Grading Opportunity is a heatmap visualization that identifies the most active grading candidates across different price ranges and grading multiplier combinations. The metric creates a 16×6 grid (96 cells) showing the most liquid card in each price × ratio bucket, where price buckets range from $10-20 up to $1000+, and ratio buckets range from 2-4x up to 30x+ grading multipliers. Each cell displays the most actively traded card (highest annual sales volume) that falls into that specific price and multiplier combination, helping identify profitable grading opportunities with real market liquidity.

The methodology for Grading Opportunity is outlined as follows:

Card Selection: All cards priced ≥$10 with valid ungraded and PSA 10 pricing. Requires PSA 10 price to exceed ungraded price plus $25 grading fee. Minimum 2x grading multiplier required.

Heatmap Structure:
  • X-axis (Price): 16 buckets ($10-20, $20-30, ..., $90-100, $100-200, ..., $1000+)
  • Y-axis (Multiplier): 6 buckets (2-4x, 4-6x, 6-10x, 10-15x, 15-30x, 30x+)

Selection Logic: For each bucket combination, identifies all qualifying cards and selects the most liquid card based on raw sales. 

Metrics Provided:
  • Ungraded Price: Current raw card price
  • PSA 10 Price: Current graded price
  • Grading Multiplier: PSA 10 price ÷ ungraded price
  • Grading Profit: PSA 10 price - ungraded price - $25 grading fee
  • Annual Sales Volume: Market activity indicator

Data Source: PriceCharting.

Parameters: $10 minimum price, $25 grading fee.

Grading Opportunity enables collectors and investors to systematically identify profitable grading candidates across different price points and multiplier ranges. The heatmap structure reveals where the best grading opportunities exist in the market—whether in low-cost cards with extreme multipliers or high-value cards with moderate multipliers. By showing the most liquid card in each bucket (highest sales volume), the metric ensures recommended grading targets have active markets for resale. This helps optimize grading strategies by matching investment capital to appropriate price ranges, identifying which multiplier tiers offer sufficient profit after grading costs, and focusing on cards with proven market demand rather than illiquid outliers.

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