Grading companies’ population reports, often referred to as “pop reports,” are essentially censuses compiled by third-party professional grading companies like PSA, BGS, and SGC. These reports list all the trading cards, coins, or other collectibles that have been graded by the company and provide population totals for each item at every numeric grade level.
Rarity Assessment: Collectors use pop reports to determine how rare a particular item is in a specific grade. For example, if only a few cards of a certain type have received a high grade, those cards are considered rare and potentially more valuable.
Market Value Estimation: Knowing the population of graded items helps collectors and investors estimate the market value. Items with lower populations in higher grades often command higher prices.
Investment Decisions: Investors use pop reports to make informed decisions about which items to buy, hold, or sell based on their rarity and potential for appreciation.
Collection Management: Collectors can track the population of items in their collection and compare them to the overall population, helping them understand the uniqueness and value of their collection.
Authentication and Verification: Pop reports provide a way to verify the authenticity and grade of an item, as they are maintained by reputable grading companies.