Why does VZ stock never truly rise over time?

Since as far back as 2020, my friend has been holding VZ, but it never really does anything meaningful. It’s been stuck in the same range for years, only spiking briefly before falling right back. How come it doesn’t follow a steady upward trend like so many other stocks?

Should I start a position in it too, or is it better to put my money somewhere with more growth potential?