Form 4: Verizon Executive Acquires Phantom Stock Units

Verizon Communications Inc. EVP Alfonso Villanueva Rodriguez reported the acquisition of 72.451 phantom stock units on March 12, 2026, through a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Alfonso Villanueva Rodriguez, EVP & International Group CEO of Verizon Consumer & CTO, acquired 72.451 phantom stock units.
• The transaction date for this acquisition was March 12, 2026.
• Each phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and is settled in cash.
• The 72.451 phantom stock units are economically equivalent to 21 shares of Verizon common stock.
• The acquisition price for the derivative security was $14.44 per unit.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Rodriguez beneficially owns 5,859.305 phantom stock units indirectly through a deferred compensation plan.
• This total includes phantom stock acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral to slightly positive disclosure, reflecting routine executive compensation and continued insider ownership, which generally aligns management interests with shareholders.

Positives

• The executive's continued participation in the deferred compensation plan and acquisition of additional phantom stock units indicates ongoing alignment of interests with shareholders.

Negatives

• No direct negatives are apparent from this routine disclosure of executive compensation.

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 mechanism tied to the executive's deferred compensation.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that executive compensation, often including phantom stock or similar equity-linked instruments, is a standard practice across the telecommunications industry to incentivize long-term performance and align executive interests with shareholder value. This specific transaction reflects a routine component of Verizon's executive compensation structure.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• This type of deferred compensation plan involving phantom stock is a common mechanism for executive remuneration in large, established companies like Verizon, comparable to practices at AT&T or T-Mobile, where executives often receive a mix of cash, stock options, and restricted stock units or phantom stock as part of their total compensation package.
• The specific value and number of units acquired are typical for an executive at this level within a major telecommunications firm.

Related Party Transactions

• The acquisition of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan is a standard form of executive compensation, which is a routine related party transaction within the company's compensation structure.

Stakeholder Impact

• This transaction primarily impacts the reporting executive's personal holdings and aligns their interests with shareholders.
• For other stakeholders, it is a routine disclosure with minimal direct impact on company operations or financial standing.

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

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine executive compensation transaction involving phantom stock acquisition. It does not provide new information regarding the company's operational performance, financial health, or strategic direction that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. The transaction itself is a standard part of executive remuneration and indicates continued insider alignment, which is generally a neutral to slightly positive signal, supporting a 'hold' recommendation based solely on this filing.

Keywords

Verizon, VZ, Alfonso Villanueva Rodriguez, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Executive Compensation, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Derivative Securities