Form 4: Verizon Executive Reports Phantom Stock Acquisition

Verizon EVP Kyle Malady acquired phantom stock units under a deferred compensation plan, with settlement tied to specific events.

Summary

• Kyle Malady, EVP and Group CEO-VZ Business at Verizon Communications Inc., acquired phantom stock units on June 17, 2026.
• The acquisition involved 132.86 units of phantom stock, valued at $38 per unit.
• These phantom stock units are economically equivalent to a portion of one share of common stock and will be settled in cash.
• The shares become payable upon events established by the reporting person under the deferred compensation plan.
• An additional 417,410.805 phantom stock units were acquired through dividend reinvestment.
• The total beneficial ownership of phantom stock following these transactions is 417,410.805, held indirectly through a deferred compensation plan.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral filing, as it represents a routine executive compensation transaction rather than a significant strategic or financial event.

Positives

• Executive participation in deferred compensation plans can indicate confidence in long-term company value.
• Dividend reinvestment in phantom stock suggests a continued accumulation of value by management.

Negatives

• The filing does not disclose the specific events triggering the payout of phantom stock, creating uncertainty for external observers.
• Phantom stock is a cash-settled instrument, meaning no actual shares are issued, which may limit direct shareholder alignment compared to stock options or grants.

Risks

• The value of phantom stock is tied to Verizon's common stock price, exposing the executive to market volatility.
• The timing and amount of cash settlement are dependent on pre-defined events, which may not align with immediate market expectations.

Future Outlook

The future outlook for the phantom stock is dependent on the settlement events defined in the deferred compensation plan and the future performance of Verizon's common stock.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that the use of phantom stock is a common executive compensation tool in the telecommunications industry, allowing companies to incentivize leadership without diluting existing shareholder equity. This aligns with broader trends in corporate governance where performance-based incentives are structured through various equity-linked instruments.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: No direct impact as phantom stock is cash-settled and does not dilute ownership. Indirect impact through executive incentives tied to company performance.
• Employees: May observe executive compensation structures, potentially influencing morale or understanding of incentive programs.
• Management: Kyle Malady benefits from the deferred compensation plan, with payouts contingent on specific events and stock performance.

Next Steps

• Settlement of phantom stock units upon the occurrence of events established by the reporting person.
• Continued monitoring of Verizon's stock performance and executive compensation practices.

Key Dates

Keywords

Verizon Communications, VZ, Form 4, Insider Trading, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Executive Compensation, SEC Filing, Kyle Malady