Some individuals who wish to keep invested want shopping for shares in tranches quite than a single lump sum. Breaking a big quantity into smaller scheduled investments is a scientific, defensive strategy. At present, for instance, a $2,500 funding can create a balanced basis that may mitigate potential headwinds given the present financial circumstances.
Selecting Canadian Utilities (TSX:CU) and Kinross Gold (TSX:Ok) in your subsequent $2,500 isn’t a bet however a good means to earn defensive earnings and hedge towards inflation or geopolitical dangers. The previous is a dividend knight, whereas the latter is a safe-haven asset when markets get tough.
Revenue anchor
How are you going to not love Canadian Utilities? The highest-tier utility inventory has a 54-year monitor report of dividend will increase. Your advantages are capital safety and dependable, recurring earnings streams. At $43.28 per share, the TSX’s first dividend knight pays a hefty 4.26% dividend, with a quarterly payout.
This most up-to-date hike signifies the board’s confidence within the firm’s monetary stability and long-term money stream profile throughout the sector by which it operates. Whereas the utility inventory is fee delicate, it stands out for its enticing yield and low volatility.
The $11.5 billion diversified vitality infrastructure firm derives roughly 90% of its earnings from regulated utilities and long-term contracted property. CU is typically known as a bond proxy for that reason.
Within the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, 95% of the $402 million capital expenditures went into regulated utilities. Bob Myles, CEO of Canadian Utilities, mentioned the corporate is on monitor with its progress plans. For 2026, the main target is on main fuel transmission and energy line initiatives, the Yellowhead Pipeline for fuel and Central East Switch-Out (CETO) for energy.
The Yellowhead Pipeline, a $2.8 billion pure fuel mission, would enhance Alberta’s vitality infrastructure. In response to administration, the development of the 230 km pure fuel pipeline will begin this 12 months. In the meantime, the in-service date for the $280 million CETO mission, an 85-km, 240 kV energy line to combine renewable vitality in Alberta, is Q2 2026.
Canadian Utilities expects the entire $6.1 billion investments in regulated utilities from 2025 to 2027 to extend the $15.9 billion fee base and contribute important earnings and money flows.
Volatility buffer
Metals and mining shares, together with Kinross Gold, profit from rising gold and silver costs. Each treasured metals hit report costs already in January 2026, pushed by geopolitical and financial uncertainty.
As of this writing, Kinross trades at $46.30 per share and pays a modest 0.67% dividend following a 17% annual enhance. In 2025, the gold inventory’s whole return was +192%. It additionally ranked twelfth within the TSX30 Checklist, an annual rating of Canada’s 30 top-performing shares.
The $55.2 billion senior gold mining firm operates mines in the USA, Brazil, Chile, and Mauritania. Its world-class Nice Bear Venture in Crimson Lake, Ontario, helps a big, long-life mine complicated and has a long-term manufacturing outlook.
In Q3 2025, free money stream (FCF) reached a report $686.7 million, bringing the entire FCF to greater than $1.7 billion after three quarters. Its CEO, J. Paul Rollinson, mentioned, “Wanting forward, we’re excited by the progress throughout our progress pipeline.”
Defensive mixture
You possibly can break up your subsequent $2,500 (50/50) between Canadian Utilities and Kinross Gold. The defensive mixture can climate the financial turbulence in 2026.
