Canadian penny stocks can be riskier than other investments, and if investors aren’t careful, early success can actually lead to big losses.

The appeal of Canadian penny stocks today is no different in 2023 than it was in the past. Investors are looking to add to the aggressive portion of their portfolios and turn to the higher-risk strategy of buying speculative Canadian penny stocks.

However, there are several potential risks when investors venture into penny stocks. That’s especially the case given some of the current market volatility. Despite recent gains, that risk is likely to remain.

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Keep your focus on the risks of Canadian penny stocks so you can make smart choices if you decide to invest in them

Keep in mind that investing is different from many other pursuits in one crucial way: doing the wrong thing as an investor can actually make money for you, but only temporarily.

Buying low-quality Canadian penny stocks is one of those things that can appear to be successful before it goes badly wrong. Some get hooked on it, since low-quality stocks can be highly profitable over short periods. That’s because they are generally more volatile than high-quality stocks.

Here are 2 of the biggest risks you face when you invest in lower-quality Canadian penny stocks. They existed in the days leading up to the 2007/2008 crisis and they do today, too.

1. Low-quality Canadian penny stocks are quick to fall when a bubble bursts: Investors are less concerned about the possibility of a market correction and the impact on well-established companies. But a decade and a half ago, buyers of Internet start-ups made far more profit than investors who stuck with these well-established companies. The same thing happened when many investors bought low-quality resource stocks in 2007 and 2008, and it has happened in the past in penny stock bubbles. When the bubble bursts, however, prices of low-quality stocks inevitably come crashing down. After all, it’s much easier to launch a stock promotion than it is to create a successful, lasting business. Penny stocks tend to be more speculative, and are engaged in such things as finding mineral deposits that can be mined at a profit, commercializing an unproven technology or launching new software.
2. The longer you play, the likelier you are to lose: If you lose money in speculative or other low-quality stocks (or ETFs that invest in low-quality stocks), you may think your main mistake was bad timing. That’s a misconception. You can get lucky in penny stocks, just as in lotteries. But if you play long enough, the “house odds” eventually triumph over any run of luck. In penny stocks or games of chance, the odds are against you. The longer or more often you play, the likelier you are to lose.

Watch out for Canadian penny stock promoters that make companies seem bigger than they are

Canadian penny stock promoters love to make deals with major, household-name companies. They find it far, far easier to sell stock to the public if Barrick Gold, BHP Billiton or some other major mining company has agreed to finance exploration of their mining claims, or if Apple or Intel or some other household-name multinational has agreed to evaluate their revolutionary software or “cloud” application.

The link with a major company gives them instant credibility, especially with investors who are willing to buy penny stocks.

When they get a deal with a major, promoters go to great lengths to make it seem bigger than it is. Instead of announcing that the big company has invested, say, $50,000, penny stock promoters may issue a press release that says the two companies have entered into a “multi-stage development plan.” The release may say the major has agreed to spend “up to $10 million” or whatever. It will usually provide a toll-free number or an online link for investors who wish to order the enticing brochures.

In fact, when a penny stock shoots up on the news of big-company involvement, and the property/program/revolutionary software is still in the early stages of development, it’s often a good time to sell.

Download this free report to discover the best penny stocks to invest in.

Make Canadian penny stocks a small portion of your portfolio, if that, to get the potential for profits without taking a major risk

Ultimately, Canadian penny stocks should always be a small part of any diversified portfolio. You should only buy them with money you can afford to lose. Subscribe to our Power Growth Investor to find better investment opportunities for growing your investment revenue.

Stick to our three-part Successful Investor strategy to profit with your investments

1. Invest mainly in well-established companies;
2. Spread your money out across most if not all of the five main economic sectors (Manufacturing & Industry; Resources & Commodities; Consumer; Finance; Utilities);
3. Downplay or avoid stocks in the broker/media limelight.

The third element in our strategy is crucial in avoiding stock scams. These penny stock promoters focus on companies that aren’t likely to go anywhere, and merely have an indirect connection with some trend, development of industry that is getting a lot of media attention. It takes a lot more than that to create a profitable business or investment. But if you let the media hoopla taint your investment decisions, you increase your risk of blundering into a promotional stock like pot o’ gold.

Do you hold any penny stocks that were standouts for you this year? 

What do you think of Canadian penny stocks? Does the potential for big profits outweigh the risk?

This article was originally published in 2014 and is regularly updated.

Are Penny Stocks Worth It? Learn everything you need to know in 'Canada's Penny Stock Guide' for FREE from The Successful Investor. Canadian Penny Stock Guide: Find where to find Penny Stocks that pay well.  I consent to receiving information from The Successful Investor via email. I understand I can unsubscribe from these updates at any time.