March '23 Grading Recap

Published April 3rd, 2023
  • Overall grading activity increased by 19% in March vs February.
  • Both PSA and SGC achieved record-breaking months.
    • PSA graded 1.22m cards - up 22% vs Feb and up 24% YoY
    • SGC graded 121k cards - up 31% vs Feb and up 17% YoY
    • Beckett graded 71k cards - up 11% vs Feb and down 7% YoY
    • CGC graded 84k cards - down 17% vs Feb
    • CSG results are not being reported as the pop report remains under maintenance
March Grading Summary
Items Graded - by Month
Items Graded - by Month - Excluding PSA
Category Comparison
TCG Cards Graded at PSA
Items Graded by Era
Gem Rate Breakdown by Era

March 2023 PSA Grading Recap

  • PSA graded 1,225,704 items during March; total output was up 22% vs February and up 24% year-over-year.

Category Summary

TCG continues to reach new highs

  • TCG was 40% of the cards graded by PSA in March.
  • Baseball (+31%), non-sport (+41%), and football (+27%) were amongst the faster growing categories in March.

Set Summary - Sports & Other

2022 Bowman baseball holds onto the top spot

  • Added to the list in March: 1986 Fleer basketball, 2022 Mosaic football and 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome Autographs
  • Dropping from the list: 2021 Prizm and 2021 Donruss Optic basketball and 2022 Bowman Chrome Prospect

Set Summary - TCG+

Japanese Sword and Shield Vstar Universe's lead accelerates

  • Added to the list in March: 2023 Pokemon Sword and Shield Crown Zenith, 2022 Pokemon Sword and Shield Brilliant Stars, 2021 Pokemon Japanese Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition, 2021 Pokemon Japanese Sword & Shield Vmax Climax, and 2021 Pokemon Japanese Sword & Shield Eevee Heroes
  • Dropping from the list: 2020 Sword & Shield Vivid Voltage, 2019 Pokemon Sun & Moon Hidden Fates, 2016 XY Evolutions, 2000 Pokemon Rocket, and 1999 Pokemon German

Player Summary - Sports & Other

Michael Jordan activity sees a large increase

Subject Summary - TCG

New entrants emerge in March

Card Summary - Sports & Other

2022 Topps Update Julio Rodriguez hangs onto the top spot

Card Summary - TCG

2022 Pokemon releases continue to dominate

What's Next for PSA?

  • March was a record month for PSA - both overall and for TCG volume. TCG grading continues to thrive across the hobby and has driven significant incremental volume for PSA over the past five months. So long as TCG volume remains strong - PSA appears to be poised for meaningful growth in 2023.

March 2023 SGC Grading Recap

  • SGC graded 121,423 cards during March - a 31% increase vs February and a 17% increase year-over-year.

Category Summary

Baseball dominates thanks to the 2023 Topps promotion

Set Summary

2023 Topps is the story

Player (& Subject) Summary

2023 Topps impacts all but two spots

Card Summary

What's Next for SGC?

  • SGC had a terrific March - easily posting a record high for the company. The 2023 Topps promotion was extremely effective in driving volume - 2023 Topps volume is already 5x 2022 Topps. Now that most slabs are in the hands of customers, SGC certainly would like to see them hold onto their value as the market settles.
  • With the Topps promotion now behind SGC, results will likely take a step back in April. That said, momentum is clearly on SGC’s side; their ability to build on internal efforts while also taking advantage of competitive confusion are important factors in driving sustained growth in 2023.

Other Charts - CGC

Set Summary

Card Summary

What's Next for CSG/CGC?

  • CSG's pop report was paused through all of March as the company focused on internal data initiatives. Getting their data in order is critical to building trust with customers, and while this process has clearly taken time and is not ideal, it's a good move in the long run.
  • CGC saw a decline in activity as the competitive environment remains challenging; it’s likely that the recent PSA and SGC specials are having an impact on results. However, CGC will look to bounce back in April as the competitive environment appears to be easing modestly.

Other Charts - Beckett

Category Summary

What's Next for Beckett?

  • Beckett had been quiet until late March, when news broke that the company was updating its grading scale. This has been a long-discussed topic, as Beckett has lost significant market share in the grading industry. Those leaked and later confirmed scale updates were very poorly received, and the company has had to reset plans that were initially communicated.
  • Beckett's loyal customers are losing faith in the company, and it is critical that Beckett overcommunicates with them and brings them closer to the process. The longer the company delays in taking action to address their concerns and restore their faith, the harder it may be to correct the mistakes that have already been made.