Form 4: Verizon EVP Acquires Phantom Stock Through Deferred Compensation Plan

Samantha Hammock, Executive Vice President and Chief HR Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., acquired 82.466 phantom stock units on June 18, 2025, as part of a pre-arranged deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Samantha Hammock, Verizon's EVP & Chief HR Officer, acquired 82.466 phantom stock units on June 18, 2025.
• The acquisition was made at a price of $11.89 per phantom stock unit.
• These phantom stock units are the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of Verizon common stock and are settled in cash.
• The transaction was conducted indirectly through a deferred compensation plan and was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1(c) pre-arranged plan.
• Following this transaction, Ms. Hammock beneficially owns a total of 27,277.14 phantom stock units.
• The total beneficial ownership includes phantom stock units acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The filing reports a routine, pre-scheduled acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive. This is generally a neutral to slightly positive signal as it aligns executive interests with the company's long-term performance. There are no negative surprises or significant new information that would alter a fundamental view of the company.

Positives

• The acquisition of additional phantom stock by a key executive, Samantha Hammock, aligns management's financial interests with the long-term performance of Verizon's common stock.
• The transaction was executed under a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan, indicating a pre-scheduled and systematic approach to executive compensation and investment, reducing concerns about opportunistic trading.

Negatives

• No direct negatives are identified in this specific Form 4 filing, as it reports a routine compensation-related acquisition.

Risks

• The value of the phantom stock units is directly tied to the performance of Verizon's common stock, meaning their value can fluctuate based on market conditions and company performance.
• Phantom stock units are settled in cash, not actual shares, which means the holder does not possess direct voting rights or equity ownership until the cash settlement occurs.

Future Outlook

The phantom stock units are designed to become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan, indicating future cash settlement based on Verizon's stock performance.

Industry Context

This transaction represents a routine executive compensation event, common among large publicly traded companies, particularly within the telecommunications sector. Deferred compensation plans, often including equity-linked instruments like phantom stock, are standard tools used to attract, retain, and incentivize senior executives by aligning their long-term financial interests with the company's performance.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The acquisition of phantom stock by a senior executive aligns their financial interests with the long-term performance of Verizon's common stock, potentially benefiting shareholders if the stock appreciates.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated by this specific filing, which pertains to executive compensation.

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

Keywords

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