Is Connor McDavid #S-5 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2016 SP Authentic Spectrum FX · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Connor McDavid #S-5 sell for $11.00, only $7.09 above the $3.91 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($9.96) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.91
- Grade 9.5
- $11.00
- PSA 9
- $9.96
- Gem premium
- 2.8×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $11.00 | −$17.91 | −$42.91 | −$143 |
| PSA 9 | $9.96 | −$18.95 | −$43.95 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $3.91 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $10.22 | −$43.69 |
| 50% | $10.48 | −$43.43 |
| 75% | $10.74 | −$43.17 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Connor McDavid #S-5 — FAQ
Is Connor McDavid #S-5 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Connor McDavid #S-5 sell for $11.00, only $7.09 above the $3.91 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($9.96) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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