Newbie Canadian buyers are sensible 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.
Nevertheless, not all people beginning out has sufficient capital to purchase that many shares. In case you have just a few 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 robust 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 secure and strong utility within the U.S. and rising midstream enterprise in Canada, buyers get a mixture of development and security.
The utility has above common charge case development from a powerful capital plan. The midstream enterprise ought to profit long-term from rising demand for propane and different pure gasoline merchandise in Asia. This Canadian inventory yields 3.3% and has been rising its dividend by a 5–7% charge.
For some earnings, however a bit larger development, Alternate Revenue Corp. (TSX:EIF) is a pleasant portfolio addition. It operates a diversified portfolio of companies that features northern-focused air companies, 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 give attention to Canada’s north. Alternate had a stellar 12 months in 2025 and expects mid-teens development in 2026. It has a 3% dividend and a file of often elevating it.
Shares for development and compounding
If you would like a little bit of tech publicity, Descartes Methods Group (TSX:DSG) is a good Canadian development inventory. It operates the essential World Logistics Community and an array of provide chain software program companies.
This has all of the marks of a high-quality enterprise: a cash-rich steadiness sheet, excessive recurring revenues, excessive margins, a aggressive edge, and an goal 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. It is a good time so as to add this high quality enterprise to any portfolio.
Colliers Worldwide (TSX:CIGI) is a diversified firm with an extended historical past of delivering robust mid-teens returns. Whereas it’s greatest identified for its international industrial actual property brokerage, it has rising funding administration and engineering companies.
These are main development engines. They each have giant 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) actually suits the invoice.
It supplies specialised circuit boards and cockpit elements for the aerospace trade. It’s hardly a flashy enterprise. Nevertheless, its prospects have practically a decade of backlog. Shrewd acquisitions have expanded its product assortment and geographic publicity.
This Canadian inventory has a great steadiness sheet and a CEO with excessive insider possession. It’s a horny inventory that might get pleasure from strong development within the years forward.
