Some shares may not sound very thrilling proper now, particularly when everybody’s chasing the flashy synthetic intelligence (AI) shares. However constructing wealth isn’t at all times about chasing the noise. Generally, it’s about sticking with basically robust companies which have robust money flows, secure dividends, and a wholesome monitor file of worthwhile development. And for those who maintain such shares for sufficient time, they may ship stable returns with out all of the drama.
So, on this article, I’ll spotlight two such “boring” Canadian shares which have been doing the proper issues behind the scenes and will quietly make you wealthy by 2035.
Metro inventory
Metro (TSX:MRU) may very well be an important inventory which may not transfer quick, however it retains delivering robust outcomes quarter after quarter. The corporate operates a variety of meals and pharmacy retail banners throughout Quebec and Ontario, together with Metro, Tremendous C, and Meals Fundamentals. MRU inventory is buying and selling at $92.04 per share after climbing 11% during the last yr, giving it a market cap of almost $19.9 billion. The corporate additionally pays a quarterly dividend with a present annualized yield of 1.6%.
The corporate’s third-quarter (led to June 2025) outcomes clearly mirrored how Metro is constant to concentrate on dependable execution regardless of the continuing macroeconomic uncertainties. In the course of the quarter, its gross sales rose 3.3% YoY (yr over yr) to $6.87 billion. Whereas Metro’s meals same-store gross sales had been up 1.9% YoY, it registered a 5.5% enhance in its pharmacy same-store gross sales with the assistance of robust demand for pharmaceuticals and well being merchandise. Equally, the corporate’s on-line meals gross sales additionally jumped 14.4% from a yr in the past.
One of many key elements I actually like about Metro is its capacity to maintain prices beneath management whereas increasing. Final quarter, it opened 5 new meals shops and plans to proceed that tempo within the fourth quarter. In the meantime, the corporate has additionally been investing closely in its retail community and provide chain, together with automation applied sciences and a brand new distribution centre in Terrebonne that earned it a provincial tax vacation.
With a powerful stability sheet, enhancing margins, and constant dividend funds, Metro has all the proper substances to maintain compounding returns over the subsequent decade.
Nice-West Lifeco inventory
Now, let’s flip to Nice-West Lifeco (TSX:GWO), an insurance coverage and wealth administration big that won’t seize headlines, however it delivers the place it counts. This monetary companies holding agency operates throughout Canada, the US, and Europe by way of manufacturers like Canada Life, Empower, and Irish Life.
After surging 25% during the last yr, GWO inventory is at present buying and selling at $57.50 per share with a market cap of about $53.2 billion. It has a powerful annualized yield of 4.2% with quarterly payouts.
In its second quarter of 2025, Nice-West’s file base earnings climbed by 11% YoY to $1.15 billion. This efficiency was primarily pushed by development in its wealth and group advantages companies, and better fairness markets.
Regardless of some credit-related impacts, its base earnings within the U.S. had been nonetheless up in comparison with final yr. For the quarter, the corporate’s Canadian operations additionally posted improved outcomes, supported by robust incapacity insurance coverage expertise and disciplined pricing.
Nice-West ended the June quarter with a stable capital place, a life insurance coverage capital adequacy check ratio of 132%, and $2.1 billion in money. General, robust earnings development, a rising dividend, and international enlargement efforts give Nice-West loads of room to maintain compounding wealth for long-term buyers.
