Form 4: Verizon Officer Acquires Phantom Stock in Compensation Plan

Verizon's EVP and Chief Legal Officer, Vandana Venkatesh, acquired 112.338 units of phantom stock through a deferred compensation plan, effective January 29, 2026.

Summary

• Vandana Venkatesh, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), acquired 112.338 units of phantom stock.
• The transaction date for this acquisition is January 29, 2026.
• 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 units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.
• The acquisition occurred indirectly through a deferred compensation plan.
• Following this transaction, Venkatesh beneficially owns 48,316.03 phantom stock units, which includes units acquired through dividend reinvestment.
• The derivative security (phantom stock) was acquired at a price of $11.37 per unit.
• The underlying security for the phantom stock is Common Stock, with an amount of 32 shares referenced.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a slightly positive, routine disclosure. While not a direct stock purchase, the acquisition of phantom stock aligns executive interests with shareholder value, indicating continued commitment to the company's long-term performance.

Positives

• An executive acquiring phantom stock, even if part of a compensation plan, aligns their interests with shareholders, potentially fostering long-term growth.
• The increase in beneficial ownership of phantom stock indicates continued participation in the company's long-term incentive plans.

Negatives

• No direct negatives are apparent from this routine compensation filing.

Risks

• No specific risks are mentioned in this Form 4 filing.

Future Outlook

This Form 4 filing does not contain specific forward-looking statements or guidance beyond the future transaction date for the phantom stock acquisition.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that executive compensation often includes equity-linked instruments like phantom stock, which are common in large telecommunications companies like Verizon to align executive incentives with long-term company performance. This type of filing is a routine disclosure of such compensation.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• This is a standard Form 4 filing for an executive's acquisition of phantom stock as part of a deferred compensation plan. Such plans are widely used across the S&P 500, including peers like AT&T and T-Mobile, to retain key talent and incentivize performance. The specific terms (e.g., conversion ratio, vesting schedule) are typical for executive compensation packages, though not fully detailed in this specific Form 4.

Management Changes

Corporate Governance

Legal Proceedings

• No legal or regulatory matters are mentioned in this filing.

Related Party Transactions

• This filing details an indirect acquisition of phantom stock by an executive through a deferred compensation plan, which is a form of related party transaction in the context of executive compensation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The acquisition of phantom stock by an executive generally aligns management's interests with shareholder value, potentially fostering long-term growth.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated.

Next Steps

• The phantom stock units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan, but no specific future events or milestones are detailed in this filing.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing reports a routine executive compensation event involving phantom stock acquisition. It does not present new information that would significantly alter the fundamental investment thesis for Verizon, warranting a 'hold' recommendation based solely on this filing.

Keywords

Verizon, VZ, Vandana Venkatesh, EVP Chief Legal Officer, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Insider Transaction, SEC Form 4, Executive Compensation, Beneficial Ownership