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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.

Recent Stocks for Beginners News

A meter measures energy use.
Energy Stocks

Rates Are Rising Again: Is Emera Still a Sensible Retirement Stock?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Emera still offers retirement income, but borrowing costs and per-share earnings decide how comfortably that payment can grow.

Read more »

ETFs can contain investments such as stocks
Dividend Stocks

How to Use a TFSA to Generate $200 in Monthly Tax-Free Income

| Demetris Afxentiou

Use a TFSA to build $200 in monthly tax-free income with XEI and ZRE. See how these ETFs work and…

Read more »

how to save money
Energy Stocks

How Much Would You Need to Invest in Enbridge to Average $200 a Month?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Enbridge’s current dividend needs roughly $42,600 in shares to average $200 monthly, with payments arriving every quarter.

Read more »

TFSA (Tax free savings account) acronym on wooden cubes on the background of stacks of coins
Dividend Stocks

How to Turn Your TFSA Into $1,000 a Month in Tax-Free Income

| Demetris Afxentiou

Build toward $1,000 a month in tax-free income with a TFSA. See how Enbridge, Scotiabank and ZWC could help, and…

Read more »

Trans Alaska Pipeline with Autumn Colors
Energy Stocks

Is Pembina Pipeline’s 4.3% Dividend Worth Buying as a Long-Term Hold?

| Kay Ng

Pembina is a relatively low-risk dividend stock to buy for long-term income and steady growth, especially on meaningful market dips.

Read more »

Real estate investment concept
Dividend Stocks

Intact Stock: Would I Buy It for Growth, Income, or Both?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Intact’s modest yield makes profitable long-term growth the main attraction, with catastrophe losses putting the next purchase to a test.

Read more »

diversification and asset allocation are crucial investing concepts
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Use $500 a Month to Build a Dividend Portfolio Before Retirement

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

A $500 monthly habit can build retirement income through contributions, reinvestment, and businesses that keep cash after their payouts.

Read more »

Colored pins on calendar showing a month
Dividend Stocks

CT REIT vs. SmartCentres: Which Monthly Payer Fits a TFSA Better?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

CT REIT offers a larger payout cushion, while SmartCentres produces more monthly cash from the same investment.

Read more »

rail train
Dividend Stocks

Canadian National vs. CPKC: Which Railway Would I Hold Through a Slowdown?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

CN offers my preferred mix of earnings progress and starting income, while CPKC brings a bigger cross-border growth ambition.

Read more »

man studies at computer
Dividend Stocks

No Workplace Pension? Here’s the Math Behind a $1,000-a-Month Income Goal

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

A $1,000 monthly income goal becomes more manageable when you separate the capital target from the savings needed to reach…

Read more »

AI investing could have upward trajectory
Stocks for Beginners

3 of the Best Canadian Stocks to Buy and Hold in a TFSA

| Puja Tayal

Learn why now is a good time to buy Canadian stocks as the market dynamics shift due to changes in…

Read more »

Tractor spraying a field of wheat with fertilizer
Dividend Stocks

Nutrien’s Dividend Is Only Part of the Story: Here’s the Recovery Case

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Nutrien’s recovery case rests on better asset decisions and spending discipline, with a dividend providing income along the way.

Read more »

Group of people in a line at an ATM waiting to make a cash withdrawal
Stocks for Beginners

TD vs. Royal Bank: Which Dividend Stock Would I Buy With $10,000?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

TD offers slightly more current income, while Royal Bank's broader earnings mix earns my preference for a patient holding.

Read more »

financial chart graphs and oil pumps on a field
Stocks for Beginners

What $10,000 in Freehold Royalties Could Add to Your Income Over a Year

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Freehold could produce about $634 in annual income from a $10,000 budget, with commodity prices still influencing the payment.

Read more »

The virtual button with the letters AI in a circle hovering above a keyboard, about to be clicked by a cursor.
Tech Stocks

OpenText’s Revenue Fell Again, But Here’s What Investors Could Be Missing

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

OpenText’s latest results reveal growth beneath falling revenue, with its AI opportunity depending on turning customer demand into stronger earnings.

Read more »

copper wire factory
Stocks for Beginners

Ivanhoe Sits on 43,000 Tonnes of Unsold Copper as Prices Stay High: Is the Stock a Buy?

| Demetris Afxentiou

Ivanhoe holds 43,000 tonnes of unsold copper at Kamoa-Kakula. Does this make the miner a buy for your portfolio right…

Read more »

running robot changes direction
Tech Stocks

Lightspeed Stock Drops 14% After Earnings: Here’s Why I’d Buy the Dip

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Dax Dasilva explains how better customer deals and AI that tackles merchants’ daily chores could strengthen Lightspeed’s recovery.

Read more »

Two seniors walk in the forest
Energy Stocks

GIC or Dividend Stock? The Better Fit for Money You Won’t Need for 10 Years

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

A 10-year horizon gives a dividend stock room to grow, while a GIC remains the better fit for a fixed…

Read more »

middle-aged couple work together on laptop
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Build a $250-a-Month Income Plan Without Chasing the Biggest Yields

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

A roughly $75,000 portfolio can supply $250 a month on average without relying on unusually high yields.

Read more »

Investor wonders if it's safe to buy stocks now
Energy Stocks

Fortis Just Raised Its Dividend: Is the Stock Worth Buying for Income?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Fortis's new dividend increase comes with a larger spending plan, offering steady income growth at a modest starting yield.

Read more »

businesswoman meets with client to get loan
Tech Stocks

Your TFSA Doesn’t Need Another Speculative Stock: Here’s the Growth Case for CGI

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

CGI offers a growth case built on paying clients, rising per-share earnings, and a shrinking share count.

Read more »

some investments are riskier than others
Dividend Stocks

Manulife vs. Sun Life: Which Stock Makes More Sense for a Retirement TFSA?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Sun Life offers slightly more starting income, while both insurers bring growth opportunities and market-sensitive risks.

Read more »

dividend stocks are a good way to earn passive income
Dividend Stocks

Starting With $25,000: How I’d Build Towards $500 a Month in Dividends

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

A $25,000 starting portfolio can become a useful income engine, with contributions doing more of the work than a giant…

Read more »

A series of red ladders lead to successively higher levels
Dividend Stocks

Higher Rates Are Back: Can Brookfield Infrastructure Keep Growing Its Payout?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Brookfield Infrastructure's growing cash earnings support its payout, with financing costs setting the pace of the next increase.

Read more »

man looks worried about something on his phone
Dividend Stocks

Telus vs. BCE: Which Dividend Looks Better After the Cuts?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Telus and BCE now offer similar starting yields, making payout coverage and recovery demands the more useful comparison.

Read more »

shoppers in an indoor mall
Dividend Stocks

What $20,000 in CT REIT Could Pay You Without Selling a Single Unit

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

CT REIT could turn a $20,000 investment into roughly $93 a month, with rent and payout coverage doing the supporting…

Read more »

Hand Protecting Senior Couple
Stocks for Beginners

Royal Bank Stock: What I’d Pay for a Dividend I Plan to Hold for Years

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Royal Bank's dividend has room behind it, but I'd want a better starting yield before making a large income purchase.

Read more »

Oil industry worker works in oilfield
Energy Stocks

Enbridge vs. Canadian Natural: Where I’d Invest $15,000 for Income and Growth

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Enbridge pays more today, while Canadian Natural offers a different route to growth when oil markets cooperate.

Read more »

View of high rise corporate buildings in the financial district of Toronto, Canada
Dividend Stocks

How Much Would You Need in a TFSA to Collect $300 a Month?

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

A $300 monthly TFSA payment is within reach of a substantial balance, with a reliable payout more useful than a…

Read more »

Board Game, Chess, Chess Board, Chess Piece, Hand
Stocks for Beginners

Under 30 and Starting to Invest? Get Your Game Plan Here

| Kay Ng

Here's how to start investing with two simple steps before considering individual stocks.

Read more »

woman considering the future
Tech Stocks

Shopify Stock Fell After Earnings: Here’s How I’d Judge It for a 10-Year TFSA

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Shopify's selloff offers a cheaper entry into a growing business, but a 10-year TFSA still needs price discipline.

Read more »

bank of canada governor tiff macklem
Energy Stocks

Ottawa’s Budget Lands Thursday: This 5.6% Dividend Stock Reports the Next Day

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Enbridge's dividend has a clearer foundation than any single budget announcement, with earnings arriving November 6.

Read more »

jar with coins and plant
Energy Stocks

Fortis Raises Its Dividend 4% and Pledges More Growth Through 2031

| Demetris Afxentiou

Fortis raised its dividend by 4% and extends its growth outlook through 2031. Here's what investors need to watch.

Read more »

person with spyglass looks at ocean horizon
Dividend Stocks

Canada and Europe Want New Energy and Trade Corridors: This Global TSX Stock Could Help Build Them

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

WSP can earn from the design and engineering behind new connections, with a backlog that predates the summit.

Read more »

A solar cell panel generates power in a country mountain landscape.
Dividend Stocks

A Deeper Canada-EU Alliance Will Need Private Capital: This Canadian Asset Manager Could Follow the Money

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Brookfield Asset Management can earn from managing the capital behind investments, with its existing fundraising providing the stronger evidence.

Read more »

electrical cord plugs into wall socket for more energy
Energy Stocks

This Stock Reports Tuesday Morning: Its New 5-Year Spending Plan Is the Real Story

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Fortis's next spending plan could explain more about tomorrow's dividends than Tuesday's earnings headline.

Read more »

Group of people network together with connected devices
Dividend Stocks

Canada and Europe Are Building a Cybersecurity Alliance: This Canadian Software Stock Could Get a Second Look

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

OpenText sells tools for protecting information, giving it a practical link to closer digital cooperation without an assumed government award.

Read more »

Young Boy with Jet Pack Dreams of Flying
Tech Stocks

Europe’s €90 Billion Ukraine Loan Could Send Orders to This Canadian Defence Stock

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Magellan has a direct weapons-production connection, while Canadian participation still needs to translate into actual supplier orders.

Read more »

Utility, wind power
Energy Stocks

Europe’s Carbon Border Tax Could Reshape Canadian Steel: This Producer is Spending to Get Cleaner

| Amy Legate-Wolfe

Northland already sells European power, with new projects offering growth and existing cash demands keeping the investment measured.

Read more »

bank of canada governor tiff macklem
Energy Stocks

The Bank of Canada Raises Rates for the First Time in 3 Years – Here Is What to Do With Your TFSA

| Puja Tayal

Find out why the Bank of Canada raised the rate and how it could influence consumer spending and overall inflation.

Read more »