Form 4: Verizon CFO Acquires Phantom Stock in Compensation Plan

Verizon's EVP and CFO, Anthony T. Skiadas, acquired 149.514 units of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Anthony T. Skiadas, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., acquired 149.514 units of phantom stock.
• The transaction occurred on December 31, 2025.
• Each phantom stock unit was valued at $11.63.
• The acquisition was made indirectly through a deferred compensation plan and includes units acquired via dividend reinvestment.
• Each phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of Verizon common stock and is settled in cash upon events established by the reporting person.
• The 149.514 acquired phantom stock units are equivalent to 43 shares of Verizon common stock.
• Following this transaction, Skiadas beneficially owns a total of 131,429.398 units of phantom stock.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: Neutral to slightly positive. The acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive, even if cash-settled, generally indicates continued alignment with the company's performance. It's a routine compensation event rather than a strong signal of new financial performance.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive (CFO) can signal continued alignment with the company's future performance.
• The acquisition was part of a deferred compensation plan, which typically aligns executive interests with long-term shareholder value.

Negatives

• The acquired phantom stock is cash-settled, meaning it does not result in direct ownership of common stock by the executive.

Risks

• The value of the phantom stock is tied to the performance of Verizon's common stock, exposing the holder to market fluctuations.

Future Outlook

The filing does not provide explicit forward-looking statements or guidance beyond the details of the executive's deferred compensation plan.

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing is a routine disclosure of executive compensation activity and does not provide broader industry context. It reflects an executive's participation in a standard deferred compensation plan within the telecommunications sector.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• This filing details an executive's acquisition of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan, which is a common practice for executive compensation across various industries, including telecommunications.
• Companies like AT&T (T) and T-Mobile (TMUS) also utilize similar long-term incentive and deferred compensation structures to align executive interests with shareholder value.
• The specific value and number of units are particular to Verizon's compensation structure and the executive's role, but the mechanism itself is standard within global benchmarks for executive remuneration.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The executive's increased beneficial ownership of phantom stock aligns their interests with shareholder value, as the phantom stock's value is tied to the common stock performance.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing reports a routine acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive as part of a deferred compensation plan. While it indicates continued executive alignment with company performance, it does not present new information that would fundamentally alter the investment thesis for Verizon. It's a standard compensation event, not a signal for a 'buy' or 'sell' decision based solely on this filing.

Keywords

Verizon, VZ, Anthony T. Skiadas, CFO, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Insider Transaction, Executive Compensation, SEC Form 4