A new 52-week low means a Canadian-listed stock or ETF is trading at its lowest price in the past year. If you own one, you probably want to know three things: where to find out why, what protections exist if the problem is your brokerage rather than the investment, and how a loss is treated for tax. This page covers all three, with a side-by-side look at Canadian and U.S. loss rules.
What this list shows
The screener ranks securities listed in Canada that are at or below their lowest price of the past 52 weeks. The data is often delayed, and providers differ on whether they judge a low by the intraday level or the close. The list is a mechanical filter, not a recommendation, and it includes both stocks and ETFs without labels.
Market list widget by TradingView. U.S. data is usually end-of-day; Canadian and Indian data may be delayed. Lists include stocks and ETFs and are mechanical filters, not recommendations.
How to read it
Search for the cause before drawing conclusions. Canadian public companies file their documents on SEDAR+, the national system run by the Canadian Securities Administrators. The OSC explains that SEDAR+ is meant to replace the earlier SEDAR system, the national cease trade order database and the disciplined list, among others. A company-specific filing or a cease trade order would show up there.
Then compare breadth. Many lows at once across industries point to market conditions. A single company at a low, with no apparent cause, deserves a closer look at its own disclosure.
Read price and volume together. Heavy volume on a drop is a different signal from a slow decline. The Canadian unusual volume list is the companion to this one.
What it does not tell you
The list does not distinguish between a business that is struggling and a market that is falling. It does not say whether a low is temporary. It does not identify who is selling. Prices that look low against last year may still reflect more than the underlying business is worth, or less, and the filter cannot say which.
Investor protection in Canada
CIRO oversees investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and trading on Canadian marketplaces. Separately, the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) is the compensation fund for customers of member firms. Per CIPF, coverage works as follows:
| Account type | CIPF limit per client |
|---|---|
| General accounts (cash, margin, TFSA, FHSA) | $1 million combined |
| Registered retirement accounts (RRSP, RRIF, LIF) | A separate $1 million combined |
| RESPs | A separate $1 million combined |
CIPF covers property a member firm held for you that is not returned after the firm becomes insolvent, and claims must generally be filed within 180 days. It does not cover losses from a drop in value, unsuitable investments, poor advice, securities you hold directly in certificate form, or crypto assets.
Tax notes for investors
Canadian rules. The CRA explains the superficial loss rule. A loss is superficial if you, or an affiliated person such as a spouse, a corporation you control or certain trusts and partnerships, buy the same or identical property within 30 days before or after the sale and still hold it 30 days after. The loss is denied for that year, and the buyer can add it to the cost of the replacement property. Net capital losses, meaning allowable capital losses above taxable capital gains, can be carried back up to three years or forward indefinitely, and a carryback is claimed on Form T1A.
U.S. rules. The IRS wash sale rule uses the same 30-day window but also catches purchases in your IRA or Roth IRA, and by your spouse or a corporation you control. Per the IRS, capital losses beyond gains can offset up to $3,000 of other income per year ($1,500 if married filing separately), with the rest carried forward and no carryback. See our capital gains and losses guide and the U.S. new lows page.
| Feature | Canada (CRA) | United States (IRS) |
|---|---|---|
| Window around the sale | 30 days before or after | 30 days before or after |
| Who counts | You and affiliated persons | You, your spouse, a corporation you control, and your IRA or Roth IRA |
| Net losses | Carry back 3 years, forward without limit | Annual $3,000 offset, carry forward only |
If you move between the countries or hold accounts in both, each country applies its own rules to the same sale, in its own currency. A loss that is usable on one return may be denied on the other. We can help sort out the U.S. return, and a Canadian professional should handle the CRA side. The same applies to reporting duties: foreign reporting penalties can arise for U.S. persons who miss forms for Canadian accounts, and our international tax services page explains how we approach that.
Households with accounts in both countries can read our guide to FBAR penalties, and our page for investors describes the planning we do around gains and losses.
Frequently asked questions
Does CIPF cover my losses if my stock drops?
No. CIPF does not cover a drop in the value of investments. It covers property missing from a member firm that has become insolvent.
Can I claim a Canadian loss if I buy the stock back after 31 days?
The superficial loss rule looks at a 30-day window before and after the sale and at whether you still hold the property 30 days after. Buying back beyond that window is generally outside the rule, though your facts matter.
Does a U.S. citizen living in Canada follow Canadian or U.S. loss rules?
Both, each on its own return. U.S. citizens are taxed by the U.S. on worldwide income.
Where do I check whether a Canadian company has a cease trade order?
SEDAR+ is the CSA's national system that, per the OSC, replaces the earlier cease trade order database. Your broker can also tell you if a security is halted.
Official sources
- CIPF: About CIPF coverage
- OSC: SEDAR+
- CRA: Capital losses and deductions
- IRS: Publication 550, Investment Income and Expenses
- CIRO: About CIRO
This page is a plain-language summary. The official source controls if there is any difference.
General information only, not tax, legal or accounting advice for your situation. Rules, limits and deadlines change; confirm the current rules with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship with CPA Tax Payroll and Accounting Corp.