CPI Card Group Inc. (PMTS) AI Stock Analysis
PMTS AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchCPI Card Group Inc. (PMTS) produces and personalizes financial payment cards across debit, credit, and prepaid debit segments. The company generated $587.3M in trailing twelve-month revenue, but net income margins have compressed down to 2.3%. While free cash flow rose to $41.3M in FY2025, the company maintains a leveraged balance sheet with -$11.5M in shareholders' equity.
- Market cap
- $287.7M
- Revenue (TTM)
- $587.3M
- P/E
- 21.8x fwd 7.1x
- 1Y return
- 62.5% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $32.50 30.9% vs last close
Bull case
- Analysts maintain a unanimous consensus with 4 Strong Buy ratings and a mean price target of $32.50.
- Free cash flow expanded to $41.3M in FY2025, up from $10.2M generated in FY2021.
- Trailing price-to-sales of 0.5x and forward P/E of 7.1x sit well below peer medians of 3.2x and 10.8x.
Bear case
- The balance sheet carries negative shareholders' equity of -$11.5M alongside $275.2M in total debt.
- Net profit margin contracted from 7.7% in FY2022 to 2.3% on a trailing twelve-month basis.
- Long-term stock performance lagged broader markets, posting a 3.0% decline over five years versus an 83.0% gain for the S&P 500.
What CPI Card does
CPI Card Group Inc. provides lifecycle management for financial payment cards, encompassing design, production, data personalization, packaging, and fulfillment services. The company functions through two segments: Debit and Credit, and Prepaid Debit. Its Debit and Credit segment manufactures EMV-compliant, non-EMV, and metal cards, serving card-issuing banks, credit unions, and private label credit card issuers with personalization and instant issuance solutions. The Prepaid Debit segment offers integrated card services, including tamper-evident security packaging and card manufacturing for major payment card networks. Founded in 2007 and based in Littleton, Colorado, the company rebranded to CPI Card Group Inc. in August 2015.
Growth and profitability
Revenue expanded at an 11.7% CAGR from FY2020 through FY2025, rising from $375.1M in FY2021 to $543.5M in FY2025, despite a 6.6% decline in FY2023. Operating margins contracted over the same period, declining from 15.9% in FY2021 to 10.1% in FY2025, while gross margin decreased from 37.7% to 31.3%. Net income dropped from $36.5M in FY2022 to $14.9M in FY2025, though diluted EPS reached $2.69. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $587.3M with an operating margin of 5.6%. In the latest quarter, revenue grew 15.0% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings expanded 325.0%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, CPI Card Group held $21.4M in cash and short-term investments against $275.2M in total debt, resulting in net debt of $253.8M. Shareholders' equity was -$11.5M, reflecting negative equity, against total assets of $390.4M. Liquidity remains supported by a current ratio of 2.09. In FY2025, the company generated $59.5M in operating cash flow and invested $18.2M into capital expenditures, yielding $41.3M in free cash flow. Over five years, the share count changed by 1.5%.
Valuation and performance
CPI Card Group trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 21.8x, compared to 12.1x for the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers. Its forward P/E stands at 7.1x, below the peer median of 10.8x, alongside a PEG ratio of 0.57. Enterprise value to EBITDA is 6.7x, lower than the peer median of 11.7x, while price-to-sales is 0.5x versus 3.2x for peers. Over the past year, PMTS stock returned 62.5%, outperforming the S&P 500 benchmark return of 16.8%. Over a five-year period, the stock declined 3.0% compared to an 83.0% gain for the S&P 500.
What analysts expect
Four analysts cover CPI Card Group, with all 4 issuing Strong Buy ratings. The mean price target is $32.50, representing a 30.9% upside from the last closing price of $24.82. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $604.4M and EPS of $2.98, reflecting 54.6% EPS growth. For FY2027, 2 analysts project revenue of $653.7M and EPS of $3.49. CPI Card Group beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings report is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Net debt of $253.8M creates balance sheet leverage against $21.4M in cash and short-term investments.
- Operating margin narrowed from 15.9% in FY2021 to 5.6% over the trailing twelve months, signaling margin compression.
- Short interest stands at 5.2% of float, indicating lingering skepticism in the equity markets.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this PMTS AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of CPI Card Group Inc. (PMTS). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: PMTS income statement, PMTS balance sheet, PMTS key metrics, PMTS analyst forecast, PMTS chart. See the PMTS stock overview for the latest quote and news.
PMTS AI stock analysis FAQ
Does CPI Card Group pay a dividend?
No, CPI Card Group does not currently pay a dividend to shareholders.
What are analysts forecasting for PMTS earnings and revenue?
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $2.98 on revenue of $604.4M. For FY2027, estimates call for EPS of $3.49 on revenue of $653.7M.
What is CPI Card Group's debt position?
As of June 30, 2026, CPI Card Group carried $275.2M in total debt and $21.4M in cash, resulting in net debt of $253.8M and negative shareholders' equity of -$11.5M.
When is CPI Card Group's next earnings date?
The company's next earnings release date is scheduled for November 3, 2026.