Phillips

Beating the market is no easy task, but these three tips will help get you there, including how to play…

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

2 Market-Beating Dividend-Growth Stocks for a New RRSP Portfolio

| Andrew Walker

Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) and Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) have delivered some impressive returns over the past 20 years.

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Stocks for Beginners

Are These Behavioural Biases Hurting Your Returns?

| Patrick Giroux

Do behavioural biases affect your investing decisions? You can mitigate the effects by focusing on investing in solid companies such…

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

3 Dividend-Growth Stocks to Snowball Your TFSA

| Joey Frenette

Waste Connections Inc. (TSX:WCN)(NYSE:WCN) and two other stocks can jolt your TFSA to the next level.

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Stocks for Beginners

5 Tips That Will Help You Avoid the Next Market Crash

| Jason Phillips

These five tips will help you understand the role that companies such as Home Capital Group Inc. (TSX:HCG) play in…

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Stocks for Beginners

New Investors: How to Effectively Review an Earnings Report

| David Jagielski

For companies like Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX:ATD.B) that are involved in many changes and acquisitions, an earnings report can offer investors…

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Dividend Stocks

A High-Yielding Dividend Stock for Your TFSA, but Is it Safe?

| Haris Anwar

Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB) stock, with its 6.5% dividend yield, is a good candidate for your TFSA, but is it safe…

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Dividend Stocks

Young Investors: 3 Canadian Dividend Stocks to Start Your TFSA Retirement Fund

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU) and another two Canadian dividend aristocrats deserve to be on your radar.

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Dividend Stocks

Young Investors: Top Stocks That Can Help You Save Serious TFSA Retirement Cash

| Andrew Walker

Here's how top dividend-growth stocks such as Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR) (NYSE:CNI) can help you save for retirement.

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

10 S&P/TSX 60 Constituents That Raised Their Dividends in February

| Joseph Solitro

Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC)(NYSE:MFC), Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU)(NYSE:SU), and eight other stocks raised their dividends in February. Which should you…

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Stocks for Beginners

Beginners: Canadian Do-it-Yourself Index Investors May Not Be Properly Diversified

| Joey Frenette

Here's why the S&P/TSX Composite Index (TSX:^GSPTSE) is not a suitable one-stop-shop index for passive investors.

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Dividend Stocks

Go Against the Grain and Purchase These 2 Cheap Contrarian Stocks for Your RRSP or TFSA

| Joey Frenette

You should add Shaw Communications Inc. (TSX:SJR.B)(NYSE:SJR) and one other stock to your RRSP or TFSA today.

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Dividend Stocks

The RRSP Deadline Is Tomorrow! Give Your Retirement a Jolt With These 3 Dividend Stocks

| Joey Frenette

You should strongly consider adding Canadian Tire Corporation Limited (TSX:CTC.A) and two other dividend stocks to your RRSP before the…

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Dividend Stocks

2 Top Reasons to Keep Dividend-Growth Stocks in Your TFSA

| Haris Anwar

Here is why TFSA investors should have dividend-growth stocks such as Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB) in their portfolios.

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The Motley Fool
Stocks for Beginners

Passive Investors, Beware: This Is a Do-it-Yourself Investors’ Market. Here’s Why

| Joey Frenette

Here's why do-it-yourself stock pickers will have the advantage over indexers with the U.S. markets in overvalued territory. Stock pickers…

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Dividend Stocks

RRSP Investors: 3 Dividend Stocks to Start a Balanced RRSP Portfolio Today

| Andrew Walker

BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE) and another two top Canadian stocks might be attractive RRSP picks right now.

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Dividend Stocks

RRSP Investors: 5 Dividend Stocks to Earn Stable Retirement Income

| Haris Anwar

Adding dividend-paying stocks such as Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) to your RRSP can help you earn stable retirement income.

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Stocks for Beginners

Look Out Below! These 2 Stocks Could Be Heading for a Massive Plunge

| Joey Frenette

Here's why IGM Financial Inc. (TSX:IGM) and Magna International Inc. (TSX:MG)(NYSE:MGA) are dangerous stocks that value investors should be careful…

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

New Investors: 2 Top Canadian Dividend Stocks for Your RRSP

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) and Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY)(NYSE:RY) might be good picks to launch your RRSP today.

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Dividend Stocks

Should You Buy Stocks Today or Wait for the Correction to Worsen?

| Joey Frenette

When should investors be buying stocks like SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:SRU.UN)? As soon as they're ready or after…

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Dividend Stocks

These 2 Dividend-Growth Stars Just Raised Their Rates by 4.8%

| Joseph Solitro

Domtar Corp. (TSX:UFS)(NYSE:UFS) and Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (TSX:BEP.UN)(NYSE:BEP) just raised their dividends by 4.8%. Which should you buy today?

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The Motley Fool
Stocks for Beginners

Why You Should Invest in Canada Despite a Decade of Lacklustre Results

| Joey Frenette

The S&P/TSX Composite Index (TSX:^GSPTSE) and individual Canadian stocks have been tough to invest in, but here's why Canadian investors…

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Stocks for Beginners

New Investors: Why Corrections Are Healthy and How to Embrace Them

| Joey Frenette

Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) and Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) are currently on sale following the nasty correction. Here's why new…

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Dividend Stocks

3 “Smart Beta” Canadian Stocks That Are Worthy of a Gold Medal

| Joey Frenette

Smart Beta ETFs are all the rage these days. Here's what the buzz is about and how you can use…

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Follow These 5 Tips and Become Filthy Rich!

| Jason Phillips

No one said becoming rich was easy, but the good news is that securing your financial future is completely within…

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Stocks for Beginners

Are You a New Investor Who’s Interested in Marijuana Stocks? Read This!

| Joey Frenette

Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED) is a compelling opportunity, but how should beginners approach such a risky investment?

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Dividend Stocks

2 Cheap Stocks to Kick-Start Your TFSA Freedom Fund to the Next Level

| Joey Frenette

Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) is just one of two stocks that beginners should consider adding to their TFSA freedom…

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Stocks for Beginners

Are Marijuana Stocks the Right Choice in the Current Market Environment?

| Jason Phillips

Right now, there are some truly great companies available at prices investors haven't seen in years. Find out how this…

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Stocks for Beginners

New Investors: Why You Shouldn’t Care How Much a Stock Costs

| David Jagielski

While stocks like Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)(NASDAQ:GOOG) may have high price tags, that really shouldn't matter to investors.

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