3 Small-Cap Stocks to Buy and Hold for 20 Years

Small-cap stocks are the best way to add upside potential to your portfolio. Learn more about top picks including Winpak Ltd. (TSX:WPK) and Tricon Capital Group Inc (TSX:TCN).

| More on:

Are you willing to multiply the value of your portfolio several times over in exchange for a little volatility? That’s the promise of the three stocks on this list.

Small-cap stocks, like the ones below, offer significantly more upside than larger competitors. After all, it’s easier to double or triple in size as a $1 billion company than as a $100 billion firm. There’s often more risk by investing in smaller stocks, but the long-term upside has proven worth the cost.

If you want to give your portfolio as much upside as possible over the next several decades, add these three stocks to your buy list.

Winpak

Winpak (TSX:WPK) runs a boring but profitable business.

Based in Manitoba, the company makes packaging materials to protect food, beverages, and healthcare products. It owns and operates nine production facilities located throughout North America.

Ten years ago, the company was worth less than $1 billion. Even after an incredible run, the market cap is still only $2.9 billion. Meanwhile, the market Winpak serves is valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

As with many small-cap stocks, there’s basically no coverage of Winpak by market analysts. Many days, only a few million dollars’ worth of shares are traded. Compare that to Bank of Nova Scotia, which often sees billions’ worth of shares traded daily.

Next year, the company anticipates earning $1.89 per share, resulting in a valuation of 23 times forward earnings. That’s not a steal, but with decades of above-average growth ahead of it, Winpak shares looks more attractive than most stocks on the TSX.

Tricon Capital Group

Since 2010, Tricon (TSX:TCN) shares have risen by 73%, roughly double the return of the S&P/TSX Composite Index. With a $1.5 billion market cap, it’s easy to see how shares could double yet again.

With about $8 billion in assets, Tricon manages residential real estate investments that focus on North America. Its portfolio includes single-family rental homes, for-sale housing assets, and purpose-built rental apartments.

Currently, the dividend is just 2.7% — low by most real estate standards. Yet it is growth that’s most enticing for Tricon.

In 2012, book value per share was $3.38. Today, it’s $11.20, representing an annual growth rate of 27%. Few other real estate stocks offer this level of upside.

Tricon should maintain this level of growth for decades to come, as its management team remains focused on long-term opportunities with durable tailwinds like population growth. A majority of its properties are located in regions that will experience 20% or more increases in population over the next decade. The U.S. and Canada as a whole are only growing at about 1% per year.

Down 10% since April, this looks like an opportune time to scoop up discounted shares.

Boyd Group Income Fund

Boyd (TSX:BYD.UN) stock is a growth superstar.

Over the past 12 months, shares are up more than 40%. Since 2014, shares are up nearly 300%. Since the stock went public in 2006, shares have risen an astounding 12,600%!

With a market cap of just $3.4 billion, could this winning stock double and triple again?

With over 500 locations, Boyd is one of the largest collision repair centres in North America. It operates in Canada under the banners Boyd Autobody & Glass and Assured Automotive. In the U.S., it’s known as Gerber Collision & Glass.

The strategy is essentially an industry roll-up. The company uses its strong balance sheet to purchase smaller competitors, remodels the locations, and then strips out unnecessary costs. Because many repair centres are mom-and-pop shops, the company nearly always secures favourable prices.

The industry remains incredibly fragmented, and over the next five years management intends to double in size again. This looks entirely possible. For example, there are 32,200 collision shops in the U.S., more than 80% of which are independently owned.

Expect growth to surpass management’s target of 15% annually over the next decade and beyond.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Ryan Vanzo has no position in any stocks mentioned. Bank of Nova Scotia and Tricon are recommendations of Stock Advisor Canada.

More on Investing

data analyze research
Stocks for Beginners

Top Canadian Stocks to Buy With $5,000 in 2025

Got $5,000 that you want to invest in some long-term stock holdings? These Canadian stocks could be the ideal fit…

Read more »

Female raising hands enjoying vacation, standing on background of blue cloudless sky.
Dividend Stocks

CRA Update: The Basic Personal Amount Just Increased in 2025!

The BPA just increased, leaving Canadians with more cash in their pockets and room to make more cash!

Read more »

protect, safe, trust
Investing

2 Safe Dividend Stocks to Own in Any Market

Hydro One (TSX:H) and Loblaw (TSX:L) are defensive stocks to load up on regardless of the type of market environment.

Read more »

dividends can compound over time
Dividend Stocks

3 Defensive Stocks That Could Thrive During Economic Uncertainty

Discover how NextEra Energy, Brookfield Renewable, and Enbridge combine essential services with strong dividends to offer investors stability and growth…

Read more »

hand stacks coins
Dividend Stocks

Canada’s Smart Money Is Piling Into This TSX Leader

An expanding and still growing industry giant is a smart choice for Canadian investors in 2025.

Read more »

Oil industry worker works in oilfield
Energy Stocks

Energy Sector Strength: A Canadian Producer That Can Thrive in Any Market

While gold stocks are the norm, relatively few Canadian energy stocks operate primarily outside the country. The ones that do…

Read more »

how to save money
Stocks for Beginners

Canada’s Biggest Winners in 2025? My Money’s on These 2 TSX Stocks

Here’s why I’m betting on these TSX stocks to be among Canada’s biggest winners in 2025.

Read more »

ways to boost income
Investing

Where to Invest Your 2025 TFSA Money for Total Returns

These TSX stocks offer high growth and steady dividend income, making them top bets to generate solid total returns.

Read more »