Form 4: Verizon CFO Boosts Phantom Stock Holdings

Verizon's EVP and CFO, Anthony T. Skiadas, acquired 152.942 phantom stock units through a deferred compensation plan, increasing his indirect beneficial ownership to 131,737.019 units.

Summary

• Anthony T. Skiadas, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., acquired 152.942 phantom stock units.
• The acquisition occurred on January 29, 2026, 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 transaction was executed under a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan, indicating a pre-arranged trading plan.
• Following this acquisition, Skiadas indirectly beneficially owns a total of 131,737.019 phantom stock units.
• The phantom stock units were acquired at a price of $11.37 per unit.
• The total beneficial ownership includes phantom stock units previously acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral to slightly positive event, reflecting routine executive compensation and a pre-planned acquisition, which can signal executive confidence.

Positives

• An executive acquiring additional phantom stock units, even through a deferred compensation plan, can signal confidence in the company's future performance and long-term strategy.
• The use of a Rule 10b5-1 plan indicates a pre-planned, systematic approach to executive compensation and ownership, which is a good governance practice.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain specific forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance, focusing instead on a routine executive compensation transaction.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that executive compensation, particularly through equity-linked instruments like phantom stock, is a common practice in large telecommunications companies like Verizon. These plans are designed to align executive interests with shareholder value over the long term.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Executive deferred compensation plans involving phantom stock are standard practice across major U.S. corporations, including peers like AT&T (T) and T-Mobile (TMUS), to retain talent and align incentives.
• The use of Rule 10b5-1 plans for such transactions is also a widely adopted corporate governance best practice, ensuring transparency and mitigating concerns about opportunistic insider trading.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive can be seen as a positive signal of management's alignment with shareholder interests, as the value of phantom stock is tied to the company's common stock performance.

Next Steps

• Phantom stock units 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, pre-planned acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive as part of a deferred compensation plan. While it signals executive alignment and confidence, it does not present new fundamental information that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. It's a standard disclosure for executive compensation.

Keywords

Verizon, VZ, Anthony T. Skiadas, EVP and CFO, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Insider Ownership, SEC Form 4, Executive Compensation, Rule 10b5-1