These were the most searched companies on Yahoo Finance Canada

The Canada Post strike may have ended in November of 2018, but Yahoo Finance Canada readers were still eager to learn what was happening with the Crown Corporation this year. In the most recent quarter of 2019, the company lost $87 million before taxes, $38 million worse than during the same period last year. (Getty Images)

Ikea Canada announced this year that it plans on opening its first smaller, downtown store format in Toronto within the next two years as customer preferences evolve. The company also unveiled it would host an all-you-can-eat buffet over the holidays – maybe Yahoo Finance Canada readers really love their Swedish meatballs? (Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay)

It has been a remarkable year for WestJet Airlines Ltd., and not just because it was one of the many airlines forced to grapple with the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Onex, a Canadian private equity firm, announced plans in May to acquire the airline for $5 billion including debt and take it private. The deal was officially approved in December. What the privatization will mean for WestJet and its passenger will be something to watch in 2020, although analysts have said they don’t expect major change in the near term. (Getty Images)

Walmart's stock has soared this year, up 28.41 per cent as of mid-December. The solid performance came in a year when the company decided to end the sale of ammunition and certain guns following a deadly shooting at one of its stores. In December, the company was forced to apologize after an ugly Christmas sweater featuring Santa and cocaine was spotted on its Marketplace website.

2019 marked the battle for the Bay. The iconic Canadian retailer found itself at the centre of a privatization fight between a group led by its executive chairman Richard Baker and Catalyst Capital, the company's largest minority shareholder. The dispute ended up at the Ontario Securities Commission, which ordered HBC to provide new disclosures if it wants to continue with the Baker offer. At the same time, the retailer has grappled with weak sales and traffic as it continues a turnaround effort. (Getty Images)

Home Depot, the No. 1 home improvement chain, also had decent performance this year, up 27.73 per cent as of mid-December. Recently, the company said it expects major investments in its e-commerce overhaul to pressure margins in 2020. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Best Buy has had a pretty great year, with its stock up 62.33 per cent as of mid-December, with profitability in its most recent quarter coming in better than expected. Sales are also expected to get a boost in 2020 thanks to investments in e-commerce and delivery. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

2019 was also a big year for Air Canada. The company's stock hit an all time high as it managed to adjust its operations to the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max jet relatively seamlessly. Air Canada is also in the midst of acquiring Transat, owner of Canada's third largest airline, although the deal still requires regulatory approvals.

Yahoo Finance Canada readers can't seem to get enough of Costco Wholesale Corp. After all, the stock went on a tear this year, jumping 42.54 per cent in 2019 as of mid-December. Costco also opened its first location in China in the summer, and the response was absolutely insane.

For the second year in a row, Canadian Tire topped the list of companies searched by Yahoo Finance Canada readers. The company had a relatively quiet year until December, when it was the target of a short call by U.S. firm Spruce Point Capital Management. Canadian Tire said Spruce Point's report contained "numerous inaccuracies."

Some of you Yahoo Finance Canada readers appear to be quick on the draw. The words "Canadia" Tire managed to be one of the top finance terms searched on our site this year. Slow down people. (Getty Images)