Newbie Canadian traders are smart to start out out with a well-diversified portfolio of shares. A portfolio of about 10–20 shares supplies the right combination of shares to hedge your bets.
Nonetheless, not all people beginning out has sufficient capital to purchase that many shares. If in case you have a number of thousand {dollars} and are simply in search of a spot to start out, listed here are six Canadian shares to purchase and maintain via 2026.
Stable Canadian dividend shares
Granite Actual Property Funding Belief (TSX:GRT.UN) is a defensive anchor inventory to carry in your portfolio.
With a market cap of $5.5 billion, it’s Canada’s largest industrial REIT. Its portfolio is diversified throughout Canada, the U.S., and Europe. After sturdy leasing exercise in 2025, it sits with 98% occupancy and a mixture of high-end tenants.
Granite yields 4% proper now. It has a 15-year historical past of yearly rising its dividend.
AltaGas (TSX:ALA) is one other defensive Canadian inventory. With a protected and strong utility within the U.S. and rising midstream enterprise in Canada, traders get a mixture of development and security.
The utility has above common price case development from a powerful capital plan. The midstream enterprise ought to profit long-term from rising demand for propane and different pure fuel merchandise in Asia. This Canadian inventory yields 3.3% and has been rising its dividend by a 5–7% price.
For some earnings, however just a little larger development, Trade Earnings Corp. (TSX:EIF) is a pleasant portfolio addition. It operates a diversified portfolio of companies that features northern-focused air providers, aerospace defence {hardware}/software program, environmental entry options, manufacturing, and window set up.
This Canadian inventory has main tailwinds from rising defence spending globally and an rising authorities concentrate on Canada’s north. Trade had a stellar 12 months in 2025 and expects mid-teens development in 2026. It has a 3% dividend and a file of commonly elevating it.
Shares for development and compounding
If you would like a little bit of tech publicity, Descartes Programs Group (TSX:DSG) is a good Canadian development inventory. It operates the essential World Logistics Community and an array of provide chain software program providers.
This has all of the marks of a high-quality enterprise: a cash-rich stability sheet, excessive recurring revenues, excessive margins, a aggressive edge, and an purpose to develop 10–15% each year.
Whereas it isn’t low cost, this Canadian tech inventory is all the way down to its lowest valuation in years. This can be a good time so as to add this high quality enterprise to any portfolio.
Colliers Worldwide (TSX:CIGI) is a diversified firm with a protracted historical past of delivering sturdy mid-teens returns. Whereas it’s finest recognized for its world industrial actual property brokerage, it has rising funding administration and engineering companies.
These are main development engines. They each have massive markets that Colliers can consolidate. In addition they have engaging natural development prospects. Colliers has a founder-led CEO and excessive insider possession, each hallmarks of a high-quality, long-term inventory value holding.
Each investor ought to have some publicity to small-cap shares. With a market cap of $356 million, Firan Applied sciences (TSX:FTG) definitely suits the invoice.
It supplies specialised circuit boards and cockpit parts for the aerospace business. It’s hardly a flashy enterprise. Nonetheless, its clients have almost a decade of backlog. Shrewd acquisitions have expanded its product assortment and geographic publicity.
This Canadian inventory has a very good stability sheet and a CEO with excessive insider possession. It’s a horny inventory that might take pleasure in strong development within the years forward.
