What are we looking for?
Canadian stocks with low dispersion in analyst estimates for the next two quarters. Dispersion is a metric that measures the standard deviation of earnings estimates.
In uncertain times, investors often gravitate toward companies known for their consistency: those that reliably deliver solid results quarter after quarter. These companies tend to inspire confidence among analysts, which translates into tighter ranges on their earnings estimates and lower volatility, making them especially attractive in turbulent markets.
In today’s market, influenced by new tariffs and likely inflationary pressures, stocks with predictable earnings offer a buffer against economic disruptions. They provide stability, helping investors weather potential growth slowdowns and policy uncertainties.
The screen
We screened S&P/TSX Composite stocks using the following criteria:
- estimate dispersions below 4 per cent for the next quarter (CQCVE) and second next quarter (NQCVE);
- five-year annualized EPS growth deviation (five-year EPS STD) lower than 7 per cent – indicating earnings stability over time;
- three-year EBITDA STD lower than 5 per cent – reflecting operational predictability;
- five-year EPS growth greater than 5 per cent – ensuring that stability is accompanied by some growth.
For informational purposes, we also added beta – a common measure of volatility – one-year price return and dividend yield.
More about Inovestor
For 25 years as a pioneering Canadian fintech, we’ve consistently pushed the boundaries to empower investment advisers with advanced, easy-to-use investment strategies. Discover more about our journey and offerings on our website.
What we found
Companies with predictable earnings
| TICKER | NAME | PRICE ($) | CQCVE (%) | NQCVE (%) | 5Y EPS STD (%) | BETA | 3M PRICE CHG. (%) | 1Y PRICE CHG. (%) | DIV. YLD. (%) |
| L-T | Loblaw Companies Ltd. | 205.25 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 0.39 | 12.8 | 38.4 | 1.0 |
| SLF-T | Sun Life Financial Inc. | 76.98 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.88 | -8.1 | 8.9 | 4.4 |
| DOL-T | Dollarama Inc. | 161.74 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 5.8 | 0.44 | 17.6 | 43.2 | 0.3 |
| WN-T | Weston Ltd. George | 245.77 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 0.55 | 9.4 | 39.0 | 1.3 |
| MRU-T | Metro Inc. | 98.84 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 0.31 | 8.8 | 39.8 | 1.5 |
| CCL-B-T | CCL Industries Inc. B | 67.75 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 0.58 | -6.2 | -2.0 | 1.9 |
| GIB-A-T | CGI Inc. A | 141.59 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.64 | -17.4 | -2.0 | 0.4 |
| WCN-T | Waste Connections Inc* | 270.54 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 0.49 | 1.3 | 18.0 | 0.7 |
| BCE-T | BCE Inc. | 29.61 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 0.70 | -14.4 | -34.0 | 13.5 |
| MFC-T | Manulife Financial Corp | 38.95 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 1.12 | -10.4 | 20.0 | 4.5 |
| GWO-T | Great-West Lifeco Inc. | 51 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 0.81 | 8.5 | 26.0 | 4.8 |
| FTS-T | Fortis Inc. | 64.64 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 0.36 | 4.4 | 24.5 | 3.8 |
| STN-T | Stantec Inc. | 118.61 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 0.81 | 5.5 | 7.7 | 0.8 |
