3 Canadian Shares to Purchase for a “Pay Me First” Portfolio

A “pay me first” portfolio does precisely what the identify suggests. These are shares constructed to ship a refund to shareholders by means of regular dividends or distributions, ideally each month or each quarter. So, let’s have a look at three to think about on the TSX at the moment.

FRU

Freehold Royalties (TSX:FRU) appears to be like like a pure match for that strategy because it isn’t drilling wells itself. It owns royalty pursuits throughout oil and gasoline lands in Canada and the USA, so it collects income whereas avoiding the heavy capital prices that producers face. That makes the enterprise mannequin leaner than a typical power inventory. Over the past 12 months, Freehold saved increasing the good thing about its late-2024 U.S. acquisitions, and administration stated 2025 marked its fifth straight 12 months of manufacturing development. It additionally saved its month-to-month dividend at $0.09 per share, with administration saying that the payout stays supported even when WTI falls to US$50 per barrel.

The numbers nonetheless look stable. In 2025, funds from operations rose 2% to $235 million, despite the fact that WTI pricing fell 14%. Manufacturing climbed 9% to 16,294 barrels of oil equal per day (boe/d), helped by a 33% leap in U.S. output. The dividend inventory carried a market cap close to $2.88 billion and a ahead yield above 6% at writing as nicely. The chance, in fact, is that Freehold nonetheless relies on commodity costs and operator exercise. However for buyers who need month-to-month earnings with much less working danger than a standard producer, the dividend inventory checks loads of containers.

CHE.UN

Chemtrade Logistics Earnings Fund (TSX:CHE.UN) brings in earnings from industrial chemical substances that serve water remedy, power, and manufacturing. Over the past 12 months, Chemtrade delivered file outcomes, lifted its distribution once more, and saved pushing development initiatives, together with its ultra-pure acid growth. It additionally highlighted contributions anticipated from the Polytec and Thatcher Group property, which ought to assist help earnings even in a maintenance-heavy 2026.

Chemtrade’s 2025 income rose 11.8% to $1.998 billion, whereas adjusted earnings earlier than curiosity, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) hit a file $507.4 million. Distributable money reached about $228 million, or $1.99 per unit. Administration’s 2026 adjusted EBITDA steering sits between $485 million and $525 million, so it isn’t promising a moonshot, however it’s signalling resilience. The dividend inventory holds a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) of round 12.6 and a ahead P/E of round 11.5 at writing, which nonetheless appears to be like cheap for a enterprise throwing off this type of money.

PZA

Pizza Pizza Royalty (TSX:PZA) is essentially the most consumer-facing choose of the three, and that’s a part of the enchantment. It doesn’t run the eating places immediately. As a substitute, it collects royalty earnings from Pizza Pizza and Pizza 73 gross sales, which supplies buyers a cleaner earnings stream tied to a well-recognized model. Over the past 12 months, the story improved. After weaker 2024 same-store gross sales, the dividend inventory reported third-quarter 2025 same-store gross sales development of 0.1%, royalty pool gross sales development of two.0%, and 11 internet new restaurant places. Just lately, it additionally reaffirmed its month-to-month dividend of $0.0775 per share forward of fourth-quarter 2025 outcomes.

In 2024, Pizza Pizza paid out $0.93 per share in dividends and posted a 110% payout ratio, which was above its normal goal. Nonetheless, it saved a working capital reserve, and the newest reported quarter confirmed adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.236, almost flat 12 months over 12 months. The dividend inventory presently has a market cap of round $528 million, a P/E of 16.8, and a ahead yield of round 5.8%. It isn’t good, however for buyers who need month-to-month money circulation from a low-beta shopper identify, it nonetheless has a spot.

Backside line

Put these three collectively, and also you get a reasonably sensible “pay me first” combine. Freehold brings power royalties, Chemtrade provides industrial money circulation, and Pizza Pizza throws in shopper earnings. And even $7,000 can carry within the dividends you crave.

None is risk-free, and every faces its personal strain factors. However all three give buyers one thing many shares don’t. An actual motive to maintain holding, even when the market will get noisy.