October '23 Grading Recap
Published November 2nd, 2023
- Overall grading activity was up 9% in October vs September (and up 27% YoY). Excluding the large spike from CGC, grading activity was up 1% vs September (and up 19% YoY).
- PSA graded 1.20m cards - down 1% vs September and up 15% YoY
- CGC graded 272k cards - up 85% vs September and up 101% YoY
- SGC graded 129k cards [a record high] - up 12% vs September and up 59% YoY
- Beckett graded 75k cards - up 22% vs September and up 44% YoY
- Overall grading activity was up 9% in October vs September (and up 27% YoY). Excluding the large spike from CGC, grading activity was up 1% vs September (and up 19% YoY).
- PSA graded 1.20m cards - down 1% vs September and up 15% YoY
- CGC graded 272k cards - up 85% vs September and up 101% YoY
- SGC graded 129k cards [a record high] - up 12% vs September and up 59% YoY
- Beckett graded 75k cards - up 22% vs September and up 44% YoY
October Grading Summary
October Grading Summary - Sports
October Grading Summary - TCG+
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
October 2023 PSA Grading Recap
- PSA graded 1,199,792 items during October; total output declined 1% vs September, but was up 15% year-over-year.
- PSA graded 1,199,792 items during October; total output declined 1% vs September, but was up 15% year-over-year.
Category Summary
Football jumps while TCG dips
- TCG was 44% of cards graded (vs 48% in September)
- Football card grading activity jumped 44% in October as PSA likely worked through submissions related to its September special. TCG activity dropped 7% in October.
Set Summary - Sports & Other
2022 Select football claims the top spot
Set Summary - TCG+
More of the same as Japanese Pokemon holds 8 of the 10 spots
Player Summary - Sports & Other
Ohtani now more than double the next closest player
Subject Summary - TCG
Pikachu hangs onto the top spot, just ahead of Charizard
Card Summary - Sports & Other
Ohtani, Elly, and Victor continue to dominate the leaderboard
Card Summary - TCG
A number of Japanese SV-P Promo cards move onto the list
What's Next for PSA?
- PSA delivered another solid performance in October, boosted by submissions from the September football special. TCG momentum slowed as grading activity dropped by 7% in October.
- PSA has now graded roughly 1.2 million cards for three consecutive months. They seem to be gearing up for holiday-related promotions; we'll see if this helps them surpass the 1.3 million card mark.
October 2023 SGC Grading Recap
- SGC graded 129,625 cards during October - a 12% increase vs September and a 59% increase year-over-year. October set a new record high for SGC.
- SGC graded 129,625 cards during October - a 12% increase vs September and a 59% increase year-over-year. October set a new record high for SGC.
Category Summary
Football and TCG are the key growth drivers in October
- Football and TCG growth helped SGC set a new record-high for items graded during October.
Set Summary
2023 Topps Chrome stays on top as the promo winds down
Player (& Subject) Summary
Michael Jordan moves past Shohei
Card Summary
Pokemon makes it first appearance on the leaderboard
What's Next for SGC?
- SGC set a record high for cards graded during October. While football played a large role, the company's efforts to increase its TCG presence is starting to pay dividends as it was a large source of incremental growth.
- SGC lowered pricing across the board in September which helped offset fewer cards being submitted as part of their promotion with Fanatics. With the new, cheaper grading options in place, we'll be interested to see if SGC has plans for other promotions around the holidays.
Other Graders - CGC
Category Summary
Set Summary
Card Summary
What's Next for CGC?
- CGC saw a significant increase in TCG grading in October, although the driving force is unclear. The mix of cards graded suggests the increase is largely due to partnerships or large customers rather than a sudden spike in widespread demand. Meanwhile, CGC sports is still working to regain momentum. Overall, a noteworthy month for CGC TCG, and we'll be watching to see if the momentum continues into November.
Other Charts - Beckett
Category Summary
Card Summary - Sports
Card Summary - TCG
What's Next for Beckett?
- Beckett's grading activity rebounded in October, with TCG accounting for over 50% of the graded cards. Overall, October appears consistent with their recent performance. Aside from a grading event in Las Vegas, Beckett remains relatively quiet. We are interested to see how active Beckett will be with promotions during the holiday season, considering their recent subdued activity.