Starter Stock Portfolio: 14 Safe Stocks to Buy Now

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1. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) ranks among the 14 safe stocks to buy now for a starter stock portfolio. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) discussed its financial strategy on March 2 at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference 2026, with CEO Dan Schulman referring to a transition from a typical network-engineering approach to a customer-driven approach.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) anticipates at least 7% growth in cash flow this year, reaching $21.5 billion. The company aims to increase net postpaid phone subscriptions by 750,000-1 million and broadband net additions by more than 1 million, while lowering churn by at least 5 basis points. To boost shareholder returns, the communications giant anticipates annual dividend increases and a $25 billion share repurchase program spanning three years.

Moreover, Schulman stated that the acquisition of Frontier Communications will broaden Verizon’s fiber footprint and enable packaged broadband and wireless services, which can reduce dropouts by approximately 40%.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is a leading provider of technology, entertainment, and communication services worldwide.

While we acknowledge the potential of VZ to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VZ and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026 and 10 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.

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