CAGR Calculator · 4 Benchmarks · Storage Costs · Free
Sealed Product Yield Calculator
Is your sealed wax beating the stock market? Input your purchase details, see annualized returns, and compare against S&P 500, gold, bonds, and inflation.
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Add a sealed product above to see its annualized return compared to S&P 500, gold, bonds, and inflation. Use presets for quick analysis.
Sealed Product Investment Tips
Buy at release, not after hype
The best returns come from buying at release price and holding through player breakouts. Chasing hype products at inflated prices rarely works.
Hobby boxes outperform retail
Hobby boxes have historically appreciated faster than retail/blaster formats. The lower print runs and guaranteed hits make them more collectible.
Storage matters more than you think
Climate-controlled storage at $10/month wipes 2-4% off annualized returns on a $300 box. Factor this in before calling it an investment.
Diversify across sports and years
Don't go all-in on one sport or era. The best sealed portfolios spread across 3+ sports and multiple release years to smooth volatility.
Liquidity is limited
Unlike stocks, selling sealed product takes time and effort. eBay fees are 13%+, and shipping heavy boxes costs $10-20. Factor in sell costs.
Insurance is non-negotiable
Sealed product over $1,000 total value should be insured. A burst pipe or theft can wipe out years of appreciation in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the annualized return (CAGR) calculated?+
We use the Compound Annual Growth Rate formula: CAGR = (Current Value / Purchase Price)^(1/Years) - 1. This gives the equivalent constant annual return rate that would take your purchase price to the current value over the holding period. It accounts for compounding, making it directly comparable to stock market or bond returns.
What benchmarks do you compare against?+
We compare your sealed product return against four benchmarks: S&P 500 (~10.5% historical annual return), Gold (~8.1% over last 10 years), US Treasury Bonds (~4.2% 10-year yield), and CPI Inflation (~3.2% recent average). If your sealed product CAGR exceeds a benchmark, it outperformed that asset class over the same period.
Should I factor in storage costs?+
Yes! Storage costs eat into returns, especially for long-term holds. A climate-controlled storage unit runs $50-150/month. Even home storage has opportunity cost. Our calculator includes an optional monthly storage cost input that reduces your net return. A box appreciating 8% annually but costing $10/month to store properly may only net 3-4% after storage.
Which sealed products have historically performed best?+
Vintage sealed wax (pre-1990) has been the strongest performer, with some 1980s boxes returning 20-40% annually. Modern hobby boxes from popular sets (Topps Chrome, Prizm) can perform well short-term around player breakouts. ETBs and retail products generally appreciate less than hobby boxes. Products from low-print-run years (2020-2021 COVID era) have also shown strong returns.
How accurate are the benchmark comparisons?+
The benchmarks use long-term historical averages, not the actual return for your specific holding period. For example, the S&P 500 returned ~10.5% annually over the last 30 years, but any given 2-year period could be much higher or lower. The comparison gives a general sense of how sealed products perform vs traditional investments, not an exact head-to-head for your exact dates.