Form 4: Verizon EVP Acquires Phantom Stock via Dividend Reinvestment

Verizon's EVP & Chief HR Officer, Samantha Hammock, acquired 79.014 units of phantom stock through dividend reinvestment into her deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Samantha Hammock, Executive Vice President and Chief HR Officer of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), acquired 79.014 units of phantom stock.
• The transaction occurred on August 14, 2025, and was reported on August 15, 2025.
• The phantom stock units were acquired through dividend reinvestment into an indirect ownership via 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 acquired phantom stock units were valued at $12.41 per unit.
• Following this transaction, Samantha Hammock beneficially owns 28,027.942 units of phantom stock.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The filing reports a routine executive compensation transaction involving phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment, which is a neutral event in terms of company performance or outlook.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock through dividend reinvestment indicates the executive's continued participation and investment in the company's deferred compensation plan.
• The increase in beneficial ownership of phantom stock aligns the executive's interests with long-term shareholder value.

Future Outlook

The filing indicates that the phantom stock units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan, suggesting future cash settlement based on these units.

Industry Context

This filing represents a routine executive compensation transaction within the telecommunications industry, reflecting standard practices for deferred compensation and dividend reinvestment for senior leadership.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of phantom stock as a component of executive compensation is a common practice across large, publicly traded companies, including those in the telecommunications sector like AT&T or T-Mobile, aligning executive incentives with company performance without direct equity issuance.
• Dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) are standard mechanisms for executives to increase their indirect holdings in company stock or stock equivalents, similar to practices observed at companies such as Comcast or Charter Communications.

Related Party Transactions

• The acquisition of phantom stock by an executive (Samantha Hammock) from the company (Verizon Communications Inc.) through a deferred compensation plan constitutes a routine related-party transaction as part of executive compensation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction is a routine compensation event and is unlikely to have a direct material impact on current share price or shareholder value.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated by this filing.
• Management: The transaction increases the executive's indirect stake in the company, further aligning her financial interests with the company's long-term performance.

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

Keywords

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