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

Verizon Communications Inc. EVP-Public Policy & Chief Legal Officer, Vandana Venkatesh, acquired 102.052 phantom stock units through a deferred compensation plan, increasing her total beneficial ownership to 45,181.869 units.

Summary

• Vandana Venkatesh, EVP-Public Policy & Chief Legal Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., acquired 102.052 phantom stock units.
• The transaction occurred on July 2, 2025, as part of 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 are economically equivalent to 29 shares of Verizon common stock.
• The price of the phantom stock was $12.44 per unit.
• Following this transaction, Vandana Venkatesh beneficially owns 45,181.869 phantom stock units indirectly through the deferred compensation plan.
• The total beneficial ownership includes phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment.
• The phantom stock units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The document reports a routine executive compensation transaction, which is generally a neutral to slightly positive signal as it indicates continued executive alignment with company performance through long-term incentives. There are no negative disclosures.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive indicates continued participation in the company's long-term incentive plans.
• The increase in beneficial ownership aligns the executive's interests with long-term shareholder value.

Negatives

• No specific negative points are identified in this routine insider transaction filing.

Risks

• No specific risks related to the company's operations or financial health are disclosed in this Form 4 filing.

Future Outlook

The filing does not provide forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance, focusing solely on an executive's beneficial ownership change.

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing is a routine disclosure of an executive's compensation-related stock acquisition and does not provide broader industry context or trends. It reflects standard executive incentive practices within large telecommunications companies like Verizon.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• This Form 4 details a standard executive compensation transaction involving phantom stock, which is a common non-cash incentive used across various industries, including telecommunications.
• The specific value and volume of phantom stock acquired are typical for an executive at a company of Verizon's size, aligning with general practices for long-term incentive plans designed to retain talent and align executive interests with shareholder value.
• No specific comparable companies or projects are mentioned in this filing.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction aligns executive incentives with shareholder interests through long-term equity-based compensation.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated.
• Customers/Suppliers/Creditors: No direct impact on these stakeholders is indicated by this filing.

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, Insider Trading, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Executive Compensation, Vandana Venkatesh, Beneficial Ownership