Form 4: Verizon SVP Acquires Phantom Stock in Deferred Plan

Verizon's SVP and Controller, Mary-Lee Stillwell, acquired 43.389 phantom stock units through a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• Mary-Lee Stillwell, SVP and Controller of Verizon Communications Inc., acquired 43.389 phantom stock units.
• The transaction occurred on April 23, 2026, as part of a pre-arranged plan.
• Each phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and is settled in cash.
• The acquisition was part of a deferred compensation plan, with units becoming payable upon events established by the reporting person.
• The price per phantom stock unit for this transaction was $13.47.
• Following this transaction, Ms. Stillwell beneficially owns a total of 16,219.953 phantom stock units indirectly through the deferred compensation plan.
• This total includes phantom stock units acquired through dividend reinvestment.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a moderately positive signal, as an executive's acquisition of equity-linked compensation generally reflects confidence in the company's long-term prospects.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock units by a senior executive indicates continued alignment of management's interests with shareholder value, as these units are tied to the company's common stock performance.
• The increase in beneficial ownership suggests confidence in the company's future prospects.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain explicit forward-looking statements or guidance, as it is a report of a past transaction. However, the phantom stock units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan, implying future payouts.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that insider transactions, particularly acquisitions of equity-linked instruments like phantom stock, are often viewed by the market as a signal of management's confidence in the company's future performance. In the telecommunications industry, executive compensation frequently includes such long-term incentives to align with strategic goals and shareholder returns.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• This type of deferred compensation plan involving phantom stock is a common practice in large, established companies like Verizon, aligning executive incentives with long-term company performance.
• Many S&P 500 companies utilize similar equity-based or equity-linked compensation structures for their senior executives.
• For example, competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile also employ various forms of restricted stock units or performance share units as part of their executive compensation packages, which serve a similar purpose of linking executive wealth to company stock performance over time.

Related Party Transactions

• The acquisition of phantom stock by a senior executive is a related party transaction, representing a component of executive compensation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Potentially positive, as the executive's increased beneficial ownership aligns their interests with long-term shareholder value creation.

Next Steps

• The phantom stock units become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing reports a routine acquisition of phantom stock by a senior executive as part of a deferred compensation plan. While it indicates management's continued alignment with shareholder interests, it does not present new fundamental information about Verizon's operational or financial performance that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate, maintaining current positions based on broader company fundamentals rather than this specific insider transaction.

Keywords

Verizon, VZ, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Phantom Stock, Deferred Compensation, Executive Compensation, Mary-Lee Stillwell