Form 4: Verizon CFO adds 120 phantom stock units

EVP and CFO Anthony T. Skiadas acquired 120.141 unitized phantom stock units at $14.47 in Verizon’s deferred compensation plan, lifting his total to 141,343.131 units.

Summary

• On 03/26/2026, EVP and CFO Anthony T. Skiadas acquired 120.141 phantom stock (unitized) derivative units under Verizon Communications Inc.'s Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Transaction code: A (grant, award or other acquisition).
• Price per phantom stock unit: $14.47.
• The acquired tranche is tied to 34 underlying common shares; phantom stock is economically equivalent to a portion of a share and is settled in cash.
• Total derivative securities beneficially owned after the transaction: 141,343.131 phantom stock units, held indirectly via the Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Includes phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment.
• A Power of Attorney dated 03/26/2026 authorizes designated attorneys-in-fact to file Section 16 reports; the Form 4 was signed by attorney-in-fact Evgeniya Berezkina on 03/30/2026.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral, routine insider compensation update with minimal market impact.

Positives

• Insider increased deferred compensation exposure with an acquisition of 120.141 phantom stock units; no sales disclosed.
• Total beneficial holdings in phantom stock units rose to 141,343.131, indicating continued participation in the plan.
• Administrative readiness and transparency supported by a new Power of Attorney for EDGAR and Section 16 compliance.

Negatives

• Phantom stock is settled in cash (not actual share purchases), offering less direct signaling than open‑market stock buying.
• Small size (120.141 units) relative to the existing 141,343.131-unit balance suggests limited incremental informational value.

Future Outlook

No forward-looking statements or guidance provided.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that phantom stock accruals through executive deferred compensation plans are common among large U.S. telecoms and typically carry low signaling value versus open‑market insider purchases. This update aligns with standard administrative and governance practices in the sector.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Comparable peers such as AT&T (T) and Comcast (CMCSA) frequently report executive deferred compensation and phantom stock unit activity on Form 4; these entries are typically administrative and not indicative of near-term operating performance.
• Phantom stock or deferred stock equivalents settled in cash are standard instruments for senior executives across S&P 500 companies, used primarily for compensation deferral and alignment rather than signaling.
• The absence of open‑market buying contrasts with more bullish insider signals occasionally observed in stressed sectors; in mature telecoms, most insider activity is plan-based and routine.

Related Party Transactions

• EVP and CFO Anthony T. Skiadas acquired 120.141 phantom stock (unitized) units indirectly via Verizon's Deferred Compensation Plan; units are economically equivalent to a portion of a share and are settled in cash; includes dividend reinvestment.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: No dilution or change in share count as phantom stock is settled in cash.
• Employees/Executives: Confirms ongoing use of the Deferred Compensation Plan for executive compensation and deferral.
• Creditors: No impact on capital structure from this administrative insider transaction.

Key Dates

Keywords

Verizon Communications, VZ, Anthony T. Skiadas, Form 4, insider transaction, phantom stock, deferred compensation plan, Section 16, EDGAR Power of Attorney, dividend reinvestment