Form 4: Verizon CFO Anthony Skiadas Acquires Phantom Stock Through Deferred Compensation Plan

Verizon's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Anthony T. Skiadas, acquired 141.835 units of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan, increasing his indirect beneficial ownership to 125,633.487 units.

Summary

• Anthony T. Skiadas, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), acquired 141.835 units of phantom stock.
• The transaction date for this acquisition was July 31, 2025, as part of a deferred compensation plan.
• Each phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and is settled in cash.
• The phantom stock units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.
• Following this transaction, Skiadas's indirect beneficial ownership of phantom stock increased to 125,633.487 units.
• The reported price of the derivative security was $12.2 per unit, with an underlying common stock equivalent of $40.
• The total beneficial ownership includes phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive through a deferred compensation plan is a positive sign of management's long-term commitment and alignment with shareholder interests. However, it is a standard compensation mechanism and not a direct market-driven purchase, thus its impact on sentiment is moderate.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive (CFO) indicates continued alignment of management's interests with shareholder value.
• The transaction is part of a deferred compensation plan, suggesting a long-term incentive structure for the executive.
• Inclusion of dividend reinvestment suggests a compounding effect on executive holdings, further aligning interests.

Future Outlook

This filing primarily reports an executive's acquisition of phantom stock as part of a compensation plan and does not provide forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's operational or financial performance.

Industry Context

This filing details a routine executive compensation event, specifically the acquisition of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan. This type of incentive structure is common across large, publicly traded companies in various industries, including telecommunications, to align executive interests with long-term shareholder value.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of phantom stock and deferred compensation plans for executive incentives is a standard practice among large corporations, including those in the telecommunications sector, such as AT&T Inc. (T) or T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS), which also utilize similar equity-based compensation structures to retain and incentivize key management.

Related Party Transactions

• The acquisition of phantom stock by an executive is a related-party transaction as part of the company's deferred compensation plan.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Potential positive impact due to increased alignment of executive interests with long-term company performance and value creation.

Next Steps

• The phantom stock units will become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine acquisition of phantom stock by an executive as part of a deferred compensation plan. While it indicates management's continued alignment with the company's long-term performance, it does not provide new fundamental information about Verizon's operational or financial health that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. It is a standard compensation event and not a signal for significant market movement.

Keywords

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