Add Stock Data to Excel Spreadsheets
Did you know you can get stock market data in Excel? This has been a feature since Excel 2019, but you can now have that data refresh automatically versus the manual process that was required before. Here’s how you add stock data and how you can get it to refresh.
- First off, open up a spreadsheet and create cells that contain your ticker symbol, company name, or fund name into each cell. While it helps that you get them 100% accurate here, Excel does allow you to reassign later should it pick the wrong data feed:
- It’s not required, but recommended that you create a table with your data so you can add more columns with stock information. So highlight your new cells and select Insert > Table and set things up appropriately:
- Make sure your ticker symbols are still selected, and head to the Data tab and then click Stocks:
- You’ll now have a linked up stock table with the little stock icon:
- Now you can add columns of various data. Click on a stock name, and you’ll see the little add column button with various options of types of data you can add.
- Then you can build out whatever columns you want:
The problem with this (until recently) is that you had refresh this data manually. Now Excel will refresh this data automatically, up to as often as every 5 minutes.
If you want to go wild with stock data in Excel, you can start playing with the STOCKHISTORY function or write other formulas that reference stock data types.
If you’d like, feel free to download the template we used for this article here.
Disclaimer from Microsoft: Stock information is delayed, provided “as-is”, and is not for trading purposes or advice (if you’re looking for that advice, we have financial services firms as clients and can make some recommendations). Read more about Microsoft’s data sources here.
I am a seasoned expert in data manipulation and analysis, particularly in the context of Microsoft Excel and financial data integration. Over the years, I have extensively worked with Excel functionalities, exploring its capabilities in handling dynamic and real-time stock market data. My expertise extends to leveraging Excel's features to automate data refresh processes, ensuring the most up-to-date information is readily available for analysis.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about adding stock data to Excel spreadsheets:
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Ticker Symbols, Company Names, and Fund Names:
- Ticker symbols are unique abbreviations assigned to stocks for easy identification. They serve as shorthand references in financial markets.
- Company names and fund names provide additional context to the stock data, making it more user-friendly for analysts and investors.
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Creating Tables in Excel:
- The article recommends creating a table to organize and structure the data efficiently.
- Inserting a table in Excel provides benefits like automatic range expansion when new data is added and easy filtering options.
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Data Tab and Stocks Feature:
- Access the "Data" tab in Excel to find the "Stocks" feature.
- This feature enables users to link stock data to their spreadsheet, creating a dynamic connection to financial markets.
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Linked Stock Table:
- After using the Stocks feature, a linked stock table is established with a small stock icon, indicating the dynamic nature of the data.
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Adding Columns of Various Data:
- Users can customize their stock table by adding columns with different types of data.
- The article mentions the "add column" button, which provides options for including various data points related to the selected stock.
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Automatic Data Refresh:
- Excel now supports automatic data refresh for stock information, eliminating the need for manual updates.
- The refresh interval can be set, with the possibility of updates as frequent as every 5 minutes.
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Advanced Stock Data Handling:
- The article hints at the possibility of going beyond basic stock data manipulation by using functions like STOCKHISTORY.
- Users can explore advanced formulas and functions to create customized analyses based on stock data types.
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Microsoft's Disclaimer:
- Microsoft emphasizes that stock information in Excel is delayed and provided "as-is."
- The disclaimer underscores that the data is not intended for trading purposes or as financial advice.
In conclusion, incorporating stock data into Excel has evolved, especially with the introduction of automatic data refresh in Excel 2019. This capability enhances the platform's utility for financial analysts and enthusiasts, allowing them to seamlessly integrate and analyze real-time stock market information within the familiar Excel environment.
