Form 4: Verizon EVP Acquires Phantom Stock in Deferred Plan

Verizon's EVP & Chief HR Officer, Samantha Hammock, acquired 86.96 units of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Samantha Hammock, EVP & Chief HR Officer of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), acquired 86.96 units of phantom stock.
• The transaction occurred on January 29, 2026, as part of a contract, instruction, or written plan for the purchase of equity securities intended to satisfy Rule 10b5-1(c).
• Each phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and is settled in cash.
• The acquisition was made indirectly through a deferred compensation plan.
• Following this transaction, Ms. Hammock beneficially owns 29,526.889 units of phantom stock.
• The phantom stock units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.
• The reported beneficial ownership includes phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a slightly positive signal, as an executive's increased stake, even in phantom form, generally indicates continued alignment with company performance and long-term value creation.

Positives

• An executive acquiring additional company stock, even phantom stock, can signal confidence in the company's future performance and long-term strategy.
• The acquisition is part of a deferred compensation plan, which aligns executive incentives with long-term company value and shareholder interests.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain specific forward-looking statements or guidance beyond the nature of the deferred compensation plan and the scheduled future transaction date.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that executive compensation often includes various forms of equity-linked instruments like phantom stock, which are common in large, established telecommunications companies like Verizon to align management interests with shareholder value over the long term. This type of transaction is a routine part of executive compensation structures.

Related Party Transactions

• The transaction involves an executive acquiring phantom stock from the company as part of a deferred compensation plan, which is a common form of related-party compensation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction aligns executive incentives with shareholder interests, potentially fostering long-term value creation.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated by this filing.

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 signals continued executive alignment with the company's long-term performance, the transaction size and nature are not significant enough to warrant a change in investment recommendation based solely on this filing. It is a standard compensation event rather than a discretionary market purchase indicating new fundamental insights.

Keywords

Verizon, VZ, Samantha Hammock, Phantom Stock, Insider Transaction, Deferred Compensation, Executive Compensation, SEC Form 4