For many investors, the biggest hurdle is timing—ideal stocks seem expensive when cash is available, and opportunities arise when funds are tight. This often leads to delayed plans and missed market returns. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, putting idle cash to work in straightforward investments can help capture market growth.
Here are three Canadian ideas to consider now:
Often overlooked for its modest dividend yield (currently ~2.6%), CNR trades near pandemic-era lows. However, the company has a strong history of dividend growth—averaging 16% annually before the pandemic, slowing to 8% afterward. In 2025, growth dipped to 5% due to U.S. tariff impacts, partly explaining the stock’s recent weakness.
Yet CNR has proven its ability to raise dividends across cycles, with double-digit increases during expansions (e.g., 19% in 2022). The current dip may offer an entry point. A potential catalyst lies in global supply chain shifts—Canada’s push for new export markets could drive demand for port-connecting rail infrastructure, supporting future cyclical gains and dividend growth.
Trading near 52-week lows after parent Constellation Software announced major management changes, Topicus has seen investor hesitation. This may present a buying opportunity, as its operations remain unchanged: it continues acquiring vertical-market software businesses in Europe and expanding geographically.
Despite a Q3 loss due to impairment charges, free cash flow keeps growing. Cash flow typically strengthens in Q1 due to contract renewals, which could lift the stock. While carrying notable debt, its balance sheet remains manageable. A four- to five-year hold could reward investors when sentiment recovers.
Individual stocks carry specific risks and may not always align with broader market returns. For investors seeking to avoid stock-picking hassles, a broad-market ETF like the BMO S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (TSX:ZIU) offers a simple alternative. It tracks the TSX 60 index with a low 0.15% management fee, delivering a 19% one-year and 60% five-year return.
This highlights the opportunity cost of waiting. ETFs provide instant exposure to leading companies across sectors without the need for active selection. Regardless of individual stock volatility, the fund automatically rebalances, allowing investors to ride overall market trends.
For investors with idle cash, the key is to start—not to time perfection. CNR and Topicus.com offer potential value at current levels, while a broad ETF like ZIU provides a low-effort path to market returns without single-stock risk. Putting money to work now is the first step to overcoming timing anxiety.
