- What are tech stocks?
- Top tech stocks in Canada
- 5G networks
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Blockchain
- Cloud computing
- Cybersecurity
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Metaverse stocks
- Quantum computing
- SaaS Stocks
- Semiconductors
- Streaming services
- Virtual reality stocks
- What are the risks involved with tech stocks?
- Should you invest in tech stocks?
Technology stocks remain a diverse and dynamic group of companies, encompassing everything from consumer electronics like PCs and mobile phones to sophisticated enterprise solutions and advanced artificial intelligence software. In 2025, the tech sector continues to drive innovation by merging cutting-edge scientific discoveries with strategic product development, addressing persistent consumer challenges with novel solutions.
Over the past year, several trends have come to the forefront in the technology landscape:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI and ML are leading the charge in transforming industries, with advancements in generative AI models making a significant impact on content creation, healthcare diagnostics, and efficient data processing. Companies focusing on AI technology development and integration are witnessing rapid growth.
- Sustainability in Tech: As environmental concerns escalate, tech companies are increasingly investing in sustainable practices. From energy-efficient data centers to electronic waste recycling, the push for greener technology is both a challenge and an opportunity for innovation.
- Quantum Computing: The race to achieve practical quantum computing continues to accelerate, with tech giants and startups focusing on breakthroughs that promise disruptive capabilities in encryption, optimization problems, and complex computations.
- Cybersecurity: With the rise of digitalization comes heightened cyber risks. Companies specializing in cybersecurity are expanding their services and technologies to counter increasingly sophisticated threats, ensuring data protection and privacy.
- Internet of Things (IoT): IoT continues to expand connectivity across devices and sectors, enhancing automation in homes, industries, and cities. The focus on smart infrastructure and the IoT ecosystem is leading to significant market opportunities.
As a fast-growing market sector, the tech sector’s continual progression presents a spectrum of investment opportunities—from high-growth potential stocks harnessing emerging technologies, to blue-chip companies offering stability and reliability. Whether seeking long-term growth, stability, or value, every investment strategy can find a fitting tech stock within these dynamic subsectors.
In the sections that follow, we will delve deeper into each tech subsector, highlighting key players and identifying investment opportunities that align with your financial goals.
Related: List of stocks in the Canadian (TSX) information technology sector
What are tech stocks?
Tech stocks are companies whose products or services depend on or use technology in some fundamental way. However, tech companies are vastly different from each other. For example, a tech firm could be one that develops virtual reality video games, provides 5G wireless connectivity, makes cybersecurity software, builds microchips for autonomous vehicles, designs smartphones, or even builds AI chatbots for insurance companies. If the company’s products or services are immersed in technology, it’s likely a tech stock.
Tech stocks are sometimes separated into low tech and high tech, with high tech referring to companies that use cutting-edge technology in some fundamentally new way, and low tech using old machinery and technology to maintain a certain product line or service. Both low and high tech stocks are known to use gobs of investor capital to fund their continued expansion and growth, with dividends low or entirely nonexistent.
RELATED: Top Canadian Fintech Stocks
Top tech stocks in Canada
With tech stocks, there’s no shortage of options. To help you map out the tech sector, let’s break it down into the following sub-sectors:
- 5G stocks
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) stocks
- Blockchain stocks
- Cloud computing stocks
- Cybersecurity stocks
- Internet of Things (IoT) stocks
- Metaverse stocks
- Microchip stocks
- Quantum computing stocks
- SaaS stocks
- Semiconductor stocks
- Streaming services stocks
- Virtual reality (VR) stocks
5G networks
In 2024, the 5G industry has significantly expanded globally, providing enhanced connectivity with high speeds and low latency essential for technologies like IoT, AI, AR and streaming services. This fifth-generation network has improved digital access, transforming sectors such as healthcare and smart cities. While infrastructure costs and regulatory challenges persist, 5G remains vital for ongoing technological innovation and improved digital interactions.
In 2025, the 5G industry is set to further integrate with cutting-edge technologies, driving innovations in sectors like autonomous vehicles and smart cities while overcoming infrastructure and regulatory challenges to enhance global digital connectivity.
Some of the best 5G companies in Canada include:
5G Stocks | Description |
BCE (TSX:BCE) | Provider of one of Canada’s fastest 5G networks |
Telus (TSX:T) | Major wireless provider with 5G networks available to over 70% of Canadians |
Sierra Wireless (TSX:SW) | Designer and provider of 5G wireless routers and other communications equipment |
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) companies design computers and machines with computing processes that resemble human intelligence. AI includes the subbranch of machine learning (computers that can teach themselves how to interpret new data based on past experiences) and deep learning (computers modelled after the function and structure of the human brain).
AI technology already infuses many of the tasks we’ve come to depend on—such as face recognition on our phones and asking Siri, “What’s the weather?”—and it’s only just getting started.
Here are just a few artificial intelligence stocks in Canada you might want to consider:
AI Stocks | Description |
Kinaxis (TSX: KXS) | Software company with AI and machine learning solutions for supply chain management |
Docebo (TSX: DCBO) | SaaS company with learning platforms powered by AI technology |
VIQ Solutions (TSX: VQS) | Micro-cap company that uses AI in its content management software |
Blockchain
In 2024, the blockchain industry witnessed significant growth as more sectors adopted decentralized technologies for improved transparency, security, and efficiency, particularly in finance, supply chain, and healthcare. This year saw an increased focus on developing scalable blockchain solutions and expanding interoperability between different blockchain networks.
In 2025, the industry plans to enhance regulatory compliance, further explore decentralized finance (DeFi) innovations, and integrate with emerging technologies like IoT and AI to unlock new use cases and drive mainstream adoption.
Blockchain Stocks | Description |
Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) | The world’s largest crypto exchange with roughly 100 million users in more than 100 countries |
Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY:CA) | Financial services and investment management company that deals with digital assets, crypto, and blockchain technology |
Hut 8 Mining (HUT:CA) | A digital asset miner in Alberta, with more self-mined Bitcoin than any other publicly traded company |
Cloud computing
In 2024, the cloud computing industry experienced robust expansion, driven by increased demand for scalable IT solutions and businesses migrating to the cloud for enhanced flexibility and cost efficiency. The industry focused on integrating AI for smarter processing and optimized resource management, while edge computing gained traction to support real-time applications.
Looking ahead to 2025, cloud computing aims to deepen multi-cloud strategies, improve security protocols, and leverage advanced technologies like quantum computing to offer more powerful and versatile cloud services.
Cloud Stocks | Description |
Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) | Customer relationship management platform with cloud-based software |
Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) | Computer software company with creative apps and services located in the cloud |
Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM) | Video communications company with video conferencing that uses cloud-based computing |
Cybersecurity
In 2024, the cybersecurity industry saw rapid growth due to escalating cyber threats and expanding digital transformations, prompting investments in advanced security solutions across cloud, IoT, and enterprise networks. Companies prioritized enhancing threat detection and response capabilities, leveraging AI and machine learning to address increasingly sophisticated attacks.
In 2025, the industry plans to further integrate blockchain for secure data handling, expand zero-trust architectures, and focus on safeguarding emerging technologies like 5G and quantum computing, aiming to build more resilient digital ecosystems.
Cybersecurity Stocks | Description |
Blackberry (TSX:BB) | Builds endpoint security for the healthcare and automotive sectors |
Internet of Things (IoT)
In 2024, the IoT industry experienced substantial growth, driven by advancements in 5G connectivity and increasing adoption across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing, resulting in improved operational efficiencies and new data-driven insights. The industry has focused heavily on enhancing device interoperability and security measures to manage the growing network of connected devices.
In 2025, the IoT industry aims to deepen its integration with AI and machine learning to facilitate smarter automation and predictive capabilities, while expanding its presence in emerging markets and smart city projects to further harness its transformative potential.
IoT Stocks | Description |
Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) | Leading provider of networking hardware, which is used to connect IoT devices to each other |
DexCom Inc.(NASDAQ:DXCM) | Designer of IoT devices that monitor glucose levels |
Alarm.com Holding Inc. (NASDAQ:ALRM) | Provider of IoT software, which connects all domestic devices together, including security cameras, lights, thermostats, and locks |
Metaverse stocks
Metaverse companies use virtual reality technology to create massive 3D worlds, which multiple users can then inhabit together.
Though metaverse technology used to only exist in theory (and science fiction), many companies are racing to create immersive spaces that integrate the virtual and physical worlds to create interactive social, entertainment (e.g., gaming), e-commerce, and learning environments.
Metaverse Stock | Description |
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) | Former social media giant, Meta Platforms is investing billions to create its own metaverse |
Roblox (NYSE: RBLX) | An online gaming platform that already offers a virtual world where users can interact and play games together |
Unity Software (NYSE:U) | Forerunner in 3D content creation with around half of 3D content created with its software |
Quantum computing
Quantum computing takes advantage of “superposition”—a phenomenon that occurs at a subatomic level when objects no longer have a clearly defined position and can technically be in multiple positions at once—to accelerate computing speeds and solve complex computational problems.
Though the technology is still in its infancy, it has great potential to disrupt the way many sectors do business, from healthcare and pharmaceuticals to banking and financials.
Quantum Computing Stock | Description |
IBM (NYSE:IBM) | Large tech company and designer of the world’s first commercial quantum computer (Q System One) |
Honeywell (NASDAQ:HON) | High tech company that manufactures and sells quantum computers |
IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) | Hardware and software provider that sells access to its quantum computing computers |
SaaS Stocks
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks are companies that design cloud-based software and sell them on a subscription basis to clients. Users then become “renters” of the software, and so long as they pay the subscription fees, they can use it indefinitely.
The SaaS model has been a major trend in the tech sector, and has helped many tech firms create consistent flows of recurring revenue. Since SaaS is a business model, as well as a type of technology, it crosses over with many subsectors of the tech industry.
SaaS Stock | Description |
Shopify (TSX:SHOP) | E-commerce giant that helps small and medium businesses create user-friendly websites |
Constellation Software (TSX:CSU) | Canadian holding company that creates software for a select number of industries |
Semiconductors
In 2024, the semiconductor sector experienced strong growth fueled by global demand for chips across diverse sectors like automotive, consumer electronics, and artificial intelligence, despite ongoing supply chain challenges. Companies invested in expanding production capabilities and advancing chip technologies to meet next-generation requirements.
In 2025, the industry aims to focus on innovating energy-efficient designs, enhancing chip performance for AI applications, and increasing resilience against geopolitical and supply disruptions to sustain its pivotal role in technological advancements.
Semiconductor Stock | Description |
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) | Industry-leading chip company known for its GPUs |
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) | A leader in the development of logic chips |
POET Technologies (TSXV: PTK) | Canadian company that makes “flip chips,” which integrate photonics and electronics into a single wafer-chip |
Streaming services
A few decades ago you’d be old-fashioned if you didn’t have some form of cable service. Nowadays, you’re old-fashioned if you do. Streaming services have pretty much made cable obsolete, and after showing immense growth during the pandemic, these companies are gearing up for a strong future.
Streaming Services Stock | Description |
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) | The largest streaming service in the world with 221 million global subscribers (18 million in Canada) |
Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) | The fastest-growing streaming service with legendary brands, shows, content, theme parks, and merchandise to back it up |
Corus Entertainment (TSX:CJR.B) | Canadian media company that is quickly growing into one of the largest free premium streaming services in the country |
Virtual reality stocks
Virtual reality (VR) immerses users in a three-dimensional environment that simulates real-life scenarios. Though VR technology has flourished in the entertainment sector with video game consoles, it has immense potential to transform many industries, such as healthcare, education, defence, and engineering.
For those looking to invest in VR stocks, here are three major companies to consider.
VR Stock | Description |
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) | Formerly known as Facebook, Meta owns the leading VR platform, Oculus |
Sony (NYSE:SONY) | Massive electronics provider with VR headsets for its video game consoles, PlayStation |
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) | Technology conglomerate that offers VR experiences on its Android devices |
What are the risks involved with tech stocks?
Tech companies can be extremely volatile. They tend to be vulnerable to economic swings, interest rate hikes, poor investor sentiment, product failures, and technology obsolescence. Even tech companies with mega market caps will from time to time watch their market value take a humbling plunge, while smaller-capped companies hit rough patches from which they never recover.
Because many tech companies still rely on debt to fund their ever-growing expansion, investors have become bearish on tech stocks. Rising internet rates—a weapon against rising inflation—have made borrowing money more costly. And with the world opening back up, some investors are stuck wondering if tech companies can match their revenue growth and earnings growth from the last two years.
Another risk in tech stocks is complexity. The learning curve is often steep, and there’s always the possibility of misunderstanding the technology behind the company’s revenues. If you live by the maxim, “invest in only what you understand,” this can pose a serious problem for those unversed in technology.
Should you invest in tech stocks?
For buy-and-hold investors, tech stocks are generally a good investment, notwithstanding the risks. While it’s smart to choose tech stocks with the utmost caution, avoiding them altogether could lead you to miss out on some great investment opportunities.
Perhaps a better question to ask is—which subsectors of tech stocks should you pursue? Not all tech subsectors present the same level of risk and reward. Because the development and advancement of technology is different in each one, you’ll often find some to be less stable than others (metaverse stocks, for instance, versus 5G stocks). And while some tech stocks might be beyond your comprehension, others will likely be easier for you to understand. A well-diversified portfolio will include tech stocks from several subsectors, helping you capitalize on the gains made in each one.
For those investors who would like exposure to all subsectors of the tech industry, you can always buy shares in a tech-focused ETF. In Canada, some of the best tech ETFs include:
- Invesco NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (QQC)
- TD Global Technology Leaders ETF (TEC)
- iShares S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology Index ETF (XIT)