10 Best Stocks to Buy to Beat the S&P 500

8. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

YTD Return as of May 7: 17.08%

On May 5, Erste Group downgraded Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) to Hold from Buy, saying the company’s earnings growth remains below the sector average. The analyst said this trend is expected to continue through 2026.

During the Q1 2026 earnings call, Daniel Schulman, Verizon’s Director and CEO, said the company’s turnaround strategy continued to make progress and was gaining momentum through a broad transformation program. Schulman said first-quarter revenue increased 2.9% to $34.4 billion. He also noted that the company added 55,000 postpaid phone net subscribers during the quarter.

He explained that reported growth included a one-time 80-basis-point impact on wireless service revenue tied to customer credits and other effects related to the company’s network outage. Schulman added that the company expects Q1 mobility and broadband service revenue growth to mark the low point for 2026. He also said acquisition and retention costs in March declined about 35% from the end of Q4, while adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.28 for the quarter.

Meanwhile, Anthony Skiadas, Verizon’s Executive Vice President and CFO, said the company completed the Frontier transaction during the quarter and also finalized a deal involving Starry. He noted that the investment is expected to create additional broadband growth opportunities in urban multi-dwelling units. Skiadas also said Verizon repurchased $2.5 billion worth of shares during the first quarter.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries, provides communications, technology, information, and streaming products and services to consumers, businesses, and government entities.