[Form 4] CPI Card Group Inc. Insider Trading Activity
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
CPI Card Group Inc. President and CEO John Lowe reported routine equity compensation and related transactions in company securities. On March 31, 2026, he received 31,163 restricted stock units (RSUs), each representing one share of common stock upon vesting, and 114,431 shares of phantom stock, each economically equivalent to one common share and payable in cash based on future performance and stock price.
He also exercised 4,793 RSUs into the same number of common shares, increasing his direct common stock holdings, and 2,108 common shares were withheld by the company at $14.51 per share solely to satisfy mandatory tax obligations, which was not an open‑market sale. After these transactions, he directly held 61,606 shares of common stock, plus unvested RSUs and phantom stock awards that vest over future years if service and performance conditions are met.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
4,793 shares exercised/converted
Mixed
5 txns
Insider
LOWE JOHN
Role
President and CEO
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant/Award | Restricted Stock Units | 31,163 | $0.00 | -- |
| Grant/Award | Phantom Stock | 114,431 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Restricted Stock Units | 4,793 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 4,793 | $0.00 | -- |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 2,108 | $14.51 | $31K |
Holdings After Transaction:
Restricted Stock Units — 31,163 shares (Direct);
Phantom Stock — 114,431 shares (Direct);
Common Stock — 63,714 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
- Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents the right to receive one common share of the Issuer upon vesting of such RSU. Shares withheld by Issuer to satisfy the mandatory tax withholding requirement upon vesting of RSUs. Not an open market sale of securities. Represents a restricted stock unit award which vests in three substantially equal installments on March 31, 2027, 2028, and 2029, subject to the reporting person's continued service through such date or as otherwise provided for in the applicable award agreement. Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of the Issuer's common stock. The award is scheduled to vest shortly following the Expiration Date and settle in cash based on a combination of the average closing price of the Issuer's common stock during the last month of the performance period and the achievement of certain performance metrics during the performance period, subject to the reporting person's continuous service through the vesting date or as otherwise provided for in the applicable award agreement. This line reports RSUs that were awarded on the March 31, 2025 award date, which vested on the first anniversary of the award date. The remaining RSUs granted on the award date will vest in substantially equal installments on the second and third anniversaries of the award date, subject to the reporting person's continued service through such date or as otherwise provided for in the applicable award agreement.
Key Figures
RSU grant: 31,163 units
Phantom stock grant: 114,431 units
RSUs exercised: 4,793 units
+5 more
8 metrics
RSU grant
31,163 units
Restricted stock units granted on March 31, 2026
Phantom stock grant
114,431 units
Phantom stock awarded on March 31, 2026
RSUs exercised
4,793 units
RSUs converted into common stock on March 31, 2026
Shares withheld for taxes
2,108 shares
Common shares withheld at $14.51 for tax obligations
Tax withholding price
$14.51/share
Value used for shares withheld to satisfy taxes
Shares held after transactions
61,606 shares
Direct CPI Card Group common stock holdings after March 31, 2026
RSU vesting schedule
3 installments
RSUs vest on March 31, 2027, 2028, and 2029
Phantom stock vesting date
December 31, 2028
Award vests shortly following expiration date
Key Terms
Restricted Stock Units, phantom stock, tax withholding, performance metrics, +1 more
5 terms
Restricted Stock Units financial
"Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents the right to receive one common share..."
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
phantom stock financial
"Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of the Issuer's common stock."
A phantom stock is a form of compensation that gives employees or executives the benefits of stock ownership, such as the increase in stock value, without actually giving them real shares. It acts like a promise to pay the employee the equivalent value of company stock later, often as a bonus or incentive. This allows companies to motivate and reward staff without diluting ownership or transferring actual shares.
tax withholding financial
"Shares withheld by Issuer to satisfy the mandatory tax withholding requirement upon vesting of RSUs."
Tax withholding is the practice of taking a portion of a payment—such as wages, dividends, or sale proceeds—before it reaches the recipient and sending that portion to the tax authority as an advance on the recipient’s eventual tax bill. For investors it matters because withholding reduces immediate cash received and affects after‑tax returns, estimated tax payments, and whether you may owe more or receive a refund when taxes are finally calculated, like having a small automatic savings set aside for your tax bill.
performance metrics financial
"based on a combination of the average closing price... and the achievement of certain performance metrics during the performance period"
Performance metrics are concrete numbers or ratios that show how well a business, product, or investment is doing—like speed, fuel use and mileage on a car’s dashboard. They measure things investors care about, such as sales growth, profitability, cash flow, customer retention or efficiency, so readers can compare progress, spot strengths or problems, and make informed decisions about buying, holding or selling shares.
vesting financial
"award which vests in three substantially equal installments on March 31, 2027, 2028, and 2029"
Vesting is the process by which you earn full ownership of something, like company stock or a retirement benefit, over time. It’s like earning the right to keep a gift piece by piece the longer you stay with a company, making sure employees stay committed before they receive all the benefits.
FAQ
What insider transactions did CPI Card Group (PMTS) CEO John Lowe report?
John Lowe reported equity compensation activity, including RSU and phantom stock grants, an RSU vesting into common shares, and company share withholding for taxes. These are routine compensation-related transactions rather than open-market buying or selling of CPI Card Group common stock.
How many restricted stock units did the PMTS CEO receive in this Form 4?
John Lowe received a grant of 31,163 restricted stock units, each convertible into one CPI Card Group common share upon vesting. The award vests in three substantially equal installments on March 31, 2027, 2028, and 2029, contingent on his continued service or as otherwise specified.
What is the phantom stock award reported for CPI Card Group (PMTS) CEO?
The Form 4 shows a grant of 114,431 phantom stock units, each economically equivalent to one CPI Card Group common share. This award is scheduled to vest after December 31, 2028 and settle in cash, based on average closing price and specified performance metrics over the performance period.
What does transaction code M mean in the CPI Card Group (PMTS) Form 4?
Transaction code M indicates the exercise or conversion of a derivative security, such as RSUs, into common shares. Here, 4,793 restricted stock units were converted into 4,793 CPI Card Group common shares, increasing the CEO’s direct share holdings rather than reflecting an open‑market purchase.