Boring blue-chip shares might quickly be in vogue in 2026. The speedy evolution of synthetic intelligence (AI) first brought about havoc on software program shares. Now skilled service shares are getting hit.
In some methods, it seems like there’s nowhere to cover from the AI threats. The truth is, some portfolio managers at the moment are pre-emptively promoting shares that they imagine might in the future see some AI disruption, despite the fact that there isn’t a proof to show these threats.
Laborious belongings are safehavens from AI dangers
Likelihood is many of those trades are main overreactions. But, that doesn’t forestall them from occurring within the near-term.
The purpose is that traders could wish to diversify their portfolios into extra defensive areas the place AI disruption could be very unlikely. The extra diversified your portfolio, the much less doubtless you might be to be considerably hit by one in every of these AI sell-offs.
In case you are in search of concepts, these three Canadian blue-chip shares are based mostly on exhausting belongings that ought to stay important for a few years forward.
CP: A prime blue-chip infrastructure community
Canadian Pacific Kansas Metropolis (TSX:CP) may be one of many smallest North American railroads, but it surely has delivered among the finest leads to the sector for the previous few years.
The merger with Kansas Metropolis Southern made CP the one rail line that connects Canada, america, and Mexico on a singular community. The corporate has been unlocking appreciable synergies and new promoting alternatives.
The largest problem has been a weak freight atmosphere and tariff coverage within the U.S. CP has essentially the most cross border publicity, so it has been impacted. But, it has nonetheless delivered good outcomes.
In 2025, revenues have been up solely 4%. Nevertheless, diluted earnings per share rose 8% to $4.61. Administration is guiding for low double digit earnings per share progress in 2026.
CP is among the finest run railroads in North America. Even when the economic system doesn’t enhance, this blue-chip inventory ought to nonetheless ship above common trade progress forward. It pays a 0.8% dividend yield that it just lately resumed rising frequently.
PPL: A prime power infrastructure inventory
In case you are frightened about AI threats, important infrastructure might be a pleasant hedge. Pembina Pipeline (TSX:PPL) might truly be a internet winner from the information centre/AI increase.
Pembina is one in every of Western Canada’s largest power infrastructure gamers. It gives assortment and egress pipelines, gasoline storage, processing, fractionation, and export terminals. It additionally has one in every of only some LNG export amenities below development in Canada. Earlier final 12 months, Pembina introduced that it was in discussions to supply power for a serious information centre advanced in Alberta.
Pembina will doubtless solely develop by the mid-single digits in 2026. Nevertheless, this blue-chip inventory ought to see a pleasant earnings uptick as a few of its rising infrastructure backlog comes on-line. Pembina pays a pleasant 4.7% yield, so receives a commission for this to unfold.
GRT: A blue-chip actual property inventory
Granite Actual Property Funding Belief (TSX:GRT.UN) is one other boring blue-chip inventory that must be AI-resilient. Granite owns top quality logistics and manufacturing properties throughout Canada, america, Europe, and just lately, the U.Ok.
I like to consider this inventory as an infrastructure inventory. Its properties assist facilitate fashionable commerce and e-commerce.
Granite has over 98% occupancy, a top quality checklist of tenants, long-term leases, and enticing rental price progress. The REIT expects to develop by a excessive single digit price in 2025. It’s prone to get pleasure from comparable sturdy progress in 2026.
Granite pays a 3.9% distribution that has risen for 15 consecutive years. The steadily rising revenue is sweet aid when the market turns risky. Granite inventory is a superb hedge in opposition to AI disruption at this time.