Form 4: Verizon Executive Acquires Phantom Stock in Compensation Plan

Verizon's EVP & Chief HR Officer, Samantha Hammock, acquired 78.246 units of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Samantha Hammock, Executive Vice President and Chief HR Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., acquired 78.246 units of phantom stock.
• The transaction occurred on August 28, 2025, with each unit valued at $12.53.
• Phantom stock units are the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and are settled in cash.
• Following this transaction, Ms. Hammock beneficially owns a total of 28,106.188 units of phantom stock, which includes units acquired through dividend reinvestment.
• These phantom stock units become payable upon events established by Ms. Hammock in accordance with the company's deferred compensation plan.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: Neutral to slightly positive. An executive increasing their indirect stake via phantom stock is generally seen as a positive signal of confidence, though this is a routine compensation event rather than a discretionary open-market purchase, limiting its direct market impact.

Positives

• An executive is increasing their indirect beneficial ownership in the company, which can signal confidence in future performance.
• The acquisition is part of a deferred compensation plan, indicating long-term alignment of executive interests with company performance.

Future Outlook

The phantom stock units will become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan, indicating a future payout event tied to the executive's long-term compensation structure.

Industry Context

This transaction represents a routine executive compensation event, common across large publicly traded companies in various sectors, including telecommunications. Deferred compensation plans, often involving equity-like instruments such as phantom stock, are standard mechanisms for aligning executive incentives with long-term shareholder value.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of phantom stock as part of an executive's deferred compensation plan is a common practice among large corporations, including peers in the telecommunications industry such as AT&T (T) and T-Mobile (TMUS).
• These plans are designed to provide executives with equity exposure and long-term incentives without granting immediate voting rights or direct share ownership, aligning with typical corporate governance and compensation strategies.

Related Party Transactions

• The acquisition of phantom stock by an executive from the company is a related party transaction, executed as part of an established deferred compensation plan.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view the executive's increased indirect stake as a sign of continued confidence in the company's future performance and long-term strategy.

Next Steps

• Phantom stock units will become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 reports a routine acquisition of phantom stock by an executive as part of a deferred compensation plan. While it indicates continued executive alignment, it is not a discretionary open-market purchase and does not provide new fundamental information to warrant a change in investment recommendation. The transaction is expected and does not alter the underlying investment thesis for Verizon.

Keywords

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