Editorial roundup, not investment advice. Tickers below are widely-held names available on Wealthsimple's Self-Directed product. Prices, yields, and fundamentals change daily — verify on the Wealthsimple app and at sedar.com before buying.

Wealthsimple is the largest commission-free trading platform in Canada by user count, and "what should I buy on Wealthsimple?" is one of the most-asked questions in Canadian investing communities. This guide picks 15 stocks and ETFs across three buckets — dividend payers, growth names, and beginner-friendly diversified bets — that are all available on the Wealthsimple platform with fractional-share support for most.

Want a deeper look at the platform itself first? Read our Wealthsimple 2026 review. For broader market context, see the Canadian ETF screener.

How we picked these 15 names

• Available on Wealthsimple Self-Directed — TSX, NYSE, or NASDAQ listings only (no OTC/penny stocks).
• Liquid — average daily volume above 100,000 shares for the past year.
• No corporate distress — excluded any name that cut its dividend or filed for creditor protection in the last 5 years.
• Beginner-readable business model — you should be able to explain what the company does in one sentence.

5 dividend stocks for income on Wealthsimple

These are the names that show up in nearly every Canadian dividend portfolio. Hold them in a TFSA or non-registered account to claim the dividend tax credit.

ENB.TO — Enbridge. Long-running monthly-style quarterly dividend grower; eligible for the dividend tax credit in non-registered accounts.

BCE.TO — BCE Inc.. Highest-yield Big-3 telecom; dividend has grown for over 15 consecutive years.

T.TO — TELUS. Steady dividend hiker; lower payout ratio than BCE.

RY.TO — Royal Bank of Canada. Largest bank in Canada by market cap; uninterrupted dividend since 1870.

FTS.TO — Fortis. 50+ consecutive years of dividend increases — one of the longest streaks on the TSX.

5 growth stocks on Wealthsimple

Higher volatility, no or low dividend, longer time horizon. Best held in a TFSA so any capital gains are tax-free, or in an RRSP if you have years of contribution room.

SHOP.TO — Shopify. Canada's flagship growth stock; dual-listed on TSX and NYSE.

CSU.TO — Constellation Software. Long-term compounder; share price near $4,000 makes fractional shares useful.

BN.TO — Brookfield Corp.. Spun off Brookfield Asset Management; broad exposure to infrastructure, renewables, real estate.

DOL.TO — Dollarama. Defensive growth — same-store sales held up through both 2008 and 2020 recessions.

TRI.TO — Thomson Reuters. Toronto-based; recurring revenue from legal and tax-software subscriptions.

5 beginner-friendly picks (mostly ETFs)

If you're brand-new to investing, the most common advice from regulators and financial planners is to start with broad-market index funds rather than individual stocks. These five tickers are the ones most often suggested to new Wealthsimple users on Reddit's r/PersonalFinanceCanada — and a couple of safer single-stock picks.

VFV.TO — Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (CAD). Not a stock, but the most-bought single ticker on Wealthsimple. Instant US-market exposure in one trade.

XEQT.TO — iShares All-Equity ETF Portfolio. One-ticket global stock portfolio. Often the first 'whole portfolio' for new investors.

VEQT.TO — Vanguard All-Equity ETF Portfolio. Vanguard's all-equity sibling to XEQT; very similar holdings.

BRK.B — Berkshire Hathaway B. Owned by Warren Buffett; arguably the most beginner-friendly individual US stock.

COST — Costco Wholesale. Strong Canadian footprint; defensive consumer-staples exposure.

How to actually buy these on Wealthsimple

1. Open the Wealthsimple app → Trade tab.
2. Search the ticker (e.g. VFV.TO or SHOP.TO).
3. Tap Buy → choose your account (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, or Personal).
4. Enter dollar amount (fractional) or share count (whole shares).
5. Review the order and submit. Trades settle T+2.

Choosing the right account for each pick

Account choice matters more than people think. A quick rule of thumb:

• Canadian dividend stocks (ENB, BCE, T, RY, FTS) → TFSA or non-registered to use the dividend tax credit.
• US dividend stocks (COST, BRK.B if dividends ever start) → RRSP to skip the 15% US withholding tax.
• Growth stocks with no dividend (SHOP, CSU, BN) → TFSA for tax-free gains.
• Broad ETFs (VFV, XEQT, VEQT) → any account; they work everywhere.

For the full breakdown, see which registered account to fund first in 2026.

Good Wealthsimple habits

• Turn on auto-deposit from your chequing account so you keep buying through downturns.
• Set a twice-yearly review reminder rather than checking daily.
• Keep at least 6 months of expenses in a high-interest savings account before going heavy on stocks — see our HISA rate comparison.
• If you want exposure to Canadian dividend payers without picking individual names, look at Canadian dividend ETFs.

Sources

• sedar.com — Canadian issuer filings (dividend history, payout ratios).
• sec.gov/edgar — US issuer filings.
• wealthsimple.com — fractional-share availability and current commission schedule.