Verizon (VZ) stock vs the S&P 500 and communication services stocks
As of 2 October 2026, Verizon (VZ) is beating both the S&P 500 and communication services stocks as a group (XLC) over the past three months.
Where Verizon stands now
As of 2 October 2026, Verizon is still ahead of the S&P 500 over three months, but it gave back ground over the past month.
Inside its group, VZ is slipping: still ahead of communication services stocks (XLC) over three months, but behind over the past month. As a group, communication services stocks are trailing the S&P 500 right now. A strong stock in a weak group: it holds up while its peers struggle.
Verizon is 4.1% of XLC, so its moves weigh on the fund. It sits in 3 of the sector and theme funds Zensei tracks. The thing to watch is the gap to its group: as long as it stays ahead of both the market and its peers, the trend is intact.
VZ vs the S&P 500: returns
Verizon and the S&P 500 (SPY) side by side, over each window Zensei tracks.
Prices as of · computed from daily adjusted closes · how we measure
VZ against communication services stocks, in depth
See the size of the gap between Verizon and communication services stocks (XLC) over every window, its momentum and its relative strength, and where it sits among communication services stocks.
See the full analysisWhich ETFs hold Verizon?
3 funds that Zensei tracks hold VZ, by weight. The fund with the largest weight is its sector on this page.
Verizon competitors
The largest other holdings of Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC), with their return over the past month.
Verizon stock: common questions
Is Verizon stock beating the S&P 500?
As of 2 October 2026, Verizon (VZ) is down 8.7% over the past month. The S&P 500 is up 1.3% over the same month. Over three months, the stock is up 9.7% and the S&P 500 is up 3.6%.
Which ETFs hold Verizon?
As of 2 October 2026, 3 funds that Zensei tracks hold VZ. Its largest weight is in Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC), at 4.1%. It is also in Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF (KNCT, 1.9%), SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF (MMTM, 0.2%).
Who are Verizon's competitors?
As of 2 October 2026, the largest other holdings of Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC) are Meta Platforms (META), Alphabet (GOOGL), Alphabet Inc (GOOG), Warner Bros. Discovery Inc (WBD), AppLovin (APP). These are the stocks Verizon sits next to among communication services stocks.
Is Verizon doing better than other communication services stocks?
As of 2 October 2026, Verizon (VZ) is ahead of communication services stocks as a group (XLC) over the past three months. Zensei Edge shows the size of the gap, its momentum and its relative strength.
Track Verizon against communication services stocks and the market
Zensei Edge maps 100+ sectors and themes against the S&P 500, with each stock inside them measured against its group.