The 3 Most Popular Stocks on the TSX Today: Do You Own Them?

Buying what everyone else on the market is buying isn’t always the wisest course of action, but knowing what everyone else is buying can be helpful.

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Based on the volume of trades in the last 10 days, the three most popular stocks on the TSX are all from the energy sector. But if you look a bit lower, other blue-chip stocks are currently quite popular among Canadian investors, and if you don’t own them yet, you may consider doing so now.

An energy stock

Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ) is among the most actively bought stocks on the market. It has risen over 5% in the last 10 days alone, though it’s still trading at an 18% discount from its all-time peak in April.

After months of decline, oil prices have started going up again, and many Canadian oil giants (integrated, upstream, and midstream) have followed that trajectory quite diligently.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Canadian Natural Resources PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL23 Mar 202019 Mar 2025Zoom ▾Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '23Jan '24Jul '24Jan '2520212021202220222023202320242024202520250204060www.fool.ca

The current bullish trend might be a good reason to consider this stock, but a much better reason is the company’s fundamental strengths. It has one of the largest energy reserves in North America, a massive portfolio of assets around the globe, and rock-solid financials.

It’s also a highly resilient stock, especially for an upstream company. It has offered fantastic growth in the last few years, but dividends are the primary reason this stock is considered a long-term holding.

A bank stock

Canadian bank stocks experienced a bullish surge in the last few years, but thanks to some regulatory challenges, Toronto-Dominion (TSX:TD) was a bit late for the party. This is no longer the case, and the bank stock has taken off, growing by about 8% in the last 30 days.

One catalyst behind this growth surge is the changes in the bank’s C-suite. A new chief operating officer (COO) has been nominated and is also named to take over the bank as the chief executive officer next year.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Toronto-Dominion Bank PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.ca

Hedge funds and retail investors are bullish on this stock, as apparent from the trading volume in the last ten days. It currently offers a yield of about 4.7%, and if you couple that with the stock’s short-term growth potential, the overall combination is quite healthy and compelling.

An insurance stock

Manulife (TSX:MFC) is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. It has a massive global footprint and considerable assets under management and administration ($1.5 trillion). The company boasts about 35 million individual customers worldwide from multiple business segments.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Manulife Financial PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.ca

It’s generally a slow moving stock, preferred for its dividends rather than its growth potential but the current bullish trend allows you to take advantage of both.

The stock has risen by about 50% in the last 12 months, an unprecedented growth pace considering its performance in the last decade. It’s also offering a healthy yield of about 4.1% and despite its growth numbers, the valuation is quite attractive.

Foolish takeaway

The three stocks are quite popular among investors right now, both retail and institutional. All three have considerable fundamental strengths that make them attractive picks, not just because of their current bullish trend and pace but as long-term holdings, especially for their dividends. Though buying now adds the growth incentive on top, augmenting the overall return potential.

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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 Adam Othman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Canadian Natural Resources. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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