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

Verizon's EVP & Chief HR Officer, Samantha Hammock, acquired 80.373 units of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan, increasing her total beneficial ownership to 27,520.269 units.

Summary

• Samantha Hammock, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., acquired 80.373 units of phantom stock.
• The transaction occurred on July 31, 2025, and was 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 linked to 23 shares of Verizon Common Stock.
• The price of the derivative security (phantom stock) was $12.2 per unit.
• Following this transaction, Ms. Hammock's total beneficial ownership of phantom stock units stands at 27,520.269, which includes units 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 filing reports a routine executive compensation transaction involving phantom stock acquisition via a deferred compensation plan. This is a neutral to slightly positive event as it aligns executive interests with the company's long-term performance, but it does not convey significant new information about the company's operational or financial health.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock by a key executive aligns their financial interests with the long-term performance of the company.
• Participation in a deferred compensation plan indicates a commitment to long-term investment in the company by the executive.

Future Outlook

The filing indicates that the phantom stock units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan, suggesting future cash settlement based on these units.

Industry Context

This filing reflects a routine executive compensation event within the telecommunications industry, where deferred compensation plans and equity-linked incentives are common practices to retain and align executive interests.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Executive compensation structures involving phantom stock and deferred compensation plans are standard across large, publicly traded companies in the telecommunications sector, similar to practices at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Comcast.
• The acquisition of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan is a common mechanism for executives to build long-term equity exposure without direct stock purchases, aligning with corporate governance best practices for executive retention and performance incentives.

Related Party Transactions

• The transaction is between the executive and Verizon Communications Inc. as part of a deferred compensation plan, which is a common related-party dealing in executive compensation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction represents a routine executive compensation event, aligning executive interests with shareholder value over the long term.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated by this filing.

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 filing details a small, routine acquisition of phantom stock by an executive through a deferred compensation plan. Such transactions are common components of executive compensation and do not typically signal significant changes in the company's fundamental outlook or warrant a change in investment recommendation. It primarily indicates continued executive alignment with the company's long-term performance.

Keywords

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