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How to invest in the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)

Your guide to buying stocks on Canada's largest stock exchange.

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) is a major global stock market based in Canada. It deals primarily with energy and financial companies, such as Canada’s largest banks and a number of oil and gas companies. Find out how invest in the TSX, and learn more about how to buy a TSX stock online.

How to invest in the TSX

Follow these steps to set up an account and buy TSX stocks:

  1. Choose a broker or trading platform. Research brokers or trading platforms that give you access to the TSX or at least lets you buy and sell the TSX stocks that you’re interested in. Compare these brokers by account types, investment options and trading fees.
  2. Open a stock-trading account. Complete an online application by supplying personal information, such as your full name and address, phone number, Social Security number and date of birth.
  3. Fund your account. Link your bank account to your trading account to initiate a transfer. Some platforms may allow you to pay with a credit card, debit card or online bank transfer.
  4. Buy stocks on the TSX. Research and choose the assets you want to invest in on the TSX.

What is the TSX?

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) is a stock exchange based in Toronto, Ontario. It’s Canada’s largest stock exchange, and the 9th largest exchange in the world by market capitalization. There are over 1,500 companies listed on the TSX, including a high proportion of those specializing in the financial and extractions industries.

You can use the TSX to trade shares in companies, investment trusts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). As a more advanced trader, you can also use it to dabble in bonds, commodities, futures, options and other derivative products. Just be aware that any trades you make on the TSX will be carried out using the Canadian dollar.

What is the TSX Venture Exchange?

The TSX Venture exchange (TSXV) is for smaller, emerging companies with market-caps too small to be listed on the TSX. Many resource exploration and high-tech companies are listed on the exchange.

One good way of finding the most popular stocks on the TSX is by looking at the S&P/TSX 60 Index, which lists 60 of the largest companies on the exchange by market capitalization. The top 10 stocks by index weight as of May 2024 are:

Company Name

Stock symbol

Industry

YTD Performance*

RY
Banking
-7.86% Picture not described
TD
Banking
-15.28% Picture not described
SHOP
Software
3.87% Picture not described
CNQ
Oil and gas
18.27% Picture not described
ENB
Oil and gas
3.45% Picture not described
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited
CP
Railroads
5.04% Picture not described
CNR
Railroads
2.69% Picture not described
BMO
Banking
-3.29% Picture not described
BN
Asset Management
11.74% Picture not described
BNS
Banking
-0.23% Picture not described

*Year-to-date (YTD) stock data was collected on May 6, 2024.

How to buy TSX stocks

The following stock trading platforms provide access to stocks listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and US stock exchanges.

1 - 7 of 7
Product Finder Score Available asset types Stock trade fee Minimum deposit Key features Offer
OPTO logo
Finder score
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$0
  • Discover emerging trends
  • Invest by theme
  • Design your own stock index
Earn up to $300 when you deposit between $2,000–$25,000+.
SoFi Wealth Management logo
Finder score
Stocks, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Alternatives
$0
$0
  • Invest, bank, borrow and more
  • SoFi Plus benefits
  • Taxable and retirement accounts
For a limited time, get up to $2,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. T&C apply.
Tastytrade logo
Finder score
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Treasury Bills
$0
$0
  • Real-time market insights
  • Live educational shows
  • Professional trading tools
Get $50-$5,000 when you open and fund an account with $2,000 to $1,000,000+
Robinhood logo
Finder score
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures
$0
$0
  • Get up to 3% in IRA match with Gold
  • Get 4% APY on cash with Gold
  • Active trading tools
Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account.
Public logo
Finder score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Alternatives, Retirement, Treasury Bills, High-yield cash account
$0
$0
  • Lock in a 6.8% bond account yield
  • Earn rebates on options trades
  • Earn 4.1% APY on your cash
Get up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered when you move your portfolio to Public.
Wealthfront logo
Finder score
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$500
  • Earn 4% APY on your cash
  • Active and robo investing
  • Automated bond investing
Get a $50 bonus when you sign up and fund a taxable automated investing account with at least $500.
Interactive Brokers logo
Finder score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Forex, Treasury Bills
$0
$0
  • Active and robo investing
  • Global market access
  • Professional trading tools
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What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 147 key metrics we collected directly from 18+ brokers and assessed each provider’s performance based on nine different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then scored and ranked each provider to determine the best brokerage accounts.

We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

Paid non-client promotion. Finder does not invest money with providers on this page. If a brand is a referral partner, we're paid when you click or tap through to, open an account with or provide your contact information to the provider. Partnerships are not a recommendation for you to invest with any one company. Learn more about how we make money.

Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.

How much does it cost to buy TSX stocks?

Trading costs are set by the broker, so the cost to trade TSX stocks will depend on the broker you use to invest. Most US brokers no longer charge commissions to trade US-listed stocks and ETFs. So if the TSX stock is also listed on a US exchange, you can expect to avoid commissions. However, if you’re using a broker that offers direct trading on foreign exchanges, expect to pay a commission. For example, Charles Schwab charges $6.95 per online trade of Canadian stocks.

Other investment options on the Toronto Stock Exchange

There are a number of other investment products available on the TSX besides equities:

  • Index funds. These track the performance of a “basket” of stocks on the TSX, and let you earn money on the average gains of all the shares put together.
  • Exchange traded funds. ETFs are similar to mutual funds, except they can be traded on the stock exchange and typically come with much lower trading fees.
  • Options. Options are a type of contract that let you speculate and bid on how an asset is going to perform on the stock market.
  • Bonds. Bonds allow you to lend money to governments or corporations so that you can collect a set rate of interest on your loan.
  • New issues. New issues give you the change to invest in a company going public for the first time so that you can get in on the ground floor before share prices go up.

Popular TSX ETFs to buy

You can earn money on the cumulative average value of a number of TSX stocks when you invest in ETFs. Some popular ETFs that trade on the TSX include:

  • Ishares S&P TSX 60 Index (XIU)
  • Ishares S&P TSX Global Gold Index (XGD)
  • Ishares S&P TSX Capped Financials (XFN)
  • Ishares Core S&P TSX Capped Comp (XIC)
  • Ishares S&P TSX Capped Energy Index (XEG)
  • BMO S&P TSX Equal Weight Banks Index (ZEB)

Why should I invest in TSX Stocks?

The Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada and features stocks from several major Canadian companies. It even offers access to certain stocks and securities that aren’t listed in other markets. In particular, it attracts some of the world’s largest natural resources companies, which makes it popular with international investors.

The TSX may be a good fit for you if you want to invest in banks, oil and gas companies or large Canadian corporations with at at least $7.5 million in net tangible assets. To invest in smaller Canadian companies, you’ll need to explore the TSX Venture Exchange (also known as the TSX-V).

Is now a good time to buy TSX stocks?

While it’s impossible to predict what will happen in the future, you may want to consider investing in strong stocks that are likely to withstand any future market fluctuations, like blue chip stocks.

To find these stocks, you’ll need to do some research and be aware of what’s going on in particular sectors. You can also make better decisions by tracking the historical trends of stocks and forecasting which companies have fared well throughout the pandemic, as well as which stocks could be on the verge of making a comeback.

Bottom line

The TSX lists stocks from over 1,500 Canadian companies, making it Canada’s largest stock exchange. To buy and sell TSX stocks, you need a brokerage that provides access to Canadian stock exchanges.

Stock trading: The rewards, risks and how to start

Frequently asked questions

How can I buy TSX stocks online?

You can buy TSX stocks online by signing up for an online brokerage account such as Interactive Brokers or Fidelity Investments. These accounts will let you invest in TSX stocks using your desktop or mobile phone.

Can I buy US stocks through the TSX stock market?

Some US-based companies may list stocks on the TSX, although most list on US exchanges like the NYSE and Nasdaq.

What’s the best way to invest in the TSX?

The best way to invest in the TSX is to sign up for an online brokerage account or robo-advisor that provides access to international investments. You can also invest in TSX stocks using a financial planner, though this often comes with higher management fees than if you manage your own investments.

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Written by

Associate editor

Claire Horwood was a writer at Finder, specializing in credit cards, loans and other financial products. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from the University of Victoria, and an Associate’s Degree in Science from Camosun College. Much of Claire’s coursework has focused on writing and statistics, with a healthy dose of social and cultural analysis mixed in for good measure. In her spare time, Claire enjoys rock climbing, travelling and drinking inordinate amounts of coffee. See full bio

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