Canonical URL: https://giftcard.news/payments-technology/cpi-q2-2026-prepaid-revenue-accounting-comparison-6d325bca5c34/ --- description: CPI’s Q2 2026 prepaid results show reported growth but an adjusted decline. We explain the accounting change and the company’s Karta security strategy. title: CPI’s prepaid results show why the accounting comparison matters image: https://giftcard.news/images/social/v1/cpi-s-prepaid-results-show-why-accounting-comparison-matters-b71793efe60fd557f158361aa1eb27a9.jpg --- 1. [Home](https://giftcard.news/) 2. [Payments & Technology](https://giftcard.news/payments-technology/) # CPI’s prepaid results show why the accounting comparison matters CPI’s prepaid revenue rose against the reported 2025 base but fell against its accounting-adjusted comparison, while security investment continued. By [Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/) August 6, 2026 4 min read [ Google News ](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=giftcard.news&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news) Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fpayments-technology%2Fcpi-q2-2026-prepaid-revenue-accounting-comparison-6d325bca5c34%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=CPI%E2%80%99s+prepaid+results+show+why+the+accounting+comparison+matters&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fpayments-technology%2Fcpi-q2-2026-prepaid-revenue-accounting-comparison-6d325bca5c34%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=CPI%E2%80%99s+prepaid+results+show+why+the+accounting+comparison+matters+https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fpayments-technology%2Fcpi-q2-2026-prepaid-revenue-accounting-comparison-6d325bca5c34%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "WhatsApp") ![Three CPI prepaid and gift card packages against a blue background](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/cpi-s-prepaid-results-show-why-accounting-comparison-matters-three-gift-card-w1024.webp) Official prepaid packaging illustration. It does not depict the SafeToBuy pilot or identify its retailer. Photo: CPI Card Group [CPI Card Group](https://giftcard.news/company/cpi-card-group/)’s August 6, 2026 results show why a headline growth rate can mislead when the accounting basis changes. Second-quarter Prepaid Solutions revenue was $22.645 million, up 17.8% against the reported prior-year figure but down 6.7% against CPI’s accounting-adjusted comparison. Management described demand in the segment as uneven. [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) ## A manufacturer behind the card rack CPI supplies payment cards and related services to financial institutions and prepaid programme managers. Its annual filing explains that programme managers distribute the prepaid cards and secure packaging it produces into retail channels. CPI therefore sits upstream of the shopper buying a card, supplying physical production, personalisation and security rather than reporting the balance consumers load onto cards. [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) That position changes the meaning of its results. A manufacturing order may precede the eventual retail sale. The timing of shipments, customer inventory and revenue recognition can affect a quarter without an equivalent movement in consumer gift card purchases. CPI’s figures are useful evidence about a supplier, not a stand-alone measure of the entire gift card market. The data behind the story ### CPI first-half reported prepaid revenue Six-month supplier segment revenue in the current segment presentation. Reported Prepaid Solutions revenue USD million Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table. Source CPI August 6 results, six-month segment table Reported supplier revenue, not card loads. Accounting-adjusted2025 revenue was USD51.303million, so the adjusted decline differs from this reported comparison. Show data tableHide data table Scroll left or right to see all columns __CPI first-half reported prepaid revenue (USD million)__ | Category | Reported Prepaid Solutions revenue | | --------------- | ---------------------------------- | | First half 2025 | 45.935 USD million | | First half 2026 | 44.694 USD million | ## The two comparison bases CPI changed recognition for certain prepaid work-in-process orders to the point of shipment during 2025\. Its reconciliation gives a 2025 second-quarter comparison of $24.274 million after adjustment, rather than the $19.222 million originally reported. The table and chart show both bases so readers can distinguish reported growth from a more comparable operating trend. [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) Show data tableHide data table Scroll left or right to see all columns __The two comparison bases__ | Prepaid Solutions, Q2 | Revenue | | ------------------------ | --------------- | | 2025 reported | $19.222 million | | 2025 accounting-adjusted | $24.274 million | | 2026 reported | $22.645 million | Your free reader account ## Continue reading for free. Create your account or sign in to get unlimited access. Continue with LinkedIn Continue with Google Continue with Facebook No payment required. Newsletter signup is optional. [Already registered? Sign in](https://giftcard.news/login/?returnTo=%2Fpayments-technology%2Fcpi-q2-2026-prepaid-revenue-accounting-comparison-6d325bca5c34%2F) ## In this article ### Companies * [CPI Card Group](https://giftcard.news/company/cpi-card-group/) * [Karta](https://giftcard.news/company/karta/) ### Sources and documents * [\[S01\] Q2 results and Exhibit F reconciliation](https://investor.cpicardgroup.com/news/news-details/2026/CPI-Reports-Strong-Second-Quarter-2026-Results/default.aspx?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news) — CPI Card Group * [\[S02\] 2025 annual filing, prepaid business model](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1641614/000110465926023812/pmts-20251231x10k.htm?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news) — CPI Card Group * [\[S03\] October 2025 partnership background](https://s203.q4cdn.com/923520534/files/doc%5Fnews/CPI-Card-Group-Partners-With-Karta-to-Deliver-Groundbreaking-Digital-Security-for-Prepaid-Cards-2025.pdf?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news) — CPI Card Group * [\[S04\] First-quarter2026 results and Karta equity-loss disclosure](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1641614/000110465926055234/pmts-20260505xex99d1.htm?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news) — CPI Card Group / SEC Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fpayments-technology%2Fcpi-q2-2026-prepaid-revenue-accounting-comparison-6d325bca5c34%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=CPI%E2%80%99s+prepaid+results+show+why+the+accounting+comparison+matters&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fpayments-technology%2Fcpi-q2-2026-prepaid-revenue-accounting-comparison-6d325bca5c34%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=CPI%E2%80%99s+prepaid+results+show+why+the+accounting+comparison+matters+https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fpayments-technology%2Fcpi-q2-2026-prepaid-revenue-accounting-comparison-6d325bca5c34%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "WhatsApp") ![Portrait of Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait-w320.webp) About the author ## [Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/) Journalist — Gift Cards & Digital Gifting Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News. From reading to building ## Your next move in gift cards. Tell us what you’re building. We’ll help you explore suitable providers. [Find a provider ](https://giftcard.news/find-a-provider/) ## Related articles [Payments & Technology](https://giftcard.news/payments-technology/) News ### [PhonePe turns Indus Appstore into a browser-accessible gift-card marketplace](https://giftcard.news/payments-technology/phonepe-appstore-browser-gift-card-marketplace/) [Daniel Brooks](https://giftcard.news/author/daniel-brooks/) October 28, 2026 3 min [Payments & Technology](https://giftcard.news/payments-technology/) News ### [Square builds gift-card scanning into new restaurant kiosk](https://giftcard.news/payments-technology/square-kiosk-built-in-gift-card-scanning-franchise-management/) [Daniel Brooks](https://giftcard.news/author/daniel-brooks/) October 14, 2026 3 min [Payments & Technology](https://giftcard.news/payments-technology/) News ### [Steam Japan wallet report contrasts expiry clause with support response](https://giftcard.news/payments-technology/steam-japan-wallet-expiry-clause-support-clarification-report/) [Maya Bennett](https://giftcard.news/author/maya-bennett/) October 9, 2026 2 min ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","@id":"https://giftcard.news/#publisher","name":"Gift Card News","url":"https://giftcard.news/","description":"News and analysis covering gift cards, retail, loyalty, rewards and payments worldwide.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/icon-512.png","contentUrl":"https://giftcard.news/icon-512.png","width":512,"height":512,"@id":"https://giftcard.news/#logo"},"publishingPrinciples":"https://giftcard.news/editorial-policy/","correctionsPolicy":"https://giftcard.news/editorial-policy/"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://giftcard.news/#website","url":"https://giftcard.news/","name":"Gift Card News","description":"News and analysis covering gift cards, retail, loyalty, rewards and payments worldwide.","inLanguage":"en","publisher":{"@id":"https://giftcard.news/#publisher"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://giftcard.news/search/?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/#person","name":"Suzie Elis","url":"https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/","description":"Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News.","jobTitle":"Journalist — Gift Cards & Digital Gifting","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/images/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait.webp","contentUrl":"https://giftcard.news/images/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait.webp","width":1254,"height":1254,"caption":"Illustrated portrait representing the Suzie Elis editorial profile.","@id":"https://giftcard.news/images/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait.webp#image","encodingFormat":"image/webp","description":"Illustrated portrait for Suzie Elis, a Gift Card News editorial pen name","creditText":"Gift Card News / AI-generated illustration"}},{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/images/cpi-s-prepaid-results-show-why-accounting-comparison-matters-three-gift-card.webp","contentUrl":"https://giftcard.news/images/cpi-s-prepaid-results-show-why-accounting-comparison-matters-three-gift-card.webp","width":1024,"height":1024,"caption":"Official prepaid packaging illustration. 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