Form 4: Verizon exec acquires phantom stock units

EVP and Group CEO-VZ Business Kyle Malady acquired 120.141 phantom stock units at $14.47 via the deferred compensation plan on March 26, 2026, bringing total indirect holdings to 410,641.623 units.

Summary

• On 2026-03-26, Kyle Malady (EVP and Group CEO-VZ Business) acquired 120.141 units of phantom stock (unitized) under Verizon’s Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Price of the derivative security reported was $14.47 per unit; each unit is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share and is settled in cash.
• Following the transaction, 410,641.623 derivative securities (phantom stock units) are beneficially owned, held indirectly via the Deferred Compensation Plan.
• The reported amount includes phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment.
• No open-market purchases or sales of Verizon common stock were reported in Table I.
• Title and amount of securities underlying the derivative security are listed as Common Stock, 34.
• A Power of Attorney was executed on 2026-03-26 authorizing designated attorneys-in-fact to file Section 16 reports and manage EDGAR account activities; the Form 4 was signed by attorney-in-fact on 2026-03-30.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as neutral: an administrative insider holdings update with a small increase in phantom units and no market-moving information.

Positives

• Increase in deferred compensation phantom stock units (120.141 units acquired).
• No dispositions reported; common stock transactions table shows no activity.
• Phantom stock units are cash-settled, implying no dilution from this instrument.

Negatives

• Phantom stock is cash-settled and does not increase direct common share ownership.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes this is a routine insider deferred compensation update common among large-cap telecoms and other blue-chip firms, with minimal operational or competitive implications.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Insider deferred compensation and phantom stock activity is standard among U.S. large-cap telecom peers (e.g., AT&T, T-Mobile, Comcast) and typically has negligible market impact compared to open-market stock purchases or sales.
• Absence of open-market common stock trading aligns with common executive compensation practices where exposure is accrued via cash-settled units rather than direct share accumulation.

Corporate Governance

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: No dilution or share issuance expected as phantom stock units are cash-settled.
• Employees/Executives: Reflects continued participation in the deferred compensation plan.
• Regulators: Reinforces Section 16 compliance via a formal Power of Attorney.
• Investors: No signal of open-market buying or selling of Verizon common stock.

Key Dates

Keywords

Verizon Communications, VZ, Form 4, insider transaction, phantom stock, deferred compensation plan, Kyle Malady, Section 16, beneficial ownership, power of attorney