BetterThanSPY

Relative Intelligence · Integrated Telecommunications

How Verizon Communications (VZ) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on VZ alone. It places VZ (Verizon Communications Inc.) against 18 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where VZ stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: VZ's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 22, 2026.

Data as of October 22, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against VZ →Chart VZ vs. 18 alternatives →

This page answers the following questions about VZ

Key findings

Not AI-generated

These key findings are generated by our proprietary relative intelligence engine, directly from the data on this page.

How much would $10,000 in VZ have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in VZ over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of VZ over the same span and VZ's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 759 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of VZ; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$1,000$10,000$100,000199720022007201220172022$1,000$10,000$100,00019972004201120182025
  • RCI$210,974+2,010% total · +11.1% a year
  • CSCO$206,586+1,966% total · +11.0% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
  • T$65,217+552% total · +6.7% a year
  • TU$60,795+508% total · +6.4% a year
  • VOD$50,622+406% total · +5.8% a year
  • VZ$47,395+374% total · +5.5% a year
  • TDS$34,896+249% total · +4.4% a year
  • LUMN$10,090+0.9% total · 0.0% a year
  • ERIC$5,900−41.0% total · −1.8% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2,218 of the 3,630 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of VZ; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000202120222023202420252026$0$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000202120222023202420252026
  • TDS$26,192+162% total · +21.2% a year
  • CSCO$22,737+127% total · +17.9% a year
  • NXTG$22,286+123% total · +17.4% a year
  • IDT$19,295+93.0% total · +14.0% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
  • VOD$14,926+49.3% total · +8.3% a year
  • CHT$13,963+39.6% total · +6.9% a year
  • AMX$13,931+39.3% total · +6.9% a year
  • VZ$11,648+16.5% total · +3.1% a year
  • ERIC$9,892−1.1% total · −0.2% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

VZ at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$188B
Industry
Telecommunications Services
Price history from
October 1986

Returns

Past 1 year
+21.1%total return
Past 3 years
+75.1%+20.5% a year
Past 5 years
+17.6%+3.3% a year
Past 10 years
+61.2%+4.9% a year
Best calendar year
+46.6%1997
Worst calendar year
−22.2%2005
Losing years
10 of 29full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
22.9%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.26return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−57.3%Oct 1999 to Jul 2002
From its all-time high
−10.8%below the peak

VZ against the whole market

Where VZ ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does VZ rank among all stocks?

This section ranks VZ on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how VZ stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureVZRankStanding
1-year return+21.1%1,238 of 3,282top 38%
3-year return+75.1%1,217 of 3,016top 40%
5-year return+17.6%1,506 of 2,897bottom 49%
10-year return+61.2%1,529 of 2,201bottom 32%
Volatility, 5 years22.9%204 of 2,897top 7%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.261,709 of 2,897bottom 42%
Worst decline, past 10 years−41.2%180 of 2,184top 8%

What has beaten VZ on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). VZ sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than VZ with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to VZ; faint dots are 93 more of the 631 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

−5.0%0.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%0.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than VZRSG: +14.1% a year, volatility 18.6%UL: +5.7% a year, volatility 21.6%DGRO: +11.1% a year, volatility 13.7%CL: +7.8% a year, volatility 19.3%ED: +12.7% a year, volatility 18.9%XLV: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.3%DFIV: +14.8% a year, volatility 16.4%WCN: +7.4% a year, volatility 20.4%AVLV: +13.9% a year, volatility 16.9%USMV: +7.7% a year, volatility 12.3%MGV: +12.8% a year, volatility 13.4%RY: +17.5% a year, volatility 18.2%CHD: +6.4% a year, volatility 21.1%RWL: +13.7% a year, volatility 14.4%JQUA: +13.5% a year, volatility 15.7%XLP: +7.6% a year, volatility 13.8%VPL: +9.3% a year, volatility 18.6%MOAT: +9.5% a year, volatility 18.4%NOBL: +7.0% a year, volatility 14.5%QYLD: +8.2% a year, volatility 15.0%FTCS: +6.5% a year, volatility 13.3%VIGI: +5.1% a year, volatility 14.5%MPLX: +24.0% a year, volatility 18.8%TDIV: +16.5% a year, volatility 21.3%EFAV: +7.7% a year, volatility 11.9%IWX: +12.7% a year, volatility 13.8%FTGC: +13.1% a year, volatility 15.6%ACWV: +6.4% a year, volatility 10.3%JAAA: +5.1% a year, volatility 1.7%FV: +9.4% a year, volatility 21.1%RODM: +10.6% a year, volatility 13.5%QUS: +11.1% a year, volatility 14.2%PULS: +4.4% a year, volatility 0.7%IHE: +12.9% a year, volatility 16.8%RLY: +10.0% a year, volatility 13.3%IUS: +14.7% a year, volatility 14.9%FDLO: +9.7% a year, volatility 13.0%DBJP: +20.9% a year, volatility 19.3%PPH: +11.6% a year, volatility 15.8%FTXH: +12.3% a year, volatility 16.9%PHO: +5.3% a year, volatility 18.6%EWJV: +15.1% a year, volatility 18.2%IDHQ: +9.8% a year, volatility 17.9%KO: +15.2% a year, volatility 16.8%OUSA: +9.5% a year, volatility 13.4%VSLU: +13.7% a year, volatility 16.2%DJD: +12.5% a year, volatility 13.3%VTI: +11.4% a year, volatility 17.5%RSPH: +6.1% a year, volatility 16.8%PJP: +11.3% a year, volatility 16.6%VOO: +12.6% a year, volatility 16.9%EBF: +11.5% a year, volatility 21.4%TD: +16.5% a year, volatility 20.0%MO: +18.3% a year, volatility 21.4%CB: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.4%CM: +19.5% a year, volatility 21.6%VRIG: +4.7% a year, volatility 1.3%BMO: +14.0% a year, volatility 21.4%BNS: +13.2% a year, volatility 20.0%BALT: +6.2% a year, volatility 3.3%CME: +11.6% a year, volatility 20.8%NVS: +17.4% a year, volatility 20.7%FLRT: +6.0% a year, volatility 2.3%MRSH: +4.8% a year, volatility 21.0%VEA: +9.1% a year, volatility 16.9%SDCI: +21.1% a year, volatility 18.4%SLF: +11.9% a year, volatility 19.4%LIN: +11.7% a year, volatility 20.9%GLD: +17.1% a year, volatility 19.0%TPYP: +17.2% a year, volatility 17.3%VOE: +9.7% a year, volatility 15.8%FNDF: +13.6% a year, volatility 16.3%PBA: +13.8% a year, volatility 21.6%FLOT: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.8%HDV: +13.3% a year, volatility 13.0%AVDV: +13.6% a year, volatility 17.4%EMXC: +10.9% a year, volatility 19.5%VT: +10.1% a year, volatility 16.2%EP-PC: +5.2% a year, volatility 8.9%WM: +9.5% a year, volatility 19.3%IVW: +12.6% a year, volatility 21.6%AEP: +12.8% a year, volatility 20.2%FDL: +14.6% a year, volatility 14.5%FJAN: +11.0% a year, volatility 10.5%POCT: +9.9% a year, volatility 8.0%BBCA: +11.5% a year, volatility 16.7%DYNF: +14.4% a year, volatility 17.5%JEPI: +7.3% a year, volatility 11.0%IWN: +7.0% a year, volatility 21.1%FLTR: +4.8% a year, volatility 2.1%ATO: +15.9% a year, volatility 18.5%FLRN: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.7%PDBC: +12.0% a year, volatility 19.3%VZ: +3.3% a year, volatility 22.9%SPY (S&P 500): +12.5% a year, volatility 17.2%CSCO: +16.9% a year, volatility 26.1%VOD: +8.3% a year, volatility 28.2%CHT: +8.2% a year, volatility 13.3%NXTG: +16.1% a year, volatility 19.1%MSI: +15.2% a year, volatility 23.6%IHAK: +9.0% a year, volatility 25.0%CIBR: +14.5% a year, volatility 26.2%MSFT: +11.9% a year, volatility 28.2%BRK-A: +13.5% a year, volatility 17.2%JNJ: +13.5% a year, volatility 18.0%LVHI: +16.9% a year, volatility 11.1%PG: +5.8% a year, volatility 18.4%SCHD: +10.2% a year, volatility 14.4%AMGN: +20.1% a year, volatility 24.9%SGOV: +3.8% a year, volatility 0.3%TR: +8.2% a year, volatility 25.2%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%VZSPY (S&P 500)CSCOVODCHTNXTGMSIIHAKCIBRMSFTBRK-ALVHIPGSCHDAMGNSGOVTRDXJ−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%0.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than VZRSG: +14.1% a year, volatility 18.6%UL: +5.7% a year, volatility 21.6%DGRO: +11.1% a year, volatility 13.7%CL: +7.8% a year, volatility 19.3%ED: +12.7% a year, volatility 18.9%XLV: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.3%DFIV: +14.8% a year, volatility 16.4%WCN: +7.4% a year, volatility 20.4%AVLV: +13.9% a year, volatility 16.9%USMV: +7.7% a year, volatility 12.3%MGV: +12.8% a year, volatility 13.4%RY: +17.5% a year, volatility 18.2%CHD: +6.4% a year, volatility 21.1%RWL: +13.7% a year, volatility 14.4%JQUA: +13.5% a year, volatility 15.7%XLP: +7.6% a year, volatility 13.8%VPL: +9.3% a year, volatility 18.6%MOAT: +9.5% a year, volatility 18.4%NOBL: +7.0% a year, volatility 14.5%QYLD: +8.2% a year, volatility 15.0%FTCS: +6.5% a year, volatility 13.3%VIGI: +5.1% a year, volatility 14.5%MPLX: +24.0% a year, volatility 18.8%TDIV: +16.5% a year, volatility 21.3%EFAV: +7.7% a year, volatility 11.9%IWX: +12.7% a year, volatility 13.8%FTGC: +13.1% a year, volatility 15.6%ACWV: +6.4% a year, volatility 10.3%JAAA: +5.1% a year, volatility 1.7%FV: +9.4% a year, volatility 21.1%RODM: +10.6% a year, volatility 13.5%QUS: +11.1% a year, volatility 14.2%PULS: +4.4% a year, volatility 0.7%IHE: +12.9% a year, volatility 16.8%RLY: +10.0% a year, volatility 13.3%IUS: +14.7% a year, volatility 14.9%FDLO: +9.7% a year, volatility 13.0%DBJP: +20.9% a year, volatility 19.3%PPH: +11.6% a year, volatility 15.8%FTXH: +12.3% a year, volatility 16.9%PHO: +5.3% a year, volatility 18.6%EWJV: +15.1% a year, volatility 18.2%IDHQ: +9.8% a year, volatility 17.9%KO: +15.2% a year, volatility 16.8%OUSA: +9.5% a year, volatility 13.4%VSLU: +13.7% a year, volatility 16.2%DJD: +12.5% a year, volatility 13.3%VTI: +11.4% a year, volatility 17.5%RSPH: +6.1% a year, volatility 16.8%PJP: +11.3% a year, volatility 16.6%VOO: +12.6% a year, volatility 16.9%EBF: +11.5% a year, volatility 21.4%TD: +16.5% a year, volatility 20.0%MO: +18.3% a year, volatility 21.4%CB: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.4%CM: +19.5% a year, volatility 21.6%VRIG: +4.7% a year, volatility 1.3%BMO: +14.0% a year, volatility 21.4%BNS: +13.2% a year, volatility 20.0%BALT: +6.2% a year, volatility 3.3%CME: +11.6% a year, volatility 20.8%NVS: +17.4% a year, volatility 20.7%FLRT: +6.0% a year, volatility 2.3%MRSH: +4.8% a year, volatility 21.0%VEA: +9.1% a year, volatility 16.9%SDCI: +21.1% a year, volatility 18.4%SLF: +11.9% a year, volatility 19.4%LIN: +11.7% a year, volatility 20.9%GLD: +17.1% a year, volatility 19.0%TPYP: +17.2% a year, volatility 17.3%VOE: +9.7% a year, volatility 15.8%FNDF: +13.6% a year, volatility 16.3%PBA: +13.8% a year, volatility 21.6%FLOT: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.8%HDV: +13.3% a year, volatility 13.0%AVDV: +13.6% a year, volatility 17.4%EMXC: +10.9% a year, volatility 19.5%VT: +10.1% a year, volatility 16.2%EP-PC: +5.2% a year, volatility 8.9%WM: +9.5% a year, volatility 19.3%IVW: +12.6% a year, volatility 21.6%AEP: +12.8% a year, volatility 20.2%FDL: +14.6% a year, volatility 14.5%FJAN: +11.0% a year, volatility 10.5%POCT: +9.9% a year, volatility 8.0%BBCA: +11.5% a year, volatility 16.7%DYNF: +14.4% a year, volatility 17.5%JEPI: +7.3% a year, volatility 11.0%IWN: +7.0% a year, volatility 21.1%FLTR: +4.8% a year, volatility 2.1%ATO: +15.9% a year, volatility 18.5%FLRN: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.7%PDBC: +12.0% a year, volatility 19.3%VZ: +3.3% a year, volatility 22.9%SPY (S&P 500): +12.5% a year, volatility 17.2%CSCO: +16.9% a year, volatility 26.1%VOD: +8.3% a year, volatility 28.2%CHT: +8.2% a year, volatility 13.3%NXTG: +16.1% a year, volatility 19.1%MSI: +15.2% a year, volatility 23.6%IHAK: +9.0% a year, volatility 25.0%CIBR: +14.5% a year, volatility 26.2%MSFT: +11.9% a year, volatility 28.2%BRK-A: +13.5% a year, volatility 17.2%JNJ: +13.5% a year, volatility 18.0%LVHI: +16.9% a year, volatility 11.1%PG: +5.8% a year, volatility 18.4%SCHD: +10.2% a year, volatility 14.4%AMGN: +20.1% a year, volatility 24.9%SGOV: +3.8% a year, volatility 0.3%TR: +8.2% a year, volatility 25.2%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%VZSPY (S&P 500)CSCOVODCHTNXTGMSIIHAKBRK-ALVHIPGSCHDAMGNSGOVDXJ
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region
  • 1 with more than 1.6× VZ's volatility is in the table only

Is there a better investment than VZ?

Investments that beat VZ over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat VZ over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks VZ's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than VZ follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than VZ's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× VZ's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than VZ's.

Screen the whole market against VZ for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 18 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with VZ?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
VZVerizon Communications Inc. · this page
+3.3%22.9%0.26−41.2%+61.2%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.5%17.2%0.78−33.7%+316%0.190.09%
Popular alternativesbest 3 shownThe investments people most often weigh against VZ. 3 of 18 passed at least one test.
CSCOCisco Systems, Inc. · Communications Equipment
Higher return in most periods+16.9%26.1%0.73−42.0%+361%0.05—
VODVodafone Group Public Limited Company · Telecommunications
Higher return in most periods+8.3%28.2%0.42−62.2%+11.6%0.55—
IDTIDT Corporation · Telecommunications
Higher return in most periods+12.4%38.5%0.49−77.1%+409%0.16—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Integrated Telecommunications and Telecommunications and the categories next to it (Communications Equipment, Cable & Broadband, Telecom Tower REITs, Software), plus VZ's specific themes. 19 of 209 passed at least one test.
CHTChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. · Integrated Telecommunications
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+8.2%13.3%0.66−23.8%+104%0.20—
NXTGFirst Trust Indxx NextG ETF · Technology Equity · 5G Networks theme
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+16.1%19.1%0.88−33.6%+323%0.170.70%
MSIMotorola Solutions, Inc. · Communications Equipment
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+15.2%23.6%0.72−32.8%+639%0.36—
IHAKiShares Cybersecurity and Tech ETF · Cybersecurity
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+9.0%25.0%0.47−34.4%—-0.090.47%
CIBRFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF · Cybersecurity
Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+14.5%26.2%0.65−33.9%+461%-0.080.58%
MSFTMicrosoft Corporation · Software
Higher return in most periods+11.9%28.2%0.54−37.1%+862%0.23—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 1,191 of 3,442 passed at least one test.
BRK-ABerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+13.5%17.2%0.83−30.4%+281%0.29—
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+13.5%18.0%0.80−27.4%+209%0.27—
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Dividend Equity
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+16.9%11.1%1.48−32.4%+194%0.480.40%
PGThe Procter & Gamble Company · Household & Personal Products
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+5.8%18.4%0.40−23.8%+156%0.37—
SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF · US Dividend Equity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+10.2%14.4%0.75−33.4%+256%0.490.06%
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+20.1%24.9%0.86−24.9%+280%0.37—
SGOViShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF · Treasury Bills
On the frontierSimilar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+3.8%0.3%13.25−0.3%—0.180.09%
TRTootsie Roll Industries, Inc. · Food & Beverages
Higher return, similar volatilitySmaller losses in recent crashes+8.2%25.2%0.44−36.4%+66.2%0.26—
What these numbers mean for VZ
Annual return
VZ returned 3.3% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.5% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $11,800. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
VZ's volatility over the past 5 years was 22.9%, 1.3 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, VZ's return lands within 22.9% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
VZ's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.26, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so VZ earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
VZ's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 41.2%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 41.2% fall takes a 70.1% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, VZ's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.19 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against VZ instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a VZ holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 631 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than VZ with less volatility

Out of 3,641 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with VZExpense
1
BRK-ABerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+13.5%17.2%0.83−30.4%+281%0.29—
2
CHTChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. · Integrated Telecommunications
Same or nearby category+8.2%13.3%0.66−23.8%+104%0.20—
3
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+13.5%18.0%0.80−27.4%+209%0.27—
4
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+16.9%11.1%1.48−32.4%+194%0.480.40%
5
PGThe Procter & Gamble Company · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+5.8%18.4%0.40−23.8%+156%0.37—
6
SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+10.2%14.4%0.75−33.4%+256%0.490.06%
7
RSGRepublic Services, Inc. · Waste Management
Whole market+14.1%18.6%0.80−34.0%+461%0.23—
8
ULUnilever PLC · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+5.7%21.6%0.37−30.1%+96.5%0.31—
9
DGROiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF · Dividend Growth
Whole market+11.1%13.7%0.84−35.1%+270%0.360.08%
10
CLColgate-Palmolive Company · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+7.8%19.3%0.48−29.0%+73.7%0.48—
11
EDConsolidated Edison, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+12.7%18.9%0.73−30.9%+123%0.38—
12
XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF · Health Care Equity
Whole market+8.4%15.3%0.60−28.4%+208%0.260.08%
13
DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Large-Cap Value
Whole market+14.8%16.4%0.93−25.4%—0.470.27%
14
WCNWaste Connections, Inc. · Waste Management
Whole market+7.4%20.4%0.45−31.6%+299%0.03—
15
AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+13.9%16.9%0.86−19.5%—0.270.15%
16
USMViShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF · US Low-Volatility Equity
Whole market+7.7%12.3%0.66−33.1%+179%0.420.15%
17
MGVVanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.8%13.4%0.96−35.4%+247%0.340.05%
18
RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks
Whole market+17.5%18.2%0.98−40.0%+361%0.19—
19
CHDChurch & Dwight Co., Inc. · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+6.4%21.1%0.40−31.7%+162%0.47—
20
RWLInvesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+13.7%14.4%0.97−36.1%+287%0.310.39%
21
JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+13.5%15.7%0.89−32.9%—0.230.12%
22
XLPState Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF · Consumer Staples
Whole market+7.6%13.8%0.60−24.5%+124%0.410.08%
23
VPLVanguard FTSE Pacific ETF · International Equity
Whole market+9.3%18.6%0.57−33.9%+138%0.310.07%
24
MOATVanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+9.5%18.4%0.59−33.3%+278%0.270.46%
25
NOBLProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+7.0%14.5%0.54−35.4%+178%0.370.35%
26
QYLDGlobal X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF · Covered Call Income
Whole market+8.2%15.0%0.60−24.7%+151%0.010.60%
27
FTCSFirst Trust Capital Strength ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+6.5%13.3%0.54−31.9%+191%0.410.53%
28
VIGIVanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+5.1%14.5%0.42−31.0%+127%0.400.07%
29
MPLXMPLX Lp · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+24.0%18.8%1.25−75.2%+337%0.37—
30
TDIVFirst Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund · Technology Equity
Whole market+16.5%21.3%0.83−32.0%+384%0.210.50%
31
EFAViShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF · International Equity
Whole market+7.7%11.9%0.69−27.6%+100%0.500.20%
32
IWXiShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.7%13.8%0.94−35.8%+223%0.380.20%
33
FTGCFirst Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund · Broad Commodities
Whole market+13.1%15.6%0.87−35.9%+135%0.320.98%
34
ACWViShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+6.4%10.3%0.66−28.8%+119%0.480.20%
35
JAAAJanus Henderson AAA CLO ETF · AAA CLO Debt
Whole market+5.1%1.7%2.98−2.6%—-0.050.20%
36
FVFirst Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF · US Momentum Equity
Whole market+9.4%21.1%0.54−34.0%+243%0.080.30%
37
RODMHartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF · Developed International Equity
Whole market+10.6%13.5%0.82−36.0%+142%0.470.29%
38
QUSState Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF · US Multifactor Equity
Whole market+11.1%14.2%0.81−33.8%+276%0.310.15%
39
PULSPGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF · Ultrashort Bonds
Whole market+4.4%0.7%6.08−5.8%—0.190.15%
40
IHEiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+12.9%16.8%0.81−29.6%+157%0.300.37%
41
RLYState Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF · Inflation Protection
Whole market+10.0%13.3%0.79−34.2%+128%0.480.50%
42
IUSInvesco RAFI Strategic US ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+14.7%14.9%1.00−34.7%—0.320.19%
43
FDLOFidelity Low Volatility Factor ETF · US Low-Volatility Equity
Whole market+9.7%13.0%0.78−34.4%+249%0.360.15%
44
DBJPXtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF · Japan Equity
Whole market+20.9%19.3%1.09−31.3%+339%0.130.45%
45
PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETF · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+11.6%15.8%0.78−29.7%+158%0.360.36%
46
FTXHFirst Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+12.3%16.9%0.77−32.1%+155%0.220.60%
47
PHOInvesco Water Resources ETF · Water Infrastructure
Whole market+5.3%18.6%0.37−34.9%+216%0.180.59%
48
EWJViShares MSCI Japan Value ETF · Japan Equity
Whole market+15.1%18.2%0.87−30.1%—0.510.15%
49
IDHQInvesco S&P International Developed Quality ETF · International Equity
Whole market+9.8%17.9%0.61−33.6%+184%0.330.29%
50
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · Japan Equity
Whole market+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+415%0.240.48%
51
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Nonalcoholic Beverages
Whole market+15.2%16.8%0.93−37.0%+205%0.43—
52
OUSAALPS Funds O’Shares U.S. Quality Dividend ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+9.5%13.4%0.75−33.1%+189%0.430.48%
53
VSLUApplied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+13.7%16.2%0.88−23.8%—0.210.49%
54
DJDInvesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Dividend ETF · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+12.5%13.3%0.95−34.7%+233%0.450.07%
55
VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+11.4%17.5%0.71−35.0%+298%0.170.03%
56
RSPHInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF · Health Care Equity
Whole market+6.1%16.8%0.44−30.4%+181%0.290.40%
57
PJPInvesco Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+11.3%16.6%0.73−34.0%+139%0.180.58%
58
VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+12.6%16.9%0.79−34.0%+319%0.190.03%
59
EBFEnnis, Inc. · Business Services
Whole market+11.5%21.4%0.62−35.4%+167%0.17—
60
TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks
Whole market+16.5%20.0%0.87−42.0%+319%0.16—
61
MOAltria Group, Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+18.3%21.4%0.90−53.7%+133%0.23—
62
CBChubb Limited · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+15.8%20.4%0.82−42.6%+256%0.36—
63
CMCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce · Banks
Whole market+19.5%21.6%0.94−47.3%+409%0.14—
64
VRIGInvesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF · Investment Grade Bonds
Whole market+4.7%1.3%3.52−13.1%+40.7%0.100.30%
65
BMOBank of Montreal · Banks
Whole market+14.0%21.4%0.72−51.0%+304%0.19—
66
BNSThe Bank of Nova Scotia · Banks
Whole market+13.2%20.0%0.73−46.9%+191%0.30—
67
BALTInnovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF · US Equity Buffer
Whole market+6.2%3.3%1.84−4.9%—0.270.69%
68
CMECME Group Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+11.6%20.8%0.63−37.4%+334%0.46—
69
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+17.4%20.7%0.89−26.8%+234%0.39—
70
FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Bank Loans
Whole market+6.0%2.3%2.55−20.9%+58.7%0.030.60%
71
MRSHMarsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. · Insurance Brokers
Whole market+4.8%21.0%0.33−35.8%+261%0.41—
72
VEAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF · Developed International Equity
Whole market+9.1%16.9%0.60−35.8%+152%0.380.03%
73
SDCIUSCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund · Broad Commodities
Whole market+21.1%18.4%1.14−45.7%—0.270.80%
74
SLFSun Life Financial Inc. · Life Insurance
Whole market+11.9%19.4%0.68−50.8%+260%0.21—
75
LINLinde plc · Chemicals
Whole market+11.7%20.9%0.64−32.6%+404%0.28—
76
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Whole market+17.1%19.0%0.93−26.4%+206%0.470.40%
77
TPYPTortoise North American Pipeline ETF · Energy Infrastructure
Whole market+17.2%17.3%1.01−51.9%+188%0.460.40%
78
VOEVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Value ETF · Mid-Cap Value
Whole market+9.7%15.8%0.67−43.2%+185%0.370.05%
79
FNDFSchwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF · International Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+13.6%16.3%0.87−40.2%+193%0.470.25%
80
PBAPembina Pipeline Corporation · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+13.8%21.6%0.71−70.9%+173%0.52—
81
FLOTiShares Floating Rate Bond ETF · Floating Rate Bonds
Whole market+4.5%1.8%2.49−13.5%+35.9%0.010.15%
82
HDViShares Core High Dividend ETF · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+13.3%13.0%1.03−37.0%+177%0.530.08%
83
AVDVAvantis International Small Cap Value ETF · International Equity
Whole market+13.6%17.4%0.82−43.0%—0.430.36%
84
EMXCiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF · Emerging Markets Equity
Whole market+10.9%19.5%0.63−42.8%—0.130.25%
85
VTVanguard Total World Stock ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+10.1%16.2%0.68−34.2%+220%0.260.06%
86
EP-PCEl Paso Energy Capital Trust I PFD CV TR SECS · Preferred Stocks
Whole market+5.2%8.9%0.62−25.4%+38.1%0.29—
87
WMWaste Management, Inc. · Waste Management
Whole market+9.5%19.3%0.57−30.1%+357%0.22—
88
IVWiShares S&P 500 Growth ETF · US Large-Cap Growth
Whole market+12.6%21.6%0.66−32.7%+398%0.050.18%
89
AEPAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+12.8%20.2%0.70−32.9%+192%0.22—
90
FDLFirst Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+14.6%14.5%1.02−41.4%+207%0.530.43%
91
FJANFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January · US Equity Buffer
Whole market+11.0%10.5%1.04−13.6%—0.200.85%
92
POCTInnovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF · Moderate Buffer
Whole market+9.9%8.0%1.22−18.8%—0.150.79%
93
BBCAJPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF · International Equity
Whole market+11.5%16.7%0.74−42.8%—0.400.19%
94
DYNFiShares U.S. Equity Factor Rotation Active ETF · US Multifactor Equity
Whole market+14.4%17.5%0.86−34.7%—0.150.26%
95
JEPIJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF · Covered Call Income
Whole market+7.3%11.0%0.70−13.7%—0.370.35%
96
IWNiShares Russell 2000 Value ETF · US Small-Cap Value
Whole market+7.0%21.1%0.43−46.1%+148%0.170.24%
97
FLTRVanEck IG Floating Rate ETF · Floating Rate Bonds
Whole market+4.8%2.1%2.21−17.8%+42.1%0.020.14%
98
ATOAtmos Energy Corporation · Gas Utilities
Whole market+15.9%18.5%0.90−32.9%+207%0.38—
99
FLRNState Street SPDR Bloomberg Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF · Floating Rate Bonds
Whole market+4.5%1.7%2.58−14.7%+35.7%0.030.15%
100
PDBCInvesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF · Broad Commodities
Whole market+12.0%19.3%0.69−40.7%+152%0.290.74%

VZ against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against VZ, compared period by period and year by year.

How do VZ's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at VZ, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than VZ with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%−40.0%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityVZ: 3.3% a year, volatility 22.9%SPY (S&P 500): 12.5% a year, volatility 17.2%ERIC: 1.6% a year, volatility 35.7%AMT: −5.6% a year, volatility 27.3%SBAC: −10.9% a year, volatility 30.4%LUMN: −17.2% a year, volatility 86.3%CCI: −10.8% a year, volatility 28.3%RCI: −3.8% a year, volatility 23.5%CMCSA: −13.0% a year, volatility 27.8%SHEN: −19.2% a year, volatility 43.3%CHTR: −31.3% a year, volatility 41.4%IDT: 12.4% a year, volatility 38.5%CSCO: 16.9% a year, volatility 26.1%VOD: 8.3% a year, volatility 28.2%TDS: 22.0% a year, volatility 64.5%AMX: 11.0% a year, volatility 25.9%TMUS: 7.4% a year, volatility 26.1%T: 9.5% a year, volatility 25.4%TU: −11.5% a year, volatility 20.5%BCE: −10.6% a year, volatility 20.0%VZSPY (S&P 500)ERICAMTSBACLUMNCCIRCISHENCHTRIDTCSCOVODTDSTMUSTTUBCE0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%−40.0%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityVZ: 3.3% a year, volatility 22.9%SPY (S&P 500): 12.5% a year, volatility 17.2%ERIC: 1.6% a year, volatility 35.7%AMT: −5.6% a year, volatility 27.3%SBAC: −10.9% a year, volatility 30.4%LUMN: −17.2% a year, volatility 86.3%CCI: −10.8% a year, volatility 28.3%RCI: −3.8% a year, volatility 23.5%CMCSA: −13.0% a year, volatility 27.8%SHEN: −19.2% a year, volatility 43.3%CHTR: −31.3% a year, volatility 41.4%IDT: 12.4% a year, volatility 38.5%CSCO: 16.9% a year, volatility 26.1%VOD: 8.3% a year, volatility 28.2%TDS: 22.0% a year, volatility 64.5%AMX: 11.0% a year, volatility 25.9%TMUS: 7.4% a year, volatility 26.1%T: 9.5% a year, volatility 25.4%TU: −11.5% a year, volatility 20.5%BCE: −10.6% a year, volatility 20.0%VZSPY (S&P 500)ERICAMTSBACLUMNCCIRCISHENCHTRCSCOVODTDSTMUSTU
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
TDS Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.+22.0%64.5%
CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc.+16.9%26.1%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.5%17.2%
IDT IDT Corporation+12.4%38.5%
AMX América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V.+11.0%25.9%
T AT&T Inc.+9.5%25.4%
VOD Vodafone Group Public Limited Company+8.3%28.2%
TMUS T-Mobile US, Inc.+7.4%26.1%
VZ This pageVerizon Communications Inc.+3.3%22.9%
ERIC Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)+1.6%35.7%
RCI Rogers Communications Inc.−3.8%23.5%
AMT American Tower Corporation−5.6%27.3%
BCE BCE Inc.−10.6%20.0%
CCI Crown Castle Inc.−10.8%28.3%
SBAC SBA Communications Corporation−10.9%30.4%
TU TELUS Corporation−11.5%20.5%
CMCSA Comcast Corporation−13.0%27.8%
LUMN Lumen Technologies, Inc.−17.2%86.3%
SHEN Shenandoah Telecommunications Company−19.2%43.3%
CHTR Charter Communications, Inc.−31.3%41.4%
Open these 20 in EasyCompare

Has VZ consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares VZ with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than VZ helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than VZ over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
VZ Verizon Communications Inc. (this page)—−1.2%+3.6%+1.5%+19.0%+21.1%+75.1%+17.6%+61.2%22.9%0.26−41.2%—$188B—
IDT QualifiedIDT Corporation5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+21.6%+30.5%+61.3%+66.1%+69.4%+207%+79.2%+409%38.5%0.49−77.1%—$2.1B—
CSCO QualifiedCisco Systems, Inc.3/5 short3/3 long−1.1%−6.2%+17.7%+39.7%+51.2%+117%+118%+361%26.1%0.73−42.0%—$414B—
VOD QualifiedVodafone Group Public Limited Company3/5 short2/3 long−3.0%+3.9%+7.3%+23.1%+43.2%+115%+48.7%+11.6%28.2%0.42−62.2%—$38B—
TDS Telecommunications ServicesTelephone and Data Systems, Inc.0/5 short3/3 long−5.2%+3.0%−21.9%+10.8%+18.9%+160%+170%+122%64.5%0.59−79.0%—$3.7B—
AMX Telecommunications ServicesAmérica Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V.2/5 short2/3 long+12.1%−4.4%−1.7%+22.3%+13.8%+62.1%+68.2%+169%25.9%0.53−44.4%—$75B—
ERIC Communication EquipmentTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)2/5 short2/3 long+7.5%+11.3%−8.0%+12.7%+12.6%+161%+8.5%+168%35.7%0.23−66.6%—$34B—
TMUS Telecommunications ServicesT-Mobile US, Inc.0/5 short2/3 long−2.2%−16.4%−15.0%−19.2%−28.7%+21.3%+42.9%+226%26.1%0.41−44.0%—$170B—
T Telecommunications ServicesAT&T Inc.0/5 short2/3 long−8.4%−0.2%−10.3%−3.0%−6.8%+76.8%+57.5%+63.4%25.4%0.49−39.4%—$156B—
AMT REIT - SpecialtyAmerican Tower Corporation3/5 short1/3 long+4.7%+10.5%+5.1%+7.1%−1.2%+26.7%−24.9%+102%27.3%-0.07−45.4%—$85B—
SBAC REIT - SpecialtySBA Communications Corporation1/5 short1/3 long+1.5%+0.9%−14.7%−5.5%−7.3%−1.7%−43.9%+71.0%30.4%-0.23−55.9%—$19B—
LUMN Telecommunications ServicesLumen Technologies, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long−30.1%−33.4%−51.8%−42.0%−36.6%+243%−61.0%−72.3%86.3%0.17−94.4%—$4.6B—
CCI REIT - SpecialtyCrown Castle Inc.1/5 short0/3 long+8.9%+3.2%−5.9%−7.6%−15.2%+7.0%−43.6%+26.6%28.3%-0.27−59.7%—$34B—
RCI Telecommunications ServicesRogers Communications Inc.1/5 short0/3 long−0.3%+1.6%−9.8%−10.1%−7.8%+0.6%−17.7%+16.2%23.5%-0.05−56.9%—$18B—
TU Telecommunications ServicesTELUS Corporation1/5 short0/3 long+3.3%−11.9%−25.0%−28.1%−36.5%−31.2%−45.7%−4.4%20.5%-0.50−61.9%—$14B—
CMCSA Telecommunications ServicesComcast Corporation1/5 short0/3 long+3.4%−1.4%−19.9%−13.0%−18.2%−40.2%−50.2%−8.9%27.8%-0.36−60.3%—$81B—
BCE Telecommunications ServicesBCE Inc.0/5 short0/3 long−4.1%−1.8%−10.0%−8.5%−8.8%−30.8%−43.0%−16.9%20.0%-0.46−56.6%—$19B—
SHEN Telecommunications ServicesShenandoah Telecommunications Company0/5 short0/3 long−16.3%−12.4%−38.9%−8.9%−18.3%−51.9%−65.5%−33.5%43.3%-0.27−73.9%—$570M—
CHTR Telecommunications ServicesCharter Communications, Inc.0/5 short0/3 long−4.7%−13.5%−53.9%−46.6%−54.4%−74.0%−84.7%−56.9%41.4%-0.70−87.5%—$15B—
Open these 19 in EasyCompare

How did VZ do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where VZ ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with VZ and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of VZ; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places VZ among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of VZ20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997
VZ This pageVerizon Communications Inc.—+8.9%+13.1%+2.7%−20.0%−7.5%−0.1%+13.8%+11.3%+4.0%+20.7%+3.6%−0.5%+18.6%+13.2%+18.2%+23.0%+3.8%−20.1%+22.1%+34.0%−22.2%+20.1%−5.7%−15.3%−2.6%−16.9%+17.0%+22.4%+46.6%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 4 of 2910 of 198 of 1912 of 197 of 1918 of 1910 of 1913 of 196 of 1915 of 197 of 197 of 1915 of 1910 of 1912 of 194 of 199 of 1815 of 183 of 189 of 179 of 1716 of 179 of 1717 of 174 of 174 of 159 of 1510 of 149 of 127 of 12
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF17 of 29+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%−9.8%+20.4%+28.7%+33.5%
IDT IDT Corporation13 of 24+8.2%+40.1%+21.0%−36.2%+257%+71.4%+16.5%−40.3%−39.4%+98.6%−38.2%+24.1%+125%+16.0%−34.1%+443%+305%−95.3%−31.6%+11.8%−24.4%−33.1%+49.1%−6.7%—————
CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc.13 of 29+33.5%+21.0%+9.3%−22.5%+45.8%−3.5%+13.8%+16.6%+31.3%+15.1%+0.6%+28.0%+16.7%+11.6%−9.6%−15.5%+46.9%−39.8%−1.0%+59.7%−11.4%−20.3%+85.0%−27.7%−52.6%−28.6%+131%+150%+31.2%
VOD Vodafone Group Public Limited Company11 of 29+63.6%+5.6%−4.6%−27.2%−3.5%−9.5%+5.6%−34.8%+38.1%−20.0%−0.9%−8.8%+64.3%−4.7%+14.3%+21.5%+20.0%−42.3%+39.9%+18.4%−19.0%+11.7%+40.1%−28.3%−27.8%−27.3%+54.8%+124%+78.7%
TDS Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.14 of 29+20.7%+89.0%+85.9%−45.3%+12.0%−24.4%−20.0%+19.6%−1.5%+14.0%+4.7%+0.1%+18.8%−5.0%−28.0%+9.2%+8.4%−48.8%+16.0%+52.1%−7.8%+24.1%+34.7%−47.1%+0.3%−28.2%+182%−2.4%+29.9%
AMX América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V.12 of 24+48.6%−20.3%+4.6%−10.2%+48.8%−6.7%+15.0%−15.2%+39.1%−8.5%−31.6%−3.6%+2.7%+3.7%−20.3%+23.3%+55.6%−49.0%+35.8%+55.6%+68.4%+92.3%+91.3%−26.2%—————
ERIC Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)15 of 29+24.0%+33.5%+13.2%−44.4%−7.2%+38.3%+0.1%+35.2%+16.7%−36.4%−18.1%+2.3%+25.5%+3.4%−9.5%+28.7%+20.9%−30.3%−40.7%+18.8%+10.6%+77.8%+162%−87.1%−53.0%−31.7%+177%+29.3%+24.7%
TMUS T-Mobile US, Inc.11 of 18−6.6%+39.7%+15.0%+20.7%−14.0%+72.0%+23.3%+0.1%+10.4%+47.0%+45.2%−19.9%+69.2%+14.5%−31.3%+65.5%−48.6%−23.7%———————————
T AT&T Inc.15 of 29+14.0%+44.0%−2.8%+6.5%−5.9%−19.6%+48.5%−20.8%−2.4%+32.0%+10.3%+2.4%+11.6%+19.4%+11.1%+14.0%+6.9%−26.9%+22.1%+55.6%+1.9%+5.5%+3.6%−27.6%−15.4%+0.6%−6.7%+50.8%+46.9%
AMT American Tower Corporation13 of 27−0.9%−12.2%+5.4%−25.7%+32.9%−0.5%+47.9%+13.3%+37.7%+11.2%0.0%+25.8%+4.8%+30.4%+16.9%+19.5%+47.3%−31.2%+14.3%+37.5%+47.2%+70.0%+207%−62.8%−75.0%+23.9%+3.4%——
SBAC SBA Communications Corporation14 of 26−3.1%−18.2%−8.2%−27.3%+39.0%+17.8%+49.3%−0.9%+58.2%−1.7%−5.1%+23.3%+26.6%+65.2%+4.9%+19.9%+109%−51.8%+23.1%+53.6%+93.0%+146%+818%−96.9%−68.3%+119%———
LUMN Lumen Technologies, Inc.11 of 29+46.3%+190%−64.9%−55.5%+38.7%−19.1%−5.3%+2.0%−21.7%+2.2%−31.9%+31.7%−13.2%+13.1%−13.2%+38.0%+44.9%−29.6%−4.5%+32.6%−5.9%+9.6%+11.9%−9.8%−7.6%−24.1%+5.7%+105%+62.9%
CCI Crown Castle Inc.14 of 27+3.0%−16.4%−10.2%−32.6%+35.1%+15.5%+35.4%+1.8%+33.0%+4.5%+14.4%+9.9%+1.8%+61.0%+2.2%+12.3%+122%−57.8%+28.8%+20.0%+61.8%+50.7%+195%−64.9%−60.5%−15.7%+36.7%——
RCI Rogers Communications Inc.15 of 29+28.6%−31.9%+3.4%+1.6%+5.6%−3.0%−0.2%+3.7%+36.4%+16.1%−7.1%−10.1%+3.3%+23.0%+15.7%+15.8%+7.5%−31.7%+53.3%+41.4%+62.0%+58.8%+77.4%−44.2%−1.0%−31.1%+180%+81.5%−31.6%
TU TELUS Corporation15 of 29+5.0%−18.4%−2.3%−14.4%+24.4%+7.3%+22.8%−8.5%+24.2%+20.4%−20.1%+8.7%+9.9%+26.7%+28.4%+46.8%+16.2%−38.4%+11.1%+14.2%+42.5%+61.1%+86.2%−23.7%−40.3%+14.4%+13.6%−5.8%+54.4%
CMCSA Comcast Corporation17 of 29−22.6%−12.0%+28.8%−28.8%−2.3%+19.0%+33.9%−12.8%+17.3%+24.8%−1.2%+13.0%+41.3%+60.4%+10.3%+33.2%+1.4%−6.6%−35.3%+63.5%−22.2%+1.5%+38.9%−34.4%−12.9%−13.7%+66.9%+80.5%+81.0%
BCE BCE Inc.16 of 29+10.2%−35.5%−4.2%−10.7%+28.6%−2.0%+23.9%−12.6%+15.0%+17.3%−11.6%+11.3%+6.1%+8.6%+23.8%+35.5%+43.3%−47.1%+53.1%+7.8%+3.5%+13.5%+30.0%−16.3%−17.6%+41.8%+164%+31.3%+67.6%
SHEN Shenandoah Telecommunications Company18 of 29−7.4%−41.3%+36.7%−37.5%−6.0%+4.7%−5.2%+31.8%+24.6%+28.1%+39.0%+23.7%+70.2%+49.8%−42.7%−6.3%−25.9%+18.6%+54.9%+20.1%+34.3%+18.4%+7.2%+26.2%+24.4%+24.5%+140%0.0%−13.7%
CHTR Charter Communications, Inc.11 of 15−39.1%−11.8%+14.6%−48.0%−1.5%+36.4%+70.2%−15.2%+16.7%+42.2%+9.9%+21.8%+79.4%+33.9%+46.2%——————————————
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Risk and diversification

How VZ has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were VZ's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents VZ's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means VZ fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringVZ fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
Dot-com bust−57.3%−36.9%Oct 1999Jul 20022.8 yearsDec 20119.4 years
2022 bear market−41.2%+23.1%Dec 2020Oct 20232.8 yearsFeb 20262.3 years
No named crash−27.3%—Jan 1990Aug 19907 monthsDec 19904 months
No named crash−24.9%−3.0%Oct 1993Apr 19946 monthsOct 199518 months
No named crash−24.1%+0.4%Feb 1996Sep 19967 monthsFeb 19975 months

How did VZ do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far VZ, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than VZ.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
VZ This pageVerizon Communications Inc.—−2.6%−33.2%−13.6%−12.5%−7.4%−10.5%−9.9%0.0%−43.9%−55.2%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF3 of 10−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
IDT IDT Corporation1 of 90.0%−51.3%−45.0%−30.8%−7.0%−36.4%−27.5%−10.0%−97.4%—
CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc.2 of 10−1.4%−35.4%−29.1%−17.5%−5.3%−22.8%−16.6%−3.1%−60.0%−89.3%
VOD Vodafone Group Public Limited Company1 of 10−1.7%−39.7%−42.2%−18.5%−8.5%−21.9%−12.9%−2.8%−59.0%−79.1%
TDS Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.0 of 10−10.0%−33.0%−39.5%−13.4%−7.7%−30.8%−33.8%−2.8%−67.6%−64.3%
AMX América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V.2 of 9−2.8%−24.8%−36.3%−24.9%−6.3%−33.5%−18.8%0.0%−65.4%—
ERIC Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)0 of 10−2.3%−53.5%−31.3%−13.3%−7.5%−19.2%−31.9%−0.8%−71.4%−98.6%
TMUS T-Mobile US, Inc.1 of 9−2.6%−12.1%−26.0%−13.7%−7.4%−21.2%−52.5%−11.3%−57.5%—
T AT&T Inc.5 of 10−1.6%−29.2%−30.6%−18.3%−6.5%−8.6%−9.1%−0.3%−44.4%−63.5%
AMT American Tower Corporation1 of 10−2.3%−34.2%−28.8%−8.4%−8.0%−19.2%−13.6%−2.9%−56.5%−98.7%
SBAC SBA Communications Corporation1 of 10−3.9%−34.1%−28.8%−8.7%−7.8%−33.6%−15.8%−0.6%−72.2%−99.6%
LUMN Lumen Technologies, Inc.1 of 10−13.9%−49.4%−33.7%−34.8%−9.8%−21.3%−17.7%−1.5%−50.8%−43.7%
CCI Crown Castle Inc.1 of 10−2.4%−34.5%−29.8%−10.7%−7.4%−11.1%−11.9%−2.1%−76.1%−97.6%
RCI Rogers Communications Inc.2 of 10−2.8%−38.1%−35.1%−6.5%−5.5%−17.7%−14.5%0.0%−61.2%−82.8%
TU TELUS Corporation3 of 10−2.2%−28.1%−31.7%−10.3%−2.8%−25.4%−14.9%0.0%−58.5%−88.5%
CMCSA Comcast Corporation1 of 10−1.6%−43.4%−27.5%−16.1%−7.1%−14.7%−21.7%−0.8%−53.1%−61.6%
BCE BCE Inc.5 of 10−1.7%−28.9%−33.9%−7.3%−2.1%−17.0%−9.8%0.0%−60.7%−50.7%
SHEN Shenandoah Telecommunications Company3 of 10−1.2%−39.5%−20.4%−19.2%−5.6%−20.0%−39.1%−2.2%−50.2%−49.1%
CHTR Charter Communications, Inc.0 of 8−6.9%−52.7%−31.5%−17.8%−10.0%−18.0%−29.6%−1.3%——
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How closely does VZ move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares VZ with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than VZ's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
VZ This pageVerizon Communications Inc.44%60%0.740.36
IDT IDT Corporation74%34%2.160.90
TMUS T-Mobile US, Inc.63%37%1.720.46
CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc.101%96%1.060.97
TDS Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.50%47%1.060.70
AMX América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V.58%55%1.050.69
AMT American Tower Corporation61%79%0.780.60
T AT&T Inc.47%62%0.760.50
SBAC SBA Communications Corporation55%79%0.700.64
ERIC Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)73%108%0.670.71
VOD Vodafone Group Public Limited Company52%100%0.530.69
CCI Crown Castle Inc.54%101%0.530.70
RCI Rogers Communications Inc.53%104%0.510.59
CMCSA Comcast Corporation65%139%0.470.87
TU TELUS Corporation42%93%0.460.67
BCE BCE Inc.43%100%0.430.50
LUMN Lumen Technologies, Inc.99%255%0.391.44
SHEN Shenandoah Telecommunications Company34%93%0.370.55
CHTR Charter Communications, Inc.41%141%0.290.88
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What diversifies VZ?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with VZ's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing VZ with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which VZ lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% VZ and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202220212020201420082005200320022001200080/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
VZ Verizon Communications Inc. (this page)1.00+17.6%0.26−20.0%−7.5%−0.1%−0.5%−20.1%−22.2%−5.7%−15.3%−2.6%−16.9%22.1%+3.1%
LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF0.48+119%1.48+3.8%+17.8%−9.0%———————18.7%+6.0%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.24+225%1.34+6.0%+18.0%+3.9%+8.1%−20.8%—————18.5%+8.0%
EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund0.42+103%1.06+10.4%+23.1%−13.4%+23.8%——————19.1%+5.8%
DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF0.26+83.6%0.95−5.1%+19.6%+2.1%+3.4%——————18.4%+5.5%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF-0.05+304%0.94−33.5%+42.1%+55.5%+30.2%−44.7%+10.8%+87.3%−47.0%−14.6%—18.7%+10.7%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF0.37+178%0.94+64.4%+53.3%−32.7%−8.7%−39.0%+40.1%+25.9%−14.8%−18.2%+24.4%20.2%+7.4%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.47+120%0.93−0.8%−4.2%+24.8%−2.2%+4.9%+17.8%————19.5%+6.3%
DFIV InternationalDimensional - International Value ETF0.47+99.4%0.93−3.7%—————————19.4%+5.8%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202220212020201420082005200320022001200080/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
VZ Verizon Communications Inc. (this page)1.00+17.6%0.26−20.0%−7.5%−0.1%−0.5%−20.1%−22.2%−5.7%−15.3%−2.6%−16.9%22.1%+3.1%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.05+471%1.54+54.1%−0.4%+10.1%+23.0%−39.6%+18.7%+3.5%−8.3%−2.5%+108%18.7%+10.3%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.-0.19+2,780%1.43+1.3%+37.9%−2.4%+12.9%−20.5%−25.2%+6.9%−65.1%−25.6%−2.3%19.3%+22.9%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.30+397%1.41+51.8%+44.2%+27.1%+29.3%−40.4%+64.9%+19.9%−27.2%+4.9%+61.2%19.8%+9.4%
FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc.-0.04+1,452%1.41+17.0%+89.0%+6.7%−10.4%−15.2%+20.1%+63.6%−9.4%+73.7%−71.1%19.5%+18.7%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.33+660%1.39+86.6%+61.0%−27.4%+0.4%——————20.8%+11.9%
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Common questions

What was VZ's worst drawdown?

VZ's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 57.3%, from October 1999 to July 2002. It took about nine years from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were VZ's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, VZ's best year was 1997, when it returned 46.6%. Its worst was 2005, with a return of -22.2%.

Is there a better investment than VZ?

Among VZ's popular alternatives, CSCO, VOD and IDT were ahead of VZ in most short and long periods. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, CHT (integrated telecommunications) and NXTG (5G networks theme) earned more than VZ with less volatility over the past 5 years. CHT returned 8.2% a year at 13.3% volatility, against 3.3% a year at 22.9%.

Is VZ more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. VZ's volatility over the past 5 years was 22.9%, 1.3 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, VZ's return lands within 22.9% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is VZ's Sharpe ratio?

VZ's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.26, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so VZ earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is VZ with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, VZ's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.19 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against VZ instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a VZ holding.

What are the best alternatives to VZ?

Of the 18 popular alternatives we compared, three outperformed VZ in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: IDT, CSCO and VOD.

Did VZ outperform the S&P 500?

VZ finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 12 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +8.9%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did VZ do in stock market crashes?

VZ fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in seven of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in three. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when VZ fell 13.6% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.

What diversifies VZ?

These had a low correlation with VZ over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.48), DXJ (correlation 0.24) and EMLP (correlation 0.42); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.05), CLS (correlation -0.19) and MCK (correlation 0.30). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to VZ

Other stocks and ETFs