Form 4: Verizon Executive Acquires Phantom Stock

Verizon EVP and CFO Anthony T. Skiadas acquired phantom stock units equivalent to 132.86 shares of common stock on June 17, 2026, as part of a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Anthony T. Skiadas, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., acquired phantom stock units on June 17, 2026.
• The transaction involved 132.86 phantom stock units, each representing the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock.
• These phantom stock units are settled in cash and become payable upon events established by the reporting person under a deferred compensation plan.
• The acquisition was made pursuant to a contract, instruction, or written plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c).
• The filing also notes that the reporting person's beneficial ownership includes phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this filing as neutral, as it reports a routine executive stock transaction under a pre-arranged plan and does not contain new financial information or strategic updates.

Positives

• The transaction indicates continued participation and investment in the company's equity by a key executive.
• The acquisition was made under a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan, suggesting a pre-determined and structured approach to executive stock transactions, which can be viewed positively by investors as it reduces concerns about insider trading based on material non-public information.

Negatives

• The filing does not disclose any negative financial performance or operational issues.
• The transaction is an acquisition of phantom stock, which is a cash-settled instrument and does not represent direct ownership of common stock, thus not immediately increasing the number of outstanding shares.

Risks

• The value of the phantom stock is tied to the performance of Verizon's common stock, meaning any decline in the stock price would negatively impact the value of these units.
• The payable events for the phantom stock are established by the reporting person, which could introduce potential conflicts of interest or timing issues, although this is mitigated by the Rule 10b5-1(c) plan.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain forward-looking statements or guidance. It solely reports a transaction related to executive compensation.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that executive stock transactions, particularly those under Rule 10b5-1 plans, are common in the telecommunications industry as a way for executives to manage their equity holdings in a structured manner. This filing reflects standard practice for a company of Verizon's size and public profile.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Many large-cap telecommunications companies, including AT&T and T-Mobile, utilize phantom stock and deferred compensation plans as part of their executive compensation packages.
• The use of Rule 10b5-1 trading plans is a widely adopted standard among S&P 500 companies to facilitate orderly stock transactions by insiders.
• The specific amount of phantom stock acquired (132.86 units) is a relatively small number in the context of total executive compensation, but its significance lies in the executive's role as CFO.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction itself is unlikely to have a significant direct impact on shareholders as it involves phantom stock, which is a cash-settled instrument and does not dilute existing share ownership. However, it signals executive confidence and adherence to structured compensation practices.
• Employees: The filing is primarily relevant to executive compensation and has no direct impact on general employee compensation or benefits.
• Creditors: No direct impact on creditors.
• Suppliers/Customers: No direct impact.

Next Steps

• The phantom stock units will become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.
• Further transactions by this executive will be reported on subsequent Form 4 filings.

Key Dates

Keywords

Verizon Communications, VZ, Form 4, Insider Trading, Executive Compensation, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Rule 10b5-1, Anthony T. Skiadas, EVP and CFO