Category: data

  • Calculating the correlation between two stocks

    Calculating the correlation between two stocks

    In this tutorial, we explain how to calculate the correlation between two stocks and how to construct a correlation matrix using Excel. Jump to: Using Excel to calculate correlations between pairs of stocks Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to obtaining the correlation coefficient between the returns of two stocks. That is it! This should […]

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  • Descriptive statistics for stock returns

    Descriptive statistics for stock returns

    Descriptive statistics offer a simple way of understanding distributions of stock returns. They give us an idea about a distribution’s centrality, dispersion, and other features. In this tutorial, we will show you how to generate descriptive statistics for stock returns using Excel’s data analysis tool. Jump to: Using Excel to get descriptive statistics for stock […]

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  • Creating a histogram of stock returns with Excel

    Creating a histogram of stock returns with Excel

    An easy way to visualize the distribution of stock returns is to plot a histogram. In this tutorial, we will show how to create a histogram using Excel. Moreover, we will explain how to interpret a histogram of stock returns. Jump to: Using Excel’s “data analysis” tool to plot a histogram We will be working […]

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  • Stock prices and returns – How to plot time series?

    Stock prices and returns – How to plot time series?

    The purpose of this tutorial is to show you how to plot time series of stock prices and returns using Excel. And, we will also explain how to interpret these plots to gain a better understanding of stock prices and returns. We will use Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) shares and Kellogg Company (K) shares as examples. […]

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  • Stock price data – How to download?

    Stock price data – How to download?

    In this tutorial, we will explain how to download stock price data from Yahoo! Finance. Yahoo! Finance is a great source for obtaining historical data on financial securities such as stocks, stock market indices (e.g., S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, FTSE 100), and ETFs. It has global coverage, and the data is free to download. […]

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