The Return on Pokémon Collectible Cards Outperformed NVIDIA Graphics Cards

Investors are showing increased interest in Pokémon cards, evaluating their potential returns. Some collectors compare their performance with NVIDIA stocks. Such comparisons provoke debates among analysts and market participants.

The collectible card index reflects the average price of a set of cards, usually based on verified sales. According to analysts, the Card Ladder index for Pokémon has grown approximately 40 times from early 2019 to October 2026. NVIDIA stocks during the same period showed almost the same growth—about 41 times. Thus, in terms of returns, the cards and the chipmaker's shares are on par. However, much depends on the starting point—a slight shift in time changes the final return, so it's more accurate to compare data as a one-time snapshot.

During this period, the Pokémon index also outpaced Bitcoin and gold, attracting the attention of collectors and investors. Card Ladder considers verified sales on major platforms, so the platform's data is considered representative. The index is heavily influenced by the calculation method: one high-profile sale can sharply change the price. Before using the result, it's important to see how it was obtained.

The interest is supported by young collectors. From time to time, individual high-profile deals bring cards into the spotlight.

Experts warn: liquidity, appraisal costs, and condition make cards much riskier than publicly traded stocks. They cannot be sold instantly, unlike NVIDIA stocks, which have a liquid market and transparent price history. With collectible assets, it's more complicated.

Before comparing returns, it's important to consider storage costs, commissions, and the speed of sale. Short-term investors are at the greatest risk: for them, it's especially important to plan the investment period and think in advance about how to exit the position.