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

Verizon's EVP & Chief HR Officer, Samantha Hammock, acquired 83.897 units of phantom stock, increasing her indirect beneficial ownership to 27,439.896 units via a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Samantha Hammock, EVP & Chief HR Officer of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), acquired 83.897 units of phantom stock.
• The transaction date for this acquisition is listed as July 17, 2025.
• Following this acquisition, her indirect beneficial ownership of phantom stock stands at 27,439.896 units.
• The phantom stock was acquired through a deferred compensation plan and includes units from dividend reinvestment.
• Each phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and is settled in cash.
• The phantom stock becomes payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The acquisition of phantom stock by an executive, especially through a deferred compensation plan and dividend reinvestment, is generally a positive signal of long-term commitment and alignment with shareholder interests. It's a routine compensation event rather than a significant market-moving transaction.

Positives

• Acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive indicates continued alignment of management interests with shareholder value through a deferred compensation plan.
• The increase in beneficial ownership, including through dividend reinvestment, suggests a long-term commitment to the company.

Future Outlook

The phantom stock units are payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan, indicating future cash settlement based on these units.

Management Comments

• Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and is settled in cash.
• The shares of phantom stock become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.
• Includes phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Industry Context

This transaction is a routine insider filing for executive compensation, common across large publicly traded companies like Verizon. It reflects standard practices for deferred compensation and aligns executive incentives with long-term company performance, a common trend in mature industries like telecommunications.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of phantom stock and deferred compensation plans is a standard practice in executive compensation across major U.S. corporations, including peers in the telecommunications sector such as AT&T (T) and T-Mobile (TMUS).
• These plans are designed to align executive interests with shareholder value over the long term, often through mechanisms like dividend reinvestment, similar to how executives at companies like Comcast (CMCSA) or Charter Communications (CHTR) might accrue equity-linked compensation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction aligns executive incentives with long-term shareholder value, as phantom stock value is tied to common stock performance.

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

Keywords

Verizon, VZ, SEC Form 4, Insider Trading, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Executive Compensation, Samantha Hammock, Stock Acquisition, Beneficial Ownership