Form 4: Verizon Executive Daniel Schulman Trades Phantom Stock

Verizon Communications Inc. executive Daniel H. Schulman reported a transaction involving phantom stock units, settled in cash, on April 23, 2026.

Summary

• Daniel H. Schulman, CEO of Verizon Communications Inc., engaged in a transaction involving phantom stock units on April 23, 2026.
• The transaction involved the acquisition of 197.535 phantom stock units, which are economically equivalent to a portion of one share of common stock.
• These phantom stock units are settled in cash and become payable upon events stipulated in the deferred compensation plan.
• The filing also notes that Schulman acquired additional phantom stock through dividend reinvestment, bringing his total to 7,176.542 units.
• The reported price for the phantom stock acquisition was $13.47 per unit.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral filing, as it reports a routine executive transaction related to compensation rather than significant company performance or strategic shifts.

Positives

• The transaction indicates continued participation in the company's deferred compensation plan by a key executive.
• Dividend reinvestment suggests a long-term commitment and belief in the company's value.

Negatives

• The transaction is a cash settlement of phantom stock, which may represent a divestment of economic interest in the underlying common stock, though it is not a direct sale of shares.

Risks

• The value of phantom stock is tied to the performance of Verizon's common stock, meaning any decline in share price would negatively impact the value of these units.
• The deferred compensation plan's payout structure could be subject to market conditions and company performance at the time of vesting.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain specific forward-looking statements or guidance regarding future financial performance. It solely reports a transaction by an executive.

Management Comments

• Evgeniya Berezkina, Attorney-in-fact for Daniel H. Schulman, signed the filing.
• The phantom stock units are settled in cash upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that executive transactions involving phantom stock are common in the telecommunications industry as a form of long-term incentive compensation, aligning executive interests with shareholder value over time.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction itself does not directly impact share price but reflects executive compensation practices. The value of Schulman's phantom stock is tied to Verizon's stock performance.
• Employees: This filing is part of standard executive compensation disclosure and does not directly affect general employee compensation or benefits.
• Management: Reflects the ongoing compensation structure for senior executives.

Next Steps

• The phantom stock units will become payable upon events established by Daniel H. Schulman in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.

Key Dates

Keywords

Verizon Communications, VZ, Form 4, Insider Trading, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Executive Compensation, Daniel H. Schulman, SEC Filing