Rare Trading Cards Outperform Wall Street Performance
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 29 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EBAY?
Source: CNBC
- Alternative Asset Surge: As collectors increasingly view 1990s and 2000s Pokémon cards as alternative assets, trading card indexes have surged during the pandemic and are expected to rise again in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500's average annual return of 10% to 12%.
- Scarcity Drives Prices: For instance, a rare Pikachu Illustrator card owned by Logan Paul sold for over $16 million in February, setting a record for the highest price ever paid for a trading card at auction, highlighting the scarcity and demand in the high-end market.
- Grading Impacts Value: The condition and grading of cards are critical to their value, with a perfect condition card potentially worth $100,000, but only fetching 1% to 2% of that value if in lower condition, indicating the significant premium for graded 10 cards in the Pokémon market.
- Market Risks and Volatility: While sales of non-sports trading cards surged 350% from 2020 to 2025, the prices are highly volatile and influenced by hype, lacking the stability of traditional markets, which necessitates caution for investors.
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Analyst Views on EBAY
Wall Street analysts forecast EBAY stock price to fall
8 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
5 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 108.130
Low
60.00
Averages
95.00
High
112.00
Current: 108.130
Low
60.00
Averages
95.00
High
112.00
About EBAY
eBay Inc. is a global commerce company. The Company's technology empowers buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets globally. Its online marketplace is located at www.ebay.com and its localized counterparts, its off-platform marketplaces and its mobile apps. Its Marketplace platforms enable buyers and sellers to its global scale and continue investments in technology, marketing and customer service. Its eBay Money-Back Guarantee program allows buyers to obtain a refund if an item does not arrive, is damaged or faulty, or differs materially from its description, and applies to most purchases completed through payment methods. It develops intuitive user interfaces; buyer, seller and developer tools; and transaction processing, databases and network applications that enable its users to complete transactions on its Marketplace platforms. Its technology infrastructure simplifies the storage and processing of data, eases the deployment and operation of global products and services.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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