The Best RRSP Stocks in Canada for 2026
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Last updated: August 2026
Your RRSP is built for one job: decades-long compounding toward retirement. Contributions reduce your taxable income today, and everything inside the plan grows free of tax until you withdraw it. The Canada Revenue Agency confirms that income earned in an RRSP is exempt from tax as long as the funds remain in the plan (Source: CRA, canada.ca, page dated January 29, 2026).
That structure rewards a specific kind of stock: reliable dividend payers, wide-moat compounders, and broad index exposure. Steady beats spectacular here. If you are hunting for high-risk, high-reward growth swings, that money arguably belongs in a TFSA instead, where large capital gains escape tax entirely. We cover that side of the ledger in our guide to the best TFSA stocks.
This page gives you three things:
1. A Canadian core of dividend stalwarts, every figure verified as of August 28, 2026 2. A dedicated section on US dividend stocks and S&P 500 index exposure, because the Canada–US tax treaty gives the RRSP an edge no other Canadian account gets 3. The 2026 contribution limit, withdrawal rules, and Home Buyers’ Plan basics, all sourced from canada.ca
What Is an RRSP?
A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is a registered account that lets you defer tax on money you set aside for retirement. Contributions are deductible against your income in the year you claim them, and income earned inside the plan is exempt from tax as long as the funds remain in it (Source: CRA, canada.ca, page dated January 29, 2026). You open one through a bank, credit union, trust company, insurer, or an online broker.
An RRSP can hold most of what a regular investment account can: stocks listed on designated exchanges such as the TSX, NYSE, and Nasdaq, plus ETFs, bonds, GICs, and mutual funds — what the CRA calls “qualified investments.” One variant worth knowing about is the spousal RRSP: the higher-earning partner contributes and takes the deduction, the plan belongs to the lower-earning partner, and retirement income ends up split more evenly between the two of you.
RRSP Essentials for 2026
- 2026 RRSP dollar limit: $33,810. Your new contribution room each year is 18% of your previous year’s earned income, up to this cap, minus any pension adjustment. Unused room carries forward. (Source: CRA limits table, canada.ca, data as of December 1, 2025.)
- Contributions are deductible. They reduce your taxable income in the year you claim them, which is why the RRSP suits your higher-earning years.
- Growth is tax-deferred, not tax-free. Withdrawals are added to your taxable income. Your financial institution withholds tax up front: 10% on amounts up to $5,000, 20% over $5,000 up to $15,000, and 30% above $15,000 for residents outside Quebec (Quebec rates differ, and provincial tax applies there). The withheld amount may not cover your full bill at tax time. (Source: CRA “Tax rates on withdrawals”, canada.ca, fetched August 28, 2026.)
- Creditor protection. RRSP assets are generally protected from seizure by creditors in a bankruptcy under federal insolvency law, with an exception allowing contributions made in the 12 months before bankruptcy to be clawed back. Rules outside bankruptcy vary by province; this is general information, not legal advice.
- Age 71 deadline. December 31 of the year you turn 71 is the last day you can contribute to your own RRSP; the standard next step is converting to a RRIF. (Source: CRA, canada.ca, page dated January 29, 2026.)
What Makes a Great RRSP Stock
Our picks follow three tests, matched to the account’s purpose:
- Durable dividends. A payout that survived multiple cycles and keeps growing does the compounding work for you, and inside an RRSP the dividends are not taxed as they arrive.
- Essential businesses. Banks, utilities, railways, pipelines, insurers, and staples. Businesses whose revenue does not depend on the economic mood.
- Index exposure where it beats stock-picking. For US equities, a broad S&P 500 fund is the simplest way to own the market’s growth engine, and the RRSP is the best Canadian account to hold it in. More on that below.
The Best RRSP Stocks At A Glance
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Toronto-Dominion Bank
- Fortis
- Canadian National Railway
- Enbridge
- Intact Financial
- Alimentation Couche-Tard
- Metro
How To Buy RRSP Stocks
Any Canadian discount broker lets you open an RRSP and buy every stock and ETF on this page. We use Questrade® for our own accounts because it offers RRSP accounts with access to both Canadian and US markets, plus USD-denominated registered accounts, which matters for the US-listed holdings above.
If you are brand new to investing and want the simplest possible interface, Wealthsimple is the beginner-friendly alternative; its trading platform also supports RRSPs.
The Best Canadian RRSP Stocks for 2026
1. Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Price: $283.11
- 52 Week Range: 197.58 – 306.38
- Market Cap: C$391.9B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 17.85
- EPS (TTM): 15.86
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: $7.04 (2.49%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: October 25, 2026
- Data as of 2026-09-01.
Canada’s largest company is the anchor holding on this list. RBC posted a record $6.0 billion in net income in Q3 2026, up 11% year over year, on revenue of $18.54 billion, and returned $4.0 billion to shareholders in the quarter (Source: our Big Six Q3 2026 earnings scorecard, results for the quarter ended July 31, 2026). Fiscal 2025 net income was $19.87 billion, up 24.9% (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026).
Bull case: dominant market share across Canadian banking, wealth management, and capital markets; a payout comfortably covered by earnings; the scale to keep buying back stock through cycles.
Risks: at roughly 18 times earnings after a strong run, the valuation already reflects a lot of good news. Canadian household debt and any credit-cycle turn would hit provisions across the sector. The 2.48% yield is below the entry yields the stock has offered in weaker markets; you are paying up for quality.
2. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Price: $166.23
- 52 Week Range: 101.85 – 175.33
- Market Cap: C$272.4B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 17.80
- EPS (TTM): 9.34
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: $4.48 (2.70%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: October 08, 2026
- Data as of 2026-09-01.
TD delivered the largest earnings beat of the Big Six in Q3 2026: adjusted EPS of $2.77 against a $2.45 consensus, with reported diluted EPS up 45% year over year and management citing record earnings in its Canadian businesses and Wholesale Banking (Source: Big Six Q3 2026 scorecard). The quarterly dividend is $1.12 per share, with an ex-dividend date of October 9, 2026.
Bull case: the Canadian retail franchise is a cash machine, and the stock’s recovery off its 52-week low of $100.01 shows the market re-rating TD as its US regulatory issues get worked through.
Risks: the US anti-money-laundering remediation and asset cap remain a multi-year drag on US growth, and trailing net income is down 22.5% (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026). Buy it for the dividend and the franchise, not for a quick re-rating.
Worth knowing: all six big Canadian banks beat consensus in Q3 2026, including Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, and National Bank. If you prefer a different Big Six name for yield or valuation reasons, the sector-wide scorecard is in our Q3 2026 breakdown.
3. Fortis (TSX:FTS)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Price: $76.39
- 52 Week Range: 67.15 – 83.75
- Market Cap: C$39.0B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 22.47
- EPS (TTM): 3.40
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: $2.56 (3.35%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: August 18, 2026
- Data as of 2026-09-01.
Fortis is the closest thing the TSX has to a set-and-forget retirement stock. The regulated utility has raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years through 2025 (Source: Fortis fiscal 2025 annual filing, SEC, confirmed August 28, 2026) and guides to 4% to 6% annual dividend growth through 2030, backed by a $28.8 billion capital plan that grows its rate base from $42.4 billion in 2025 to a projected $57.9 billion by 2030. Q2 2026 net earnings were $396 million, or $0.78 per share, up from $0.76 a year earlier (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026).
Bull case: regulated assets produce predictable cash flow, the growth plan is funded and visible, and the 3.37% yield plus 4% to 6% growth is a clean formula for an RRSP decade.
Risks: utilities carry heavy debt, so a renewed rise in interest rates pressures both financing costs and the share price. Regulators, not management, set the allowed returns.
4. Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Price: $167.46
- 52 Week Range: 126.11 – 185.25
- Market Cap: C$101.3B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 21.50
- EPS (TTM): 7.79
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: $3.66 (2.19%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: September 07, 2026
- Data as of 2026-09-01.
CN Rail’s network connects three coasts, and its moat is as literal as they come: nobody is building a competing transcontinental railway. 2025 revenue came in at $17.30 billion with earnings of $4.72 billion, up 6.1%, and trailing EPS is up 7.5% at $7.79 (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026).
Bull case: irreplaceable infrastructure, pricing power, and decades of dividend growth funded by an efficient operating model. A stock you can hold as long as goods move across North America.
Risks: rail volumes track the economy and trade flows, so tariff disputes and recessions show up quickly in carloads. Labour disruptions are a recurring Canadian rail hazard.
5. Enbridge (TSX:ENB)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Price: $70.54
- 52 Week Range: 62.42 – 80.65
- Market Cap: C$154.1B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 27.24
- EPS (TTM): 2.59
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: $3.88 (5.50%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: August 13, 2026
- Data as of 2026-09-01.
The highest yield in our Canadian core. Enbridge has paid a dividend for over 70 years and raised it for 31 consecutive years, most recently a 3% increase in December 2025 to $0.97 per quarter (Sources: Enbridge dividend records; The Motley Fool, July 30 and August 19, 2026). Its pipelines move a large share of North American crude and natural gas, and its growing gas-utility and renewables segments add regulated ballast.
Bull case: a 5.60% yield backed by contracted, toll-road-style cash flows; the dividend record spans every oil crash of the modern era.
Risks: trailing net income fell 7.6% and the P/E of 26.8 is elevated for the sector (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026). The balance sheet carries substantial debt, dividend growth in the low single digits is the realistic expectation, and long-term energy-transition policy is a genuine open question for pipeline terminal value.
6. Intact Financial (TSX:IFC)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Price: $269.50
- 52 Week Range: 242.87 – 305.52
- Market Cap: C$47.5B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 15.00
- EPS (TTM): 17.97
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: $5.88 (2.18%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: September 14, 2026
- Data as of 2026-09-01.
Canada’s leading property and casualty insurer is a holdover from earlier editions of this page, and it keeps earning its spot. Trailing EPS is up 38% at $17.99, with net income of $3.20 billion, up 36.3% (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026), and the stock trades at a reasonable 14.8 times earnings.
Bull case: insurance is bought in every economy, Intact has a long record of disciplined acquisitions across Canada, the US, the UK, and Ireland, and it earns investment income on its float on top of underwriting profit.
Risks: catastrophe losses are the nature of the business, and severe weather years hit earnings without warning. Acquisition integration is a permanent execution risk for a serial buyer.
7. Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Price: $84.28
- 52 Week Range: 68.3 – 95.15
- Market Cap: C$77.4B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 17.97
- EPS (TTM): 4.69
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: $0.86 (1.02%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: July 08, 2026
- Data as of 2026-09-01.
The yield is small, but the compounding is not. The convenience-store consolidator behind Circle K grew trailing net income 21.8% to $4.30 billion (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026) and is absorbing its largest acquisition ever, a controlling stake in Poland’s Żabka Group for roughly $8.7 billion.
Bull case: a proven acquire-and-optimize playbook, global scale in a fragmented industry, and a dividend that grows quickly off a low base. This is the “total return” pick on the list rather than the income pick.
Risks: the long-term decline of fuel demand as vehicle fleets electrify is the structural question; Couche-Tard’s answer, in-store sales and EV charging, is still being proven. Big acquisitions like Żabka add integration and currency risk.
8. Metro (TSX:MRU)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Price: $88.58
- 52 Week Range: 86.63 – 101.3
- Market Cap: C$18.5B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 21.04
- EPS (TTM): 4.21
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: $1.63 (1.84%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: September 02, 2026
- Data as of 2026-09-01.
Groceries and pharmacy are as defensive as revenue gets. Metro runs both, through its grocery banners and the Jean Coutu pharmacy network in Quebec, and it raised its dividend 10.1% in the first quarter of 2026 (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026). Fiscal 2025 revenue grew 3.7% to $22.01 billion.
Bull case: recession-resistant sales, consistent dividend growth at a modest payout, and a duopoly-like position in its home market. The stock sits near its 52-week low, which is where defensive names get interesting for long-term accounts.
Risks: grocery margins are thin and politically scrutinized in Canada, and trailing EPS is down 8.7% on cost pressures. This is a low-drama compounder, not a fast grower.
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The RRSP’s Structural Edge: US Dividend Stocks and the S&P 500
Here is the part most “best RRSP stocks” lists skip, and it is worth real money over a retirement timeline.
The United States levies a withholding tax on dividends paid to foreign investors, reduced to 15% for Canadians under the Canada–US Tax Convention. But the treaty’s Article XXI exempts retirement plans from that withholding entirely, and the RRSP qualifies. US dividends paid into an RRSP arrive with 0% US withholding tax. (Source: Canada–US Tax Convention, Article XXI; treatment widely confirmed, verified August 28, 2026.)
A TFSA gets no such treatment. The treaty does not recognize the TFSA as a retirement plan, so US dividends in a TFSA lose 15% off the top, permanently. Because TFSA income is not taxable in Canada, there is no Canadian tax bill against which to claim a foreign tax credit; the money is simply gone. On a $50,000 US dividend portfolio yielding 3%, that is $225 lost every year in a TFSA and $0 lost in an RRSP.
The practical rule: put your US dividend payers and US index funds in your RRSP, and keep your Canadian growth swings in your TFSA. That is exactly how we split our coverage between this page and the best TFSA stocks.
One nuance matters before you buy:
- The exemption applies to US-listed securities held directly. NYSE and Nasdaq stocks, and US-listed ETFs such as VOO and SCHD, qualify.
- Canadian-listed ETFs that hold US stocks do not escape it. A TSX-listed S&P 500 fund still suffers the 15% withholding inside the fund, even in an RRSP, and it cannot be recovered. The trade-off of going US-listed is converting CAD to USD, which carries conversion costs, so factor that in for smaller balances.
US Picks for an RRSP (Source: StockAnalysis, data as of Aug 28, 2026)
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- Price: US$707.24
- 52 Week Range: 578.46 – 716.39
- Market Cap: N/A
- PE Ratio (TTM): 25.92
- EPS (TTM): N/A
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: N/A (1.07%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: N/A
- Data as of 2026-08-29.
0.03% expense ratio. One purchase buys the 500 largest US companies. The fund has averaged a 14.92% annual return since its 2010 inception. For most investors this single holding is the correct amount of US exposure, and the RRSP is the right account for it.
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHD)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- Price: US$34.90
- 52 Week Range: 26.32 – 35.31
- Market Cap: N/A
- PE Ratio (TTM): 20.15
- EPS (TTM): N/A
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: N/A (3.13%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: N/A
- Data as of 2026-08-29.
0.06% expense ratio. Tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 index: roughly 100 quality US dividend payers, with a beta of 0.69, meaning it swings less than the market. The income-focused complement to VOO.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- Price: US$268.04
- 52 Week Range: 173.33 – 276.47
- Market Cap: US$645.9B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 31.13
- EPS (TTM): 8.61
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: US$5.36 (2.00%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: August 24, 2026
- Data as of 2026-08-29.
A healthcare Dividend Aristocrat whose products are bought in every economic climate. Risk: litigation overhangs and patent cliffs are recurring features of pharma investing, and the P/E of 30.8 is rich for the sector.
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- Price: US$143.78
- 52 Week Range: 137.62 – 167.25
- Market Cap: US$334.2B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 21.75
- EPS (TTM): 6.61
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: US$4.35 (3.03%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: July 23, 2026
- Data as of 2026-08-29.
Tide, Pampers, Gillette: staples with pricing power at 21.6 times earnings. Risk: volume growth is slow, and private-label competition strengthens whenever consumers tighten up.
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO)
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- Price: US$89.66
- 52 Week Range: 65.35 – 92.49
- Market Cap: US$385.8B
- PE Ratio (TTM): 26.92
- EPS (TTM): 3.33
- Earnings Date: N/A
- Forward Dividend & Yield: US$2.12 (2.36%)
- Ex-Dividend Date: September 14, 2026
- Data as of 2026-08-29.
A Dividend Aristocrat with distribution reach no competitor matches. Risk: health-driven shifts away from sugary drinks require constant portfolio reinvention, and 26.8 times earnings prices in a lot of stability.
Every US dividend from these holdings lands in your RRSP whole. In a TFSA or an unregistered account held without treaty paperwork, it would not.
RRSP vs TFSA: Where Each Stock Belongs
| RRSP | TFSA | |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited for | Dividends, US stocks, index funds, safer compounders | High-growth swings, Canadian stocks |
| 2026 room | $33,810 cap (18% of 2025 earned income) | $7,000 |
| Tax on contribution | Deductible | Not deductible |
| Tax on withdrawal | Taxed as income | Tax-free |
| US dividend withholding | 0% (treaty exempt) | 15%, unrecoverable |
| Capital losses | No relief either way inside registered accounts | Same |
(Limits source: CRA, canada.ca, data as of December 1, 2025.)
The logic: the RRSP’s deferral rewards steady income and decades of compounding, while the TFSA’s total tax exemption is most valuable on your biggest winners. Our TFSA stock picks lean into growth for exactly that reason, and our Canadian dividend stocks guide goes deeper on the income side.
Withdrawals, the Home Buyers’ Plan, and Turning 71
- Ordinary withdrawals are added to your taxable income, with withholding at source of 10% to 30% depending on the amount (rates above). Withdrawing in a high-income year is the classic RRSP mistake; the account works best when you contribute at a high tax rate and withdraw at a lower one in retirement.
- Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP): you can withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSP tax-free to buy or build a qualifying first home. For first withdrawals made between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2028, the 15-year repayment period now starts in the fifth year after the withdrawal year, so a 2026 withdrawal means repayments begin in 2031. You can combine an HBP withdrawal with an FHSA withdrawal for the same home if you qualify for both. (Source: CRA “The Home Buyers’ Plan”, canada.ca, page dated February 17, 2026.)
- Age 71: December 31 of the year you turn 71 is your final contribution deadline, after which the standard move is converting the RRSP to a RRIF and drawing scheduled minimums. (Source: CRA, canada.ca.)
FAQ
What are the best RRSP stocks in Canada right now?
Our core list for 2026: Royal Bank, TD, Fortis, CN Rail, Enbridge, Intact Financial, Couche-Tard, and Metro, plus US exposure through VOO, SCHD, and US dividend stalwarts like Johnson & Johnson. The common thread is durable dividends and essential businesses. Full data on each is above, current as of August 28, 2026.
Should I hold US stocks in my RRSP or my TFSA?
RRSP. Under the Canada–US tax treaty, US dividends paid to an RRSP carry 0% US withholding tax, while a TFSA pays an unrecoverable 15%. The exemption only applies to US-listed stocks and ETFs held directly, not to Canadian-listed funds that hold US shares.
What is the RRSP contribution limit for 2026?
The 2026 RRSP dollar limit is $33,810. Your personal room is 18% of your 2025 earned income up to that cap, minus any pension adjustment, plus unused room carried forward. Check your exact number in your CRA My Account. (Source: CRA, canada.ca.)
Can I hold S&P 500 index funds in my RRSP?
Yes, and the RRSP is the best Canadian account for them. A US-listed fund like VOO (0.03% expense ratio) receives its dividends free of US withholding inside an RRSP. A TSX-listed S&P 500 fund is also RRSP-eligible but pays the 15% withholding inside the fund.
Are dividends taxed inside an RRSP?
No tax applies while the money stays in the plan; Canadian and US dividends compound untouched (US ones only if the security is US-listed). You pay tax when you withdraw, at your ordinary income rate. Note that the Canadian dividend tax credit does not apply inside an RRSP; it only matters in unregistered accounts.
Can I use my RRSP to buy a house?
Yes. The Home Buyers’ Plan lets a qualifying first-time buyer withdraw up to $60,000 tax-free, repayable over 15 years. For withdrawals made from 2026 through 2028, repayment now starts in the fifth year after withdrawal. (Source: CRA, canada.ca, page dated February 17, 2026.)
Disclaimer: The content on bestcanadianstocks.ca is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. RRSP rules per Canada Revenue Agency pages at canada.ca; market data via StockAnalysis as of August 28, 2026. Questrade® is a registered trademark and/or service mark of Questrade, Inc.
Stock data from Yahoo Finance, as of 2026-08-30.