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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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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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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

Dividend Stocks

3 Great Dividend Stocks for Beginner Investors

| Joseph Solitro

Ready to build a dividend portfolio? If so, consider starting with Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:CRR.UN), National Bank of…

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Dividend Stocks

This 5-Stock Portfolio Will Make Young Investors Rich

| Ryan Goldsman

Shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) will deliver fantastic returns for at least a generation.

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

New RRSP Investors: 2 Stocks to Buy Today and Own for 20 Years

| Andrew Walker

Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) and one other top dividend stock have delivered big gains over the years.

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Stocks for Beginners

A 4-Stock Growth Portfolio to Amass a $1 Million TFSA

| Joey Frenette

Many investors have their own TFSA investment strategy. Here's one that will grow your TFSA to $1 million in the…

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Dividend Stocks

How to Develop Personal Investment Goals

| Kay Ng

Everyone’s goals are different. Is Altagas Ltd. (TSX:ALA) a good fit for your personal investment goals?

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Stocks for Beginners

New Investors: How to Use Dividend Stocks to Help You Save for Retirement

| Andrew Walker

Here's how using the TFSA and owning dividend-growth stocks such as Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) can help you set…

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Dividend Stocks

Beginner Investors: 3 Stocks to Start Your Portfolio

| Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf, MBA

If you are a beginner investor, you may want to start your portfolio with solid stocks such as National Bank…

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Stocks for Beginners

New Investors: Should Canopy Growth Corp. Be in Your TFSA?

| Andrew Walker

Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED) is a market leader in the emerging cannabis market. Is it time to buy?

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors: 2 Things You Might Have Wrong About Stocks

| Kay Ng

Are the Canadian banks and Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (TSX:BEP.UN)(NYSE:BEP) your kind of stock for income and long-term returns?

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Stocks for Beginners

Many Millennials Are Afraid to Invest: Here’s Why This Is a Serious Problem

| Joey Frenette

Millennials don't have confidence to invest in the markets these days. Here's why defensive stocks such as Canadian Utilities Limited…

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Dividend Stocks

How to Reduce Risk When You Invest in Stocks

| Kay Ng

You’ll probably never lose money if you invest in a stock such as Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD). Here’s why.

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Dividend Stocks

Dividend Income: How Share Buybacks Add to Your Yield

| Haris Anwar

Buying share of companies with aggressive stock-buyback plans, such as Magna International Inc. (TSX:MG)(NYSE:MGA), adds to your total dividend yield.…

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Dividend Stocks

How to Determine Dividend Safety

| Kay Ng

A combination of things can improve the safety of your dividends. Here's an example with three companies, including Peyto Exploration…

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors: Use DRIPs to Compound Your Earnings

| Susan Portelance

New investors: did you know many stocks offer a dividend-reinvestment plan that allows you buy more stock without paying a…

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Stocks for Beginners

Should You Bother Reading Annual Reports?

| Susan Portelance

Annual reports can help you determine a stock's overall health and if it makes a worthy investment. This article will…

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors: The Rationale to Focus on Income

| Kay Ng

Begin your investment journey with stable dividend stocks, such as Northview Apartment REIT (TSX:NVU.UN), to increase the stability of your…

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Stocks for Beginners

Is a Stock Financially Sound? Look at its Income Statement

| Susan Portelance

Foolish investors know they should do sound research before investing in a stock, but what should you look at? Let's…

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Stocks for Beginners

Investing for Beginners: Tips for Navigating High-Flying Airline Stocks

| Jason Phillips

Investing in airline stocks is fraught with pitfalls. Find out how you can avoid some of the more common mistakes…

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Dividend Stocks

Why Canadian Tire Corporation Limited Is Overvalued and North West Company Inc. Is a Steal

| Ryan Goldsman

Given the growing dividend of North West Company Inc. (TSX:NWC), investors have a very easy decision to make.

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors: 2 Top Dividend Stocks to Start a TFSA

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) might be interesting picks.

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors: How to Invest for Your Future

| Kay Ng

Should you pick up some Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSX:CM)(NYSE:CM) shares today for a ~4.9% yield?

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Stocks for Beginners

Should You Care About a Stock’s Beta?

| Susan Portelance

Should you care about a stock's beta? Let's use Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) to investigate.

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Dividend Stocks

A Top Stock for a Wealthy Retirement

| Joey Frenette

Here's why investors should strongly consider creating their future retirement portfolio today with names such as Canadian National Railway Company…

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Dividend Stocks

How to Project Profits and Find Undervalued Opportunities

| Ryan Goldsman

With consistent returns on equity, shares of Lassonde Industries Inc. (TSX:LAS.A) are where investors can find incredible value.

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

New TFSA Investors: 2 Dividend Stocks for Your Retirement Portfolio Today

| Andrew Walker

Here's why Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) and Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) might be attractive picks.

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Dividend Stocks

The 4-Stock Portfolio Every Investor Needs

| Demetris Afxentiou

BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) are some of the investments that should form the core of every new…

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Stocks for Beginners

Investing Made Easy: A Simple ETF Investment Plan That Works

| Brad Macintosh

You can track 60 TSX companies with the iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index Fund (TSX:XIU), but there are other great ETF…

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Dividend Stocks

New Investors: Jump-Start Your Portfolio With These 3 Growing Dividend Stocks

| David Jagielski

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) and these two other stocks would be great investments to start any portfolio.

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Energy Stocks

Is a Stock Worth its Price? Its P/E Ratio Will Help You Decide

| Susan Portelance

Is a stock worth its price? Look at its P/E ratio to help you decide. Let's look at Enbridge Inc.…

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Energy Stocks

2 Dividend-Growth Stocks to Start Your RRSP Portfolio Today

| Andrew Walker

TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP)(NYSE:TRP) and Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) are two of Canada's top dividend stocks. Is one more attractive right now?

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Dividend Stocks

Become a TFSA Millionaire by Investing in Dividend-Growth Stocks

| Haris Anwar

Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB) and BCE Inc (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE) are among the dividend-growth stocks that you need to build your million-dollar TFSA…

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The Motley Fool
Energy Stocks

Investors: Beware of Stocks That Hold Too Much Debt

| Susan Portelance

Investors: beware of stocks that hold too much debt. Let's look at debt-to-net-equity ratios for Sierra Wireless, Inc. (TSX:SW)(NASDAQ:SWIR), Aurora…

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

2 Dividend-Growth Stocks for New TFSA Investors

| Andrew Walker

TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP)(NYSE:TRP) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) are two of Canada's top companies. Here's why they might be good additions…

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Stocks for Beginners

New to the Market? Buy These Stocks

| Ambrose O'Callaghan

If you are new to the market, stocks such as Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) and others can provide the growth potential…

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The Motley Fool
Stocks for Beginners

Investors: Use A Company’s Return On Equity To Help You Pick Stocks

| Susan Portelance

Need help picking quality stocks? Look at a company's return on equity (ROE). We'll use TD Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) and Aurora…

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Dividend Stocks

Income Investors: 3 Reasons to Buy Enbridge Inc. Stock Today

| Haris Anwar

Enbridge Inc. has become very attractive for income investors after the double-digit losses this year. Here are the top 3…

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

Why it’s Important to Understand What Adjusted Earnings Really Mean

| Chris MacDonald

Here's why Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSX:CM)(NYSE:CM) actually bombed its earnings report for Q3 2017.

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

Young TFSA Investors: Prepare Your Retirement Portfolio for Higher Interest Rates With This Canadian Stock

| Andrew Walker

Here's how young investors can use stocks such as Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX:SLF)(NYSE:SLF) to build a solid retirement portfolio…

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Dividend Stocks

2 Things That Should Be on Your Stock Checklist

| Colin Beck

Add these two points to your stock checklist to find great companies such as Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) and Fairfax Financial…

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The Motley Fool
Dividend Stocks

Beginners: How to Invest for the Long-Term in Your 20s or 30s

| Joey Frenette

Here's what beginners should do when becoming DIY investors, and why strong businesses such as Canadian National Railway Company (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI)…

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