As tariffs return, what stocks should you be watching?

In a volatile market, a watchlist isn't just a list. It's a plan. Here's how to build yours.

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Key details:

  • What is a watchlist? It’s your personal lens of the market, made up of a curated list of stocks and ETFs you monitor in real-time without having to buy them.  
  • Why now? IWhen news moves fast, a pre-built watchlist lets you focus on your strategy instead of getting lost in the noise, turning a reactive moment into a strategic one.
  • What to watch: Companies from sectors with high tariff sensitivity (like Autos and Manufacturing) and those with more resilience (like Utilities and Telecom).

The single most important thing an investor can do before August 1

Do you know where to look?

Not this second, as you read these words. But as August 1 closes in, and with it, the expected implementation of more global tariffs. 

It’s not rhetorical. In a volatile market, your most valuable asset is your focus. Often, as headlines and frenzied social media freak outs ramp up, the difference between a strategic investor and a frantic one is just knowing where to look.

This guide will show you how to build your bridge between reading the news and acting on a plan with the single, easy-to-use tool you can set up before August 1: a watchlist.

First, a quick recap: Where is the exposure?

You can find a fuller explanation in our main guide here, but in short, what you need to know is that tariffs don’t affect all sectors equally. 

So your research in the lead up to August 1 should be focused on two main groups:

  • Sectors with high sensitivity

    These are industries with deep global ties that can be easily disrupted by tariffs. Think Automotive, Manufacturing, and Technology Hardware.

  • Sectors with more resilience

    These are often domestic-focused industries more insulated from global trade disputes. Think Utilities, Canadian Telecom, and Consumer Staples.

How to build your Tariff Watchlist in 4 easy steps

Important: These steps have been written for Questrade customers—and if you’re not one already, you’re missing out on having insights like these delivered right to your inbox. 

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While a tariff-centric watchlist will help you be ready for whatever news unfolds in the lead up to August 1, it’s also just a core part of being trade-ready in general. Learn it now, use it forever.

Step 1: Log in to your Questrade account. Ideally, you do this before August 1. The goal is to have this ready before you need it.

Step 2: Navigate to the 'Watchlist' feature. On mobile, web, and desktop, you'll find this in the main trading platform menu, underneath your portfolio’s summary.

Step 3: Create a new list and give it a purpose. Name it “Tariff Watch” or “Trump Deals” or “August 1 stocks” or, really, anything that speaks to you. The point is making it a strategic tool, not just a random collection of stocks.

Step 4: Start adding symbols—strategically. Don't just add your favourite companies. Add a mix of names to give you a full picture of the market's reaction.

  • Add one or two major companies from a sensitive sector (like a large auto manufacturer).
  • Add one or two from a resilient sector (like a major Canadian utility).
  • Add an index-tracking ETF (like one that follows the S&P 500) to see how the broad market is reacting compared to your specific stocks.

Now you're ready to find the signal in the noise

That’s it. Four steps and you’re now set up to make sense of the news more effectively than you would have before. 

Just remember to log in regularly—even the best watchlist is only valuable if you choose to look at it.

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Note: The information in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be used or construed as financial or investment advice by any individual. Information obtained from third parties is believed to be reliable, but no representations or warranty, expressed or implied, is made by Questrade, Inc., its affiliates or any other person to its accuracy.

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