Form 4: Verizon Executive Acquires Additional Phantom Stock Through Deferred Compensation Plan

Vandana Venkatesh, EVP-Public Policy & Chief Legal Officer at Verizon Communications Inc., acquired 103.139 phantom stock units through a deferred compensation plan, increasing her total beneficial ownership to over 44,000 units.

Summary

• Vandana Venkatesh, Verizon's EVP-Public Policy & Chief Legal Officer, acquired 103.139 phantom stock units on May 22, 2025.
• These units were acquired at a price of $12.31 per unit.
• The acquisition was made indirectly through a deferred compensation plan and includes units acquired through dividend reinvestment.
• Following this transaction, Ms. Venkatesh beneficially owns a total of 44,870.359 phantom stock units.
• Each phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and is settled in cash upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The acquisition of phantom stock by an executive, even if routine via a deferred compensation plan, generally indicates continued alignment of executive interests with the company's long-term performance. It's not a strong 'buy' signal but is mildly positive as it shows continued participation in the company's equity-linked compensation.

Positives

• Increased beneficial ownership by a key executive, indicating continued alignment with shareholder interests.
• Participation in a deferred compensation plan suggests long-term commitment to the company.

Negatives

• The acquisition was through a deferred compensation plan and dividend reinvestment, not a discretionary open-market purchase, which typically carries a stronger 'buy' signal.

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing details a routine insider transaction for an executive at a major telecommunications company. Such transactions are common for executives participating in company-sponsored deferred compensation and equity plans, reflecting standard executive compensation practices within the industry.

Related Party Transactions

• Acquisition of phantom stock units by an executive through a company-sponsored deferred compensation plan is considered a related party transaction.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction indicates continued executive alignment with company performance through equity-linked compensation, which can be viewed positively.
• Employees: Reflects standard executive compensation practices within the company.

Key Dates

Recommendation

Keywords

Verizon Communications Inc., VZ, SEC Form 4, Insider Transaction, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Vandana Venkatesh, Executive Compensation, Dividend Reinvestment