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Invest in What You Believe In
Investing in stocks makes you a part-owner of an individual company – so you can take part in its potential growth over time.
What are Stocks and Equities?
A stock (also called an equity or share), is an investment that lets you own part of a public corporation and may allow you to vote on key decisions about its future. Stocks have the same risks that come with being a business owner: They let you take part in a company’s gains – like and potential income – and losses, too.
The Benefits of Investing in Stocks with Us:
Choose from Canadian and U.S. stocks.
Choose from a vast number of exchange-listed Canadian and U.S. stocks and other equity investments.
Invest in Options
Investors comfortable with risk can trade Options to generate income, protect against market losses or lock in a gain.
Stay on top of the action with free Real Time QuotesDisclaimer 1.
Get real-time bid/ask quotes for Canadian and U.S. stock and ETFs to make decisions in the moment. They’re available to all RBC Direct Investing clients — no minimum balance required.
Stay Ahead of the Markets
React to the most current market news with pre-market and after-hours trading, available now at no additional cost.
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Make informed decisions with top-notch research and tools.
Use expert research, and powerful tools and analysis to take a closer look at the stocks you’re interested in, evaluate company financials and identify investments that meet your needs.
Reinvest in more shares commission-free.
The Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP)Disclaimer 2 automatically invests your cash dividendsDisclaimer 3, so you get additional shares commission-free.
Analyze your portfolio any time.
Visualize and track your asset mix to make sure you’re staying within your target asset allocation and investor profile.
Test your strategy with a risk-free Practice Account.
Open a Practice Account to buy and sell stocks without using real money. You’ll have the same online experience as with a real account.
Why Investors Buy Stocks
Find out why self-directed investors choose stocks and how they may be able to strengthen your portfolio.
Invest in the Stock Market Today
Complete your application online in just minutes and your account can be opened in 24 hours5.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you buy a stock you are participating in the future gains and losses of the company. Stocks are considered a higher-risk investment than fixed-income investments like bonds or guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), so investors tend to expect a higher rate of return in exchange for that risk.
Companies issue stock so they can raise money to run and grow the business. Every share in the company's stock represents a small part of the company's assets and earnings. The total value of stock held by the public is known as the company's market capitalization, or market cap.
It's easy to place orders to Buy or sell investments on our secure online investment site, using the RBC® MobileDisclaimer 5 app or over the phone with an Investment Services Representative.
If you’re comfortable with fluctuating returns, stocks offer a variety of benefits, including:
- Potential for superior long-term returns compared to cash and fixed-income investments
- Potential to earn dividends and capital gains
Like most investment accounts, you can hold stocks, options, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, bonds and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) in a TFSA, RRSP, RRIF or RESP, so long as they are qualified investments.
If you choose to hold foreign investments in your TFSA or RESP, many governments — including the U.S. — apply a non-resident withholding tax to foreign-source income received. Withholding taxes are unrecoverable, and may reduce your potential returns. For example, the IRS imposes a 30% withholding tax to dividends paid on U.S. stocks – which can be reduced to 15% by submitting a W-8BEN or W-9 form. Check with your tax advisor to learn more.
- One way is through the RBC Direct Investing website. Log in to your account and enter stock symbol in the quote search bar at the top-right of your screen.
- Visit the Trading Dashboard under the Place an Order menu and search for the symbol.
- On the RBC Mobile app, log in to your RBC Direct Investing account and enter the stock symbol under Get a Quote
Legal Disclaimer 1)
Real-time quotes are available automatically to all clients for exchange listed stocks, ETFs and most over-the-counter (OTC) securities without completion of exchange agreements. Real-time quotes for options and grey market OTC securities on detailed quote and order entry pages are also available upon accepting the terms and conditions of all exchange agreements on the RBC Direct Investing online investing site. Real-time quotes for options and grey market OTC securities are available to Active Traders and Royal Circle clients across the site upon accepting the terms and conditions of all exchange agreements on the RBC Direct Investing online investing site.
Legal Disclaimer 2)
The list of DRIP eligible securities is subject to change at any time without prior notice. RBC Direct Investing will purchase whole shares only. Some exclusions may apply. Some eligible securities such as preferred shares and voting class common shares will not reinvest into additional units of the same security but rather the underlying non-voting common share or similar security.
Legal Disclaimer 3)
Dividends earned pursuant to a DRIP may be subject to taxation imposed by the Income Tax Act (Canada). It is your responsibility to ensure that any associated tax requirements or obligations are satisfied.
Legal Disclaimer 4)
Subject to approval. Account applications submitted online and received Monday through Friday prior to 2:30 pm ET will generally be opened the next business day.
Legal Disclaimer 5)
RBC Mobile is operated by Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Direct Investing Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
Legal Disclaimer
Information provided on this page is for your general information and is not intended to provide legal, investment, financial, accounting or tax advice. If you require any such advice, you should retain the services of a competent professional.