Starter Stock Portfolio: 14 Safe Stocks to Buy Now

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3. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) ranks among the 14 safe stocks to buy now for a starter stock portfolio. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) presented its growth plans at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference 2026 on March 3, with ambitions to increase its fiber network by the end of 2026, aided in part by the acquisition of fiber assets from Lumen Technologies.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) now has over 36 million total fiber spots and intends to have gained over 40 million by the end of the year, up from 32 million at the end of the previous year. The company also expects to possess over 60 million total fiber spots by 2030, with an additional 5 million spots added each year after 2026.

In addition, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) recently reaffirmed its full-year 2026 and multi-year financial expectations following its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report. The company intends to return $45 billion or more to shareholders in 2026-2028 through dividends and share buybacks.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a telecommunications and technology services provider that operates globally. It provides 4G/5G-enabled wireless, fiber ethernet, broadband, managed professional services, and business solutions. It has two distinct segments, i.e., Communications and Latin America.

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