Do you feel like you’re constantly checking stock prices, looking at the highs and lows, analyzing the percentage changes, or maybe just tracking your personal investments every day? If so, I’ve got some news for you: Microsoft Excel can do all the heavy lifting for you by pulling live data from the stock market.
Whether you’re closely following stocks for work, watching your own portfolio, or you’re just curious about the stock market, this guide will show you how to pull live data from NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) directly into Excel. And no, you won’t need to rely on complex formulas or manual entry. It’s a built-in feature everyone can use.
Here’s everything you need to get started:
Pulling Live Stock Data into Excel
The ability to monitor stock performance directly inside Excel can save you time and help you make informed decisions quickly. With the latest offerings from Microsoft, it’s now easier than ever to pull live stock market data in Excel. Follow these simple steps to integrate real-time stock information into your Excel sheet.
Step 1: Select Your Stock Ticker or Company Name
Start by opening your Excel worksheet where you’d like to import the stock data. You can either use the company’s ticker symbol (such as AAPL for Apple) or the actual company name. But don’t worry if you don’t have the ticker on hand—Excel will find it for you.
In one column, list the tickers or company names for the stocks you want to track.
Step 2: Use the “Stocks” Feature Under Data
Once you’ve entered the company name or ticker symbol in your sheet, click on the cell to select it. Head to the Data tab in Excel, and click on Stocks.
Microsoft Excel will then recognize the ticker symbol or name and automatically pull down detailed info from either NASDAQ or NYSE. For example, if you select AMC and hit Stocks, it’ll automatically display the data for “AMC Entertainment Holdings” from NYSE with the respective ticker.
Step 3: Insert the Data You Want to Track
Next, you’ll see a new option called Insert Data pop up on your selected cell. This is where the fun begins.
Click on it, and you’ll be offered a wide range of data points to choose from, including:
- Current Price
- Previous Close
- Day High
- 52-Week High
- 52-Week Low
- Change Percentage
Simply select the data you want to include, and Excel will do the rest by auto-filling the cell with the most current numbers from the stock market. If you have listed multiple companies, you can replicate this process across all your rows.
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Step 4: Refreshing the Live Data
Now that you have all your stock information pulled in, it’s important to keep it updated. Stock prices move fast, and you need to keep your sheet fresh to avoid missing critical changes.
There’s a Refresh All button in the tool menu (up top) that will update the data. You’ll notice some values may change by just a few cents upon refreshing. This is because the stock market constantly fluctuates—and Excel is pulling live info as it happens. So if Apple was at $221.15, it might shift to $220.11 after a refresh.
To make sure nothing is outdated or incorrect, get in the habit of refreshing your sheet regularly.
Step 5: Visualizing Stock Data with Charts
Let’s say you need to present your stock data to your team, your boss, or your client. Excel allows you to create clean charts from this data quickly and easily.
To create a chart, select the data you want (e.g., ticker symbols, current price), and head up to the Insert tab. From there, you can choose a simple 2D chart.
However, be mindful of what data you’re adding into the chart. Too many columns can clutter your visuals. Filter your data selection to what’s most important, like the current stock price. Then, insert that into your chart.
You can always format it further, such as renaming your chart to something like “Stock Market Info” and adjusting the scale. Some people prefer their chart scales to start at zero—especially if they are tracking brand new stocks that haven’t built much history yet.
Step 6: Regular Chart and Data Updates
Just like the data itself, charts can also be updated with live stock information. Anytime you press “Refresh All,” the charts will refresh, too.
To ensure your reports always show the latest numbers, hit that refresh button before any meetings or presentations. Keep a close eye on the data and make sure the values look right compared to the real-world stock market. This avoids any discrepancies or errors in your charts.
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Conclusion: Maximize Efficiency with Excel’s Stock Data Feature
There you have it—Excel’s built-in stock feature can make your life so much easier by pulling live data from stock exchanges in just a few clicks. No more hopping between different websites or manually updating prices. With Excel, you can stay up to date on your portfolio or watchlist, whether you’re tracking a few companies or an entire index.
Just remember, the stock market moves quickly, so keep that Refresh All button close. It’s going to be your best friend.
Now it’s time for you to give it a try. Don’t miss out on using this incredibly useful tool that’s built right into Excel.
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