Do Pokémon Cards Hold Up Better Than REITs During Downturns?
Investors often wonder if collectibles like Pokémon cards can beat traditional assets in tough economic times. Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, own properties and pay dividends from rent, but they drop hard when interest rates rise or recessions hit because borrowing gets expensive and tenants struggle. Pokémon cards, on the other hand, are physical items collectors chase for rarity and nostalgia, not tied to daily market swings.
Think about past downturns. During the 2008 financial crash, REIT indexes like the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs fell over 60 percent from peak to bottom. High interest rates crushed their values since REITs rely on cheap debt to buy buildings. Even in the 2022 market dip, when inflation spiked, REITs lost about 25 percent as rates climbed fast.
Pokémon cards tell a different story. They thrive on fan demand that sticks around no matter the economy. Kids and adults keep trading and buying favorites like Charizard or Pikachu cards during holidays. Retailers like Kohl’s just highlighted strong sales of Pokémon trading cards in their Q3 2025 earnings, right amid holiday shopping buzz.[1] Target pushed up to 50 percent off Pokémon toys and cards in their Cyber Monday deals, showing steady pull even in a shaky retail world.[2] These aren’t price crashes; they are hot items pulling crowds when people cut back on big spends.
Why the edge for cards? REITs follow stock market fear, with values linked to property values and loans. Pokémon cards ignore that. Their prices come from auctions, shops, and sites like ours at PokemonPricing.com, driven by scarcity and hype. Rare graded cards from the 1990s have climbed 20 to 50 times their original cost over decades, holding steady or gaining in slumps because collectors treat them like portable gold.
Grading matters a ton. A PSA 10 gem mint card locks in value better than stocks in a panic. During COVID lockdowns in 2020, when REITs tanked 40 percent, Pokémon card sales exploded online as people hunted hobbies. Prices for top sets doubled or tripled that year.
Of course, cards are not risk-free. Fakes exist, and trends shift if new games fade. But for short-term dips, they dodge the broad sell-off that hits REITs. Check current listings on PokemonPricing.com: vintage cards stay firm while REIT funds wobble with every Fed announcement.
Retail proof keeps coming. Kohl’s noted Pokémon as a key toy draw this holiday, with sales up alongside Lego and Barbie despite soft spots in other areas.[1] Target’s discounts flew off shelves, proving demand holds when budgets tighten.[2] REITs? They mirror broader woes like Kohl’s own credit dips or home goods slumps.
For folks eyeing alternatives, track both. REITs offer steady income in booms but crater in busts. Pokémon cards give that collector thrill with less correlation to Wall Street pain. Dive into our price guides here to see real-time holds versus REIT charts.
