Debt To Equity Ratio (Historical) Formula in Excel
The Debt To Equity Ratio (Historical) formula in Excel helps you measure a company’s financial leverage by comparing its total liabilities to shareholder equity. With MarketXLS, you can easily retrieve and analyze historical debt-to-equity values for stocks, indices, options, or even cryptocurrencies, empowering you to make well-informed decisions.
Understanding Debt To Equity Ratio (Historical)
- This Debt To Equity Ratio (Historical) metric is used by investors, analysts, and financial professionals to gauge how much a company relies on debt versus its own equity.
- Key benefits include assessing long-term solvency, understanding risk levels, and comparing different companies within the same industry.
- Use this ratio when evaluating whether a company’s capital structure is too debt-heavy and to track changes over time for deeper insights.
Syntax and Parameters
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio(Symbol, year, [quarter], [TTM])
Parameter | Description | Required | Example |
---|---|---|---|
Symbol | The stock ticker or financial instrument symbol (e.g., “MSFT”, “^SPX”, “@MSFT 110122C00020000”, “BTCUSD:DEFAULT”). | Yes | "MSFT" |
year | The year you want to evaluate. Also accepts special tokens like "ly" (last year), "ly-1", or "lt" (last 12 months). | Yes | 2022 |
quarter | The quarter of the given year to retrieve (1, 2, 3, or 4). Defaults to “1” if not provided. | No | 2 |
TTM | Set to "TTM" for trailing twelve months. Leave blank if not needed. | No | "TTM" |
?? Note:
This function returns "NA" if the provided symbol is invalid or if your MarketXLS license does not support historical fundamentals.
Return Value
- Returns a numeric value representing the historical Debt to Equity Ratio for the specified symbol and time period.
- If valid numerical data is unavailable, it returns “NA”.
Examples and Usage
Below are some practical usage examples:
-
Basic yearly lookup:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("MSFT", 2022)
Retrieves Microsoft’s Debt to Equity Ratio for the year 2022.
-
Yearly and Quarter-specific lookup:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("MSFT", 2022, 2)
Returns the ratio for the year 2022, quarter 2.
-
Using TTM (Trailing Twelve Months):
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("MSFT", 2022, 3, "TTM")
Fetches the trailing twelve months data ending in quarter 3 of 2022.
-
Using Special Tokens:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("MSFT","ly") // Last Year =hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("MSFT","lq") // Last Quarter =hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("MSFT","lt") // Last Twelve Months =hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("MSFT","ly-1") // Last Year minus 1
Ideal for quick references without constantly updating dates.
? Pro Tip: Combine this function with Excel formulas and cell references to create dynamic financial models. For instance:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio(A2, A3)
Use references in A2 for symbol and A3 for year to calculate the ratio without editing the formula each time.
Symbol Examples
- Regular symbol:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("MSFT", 2022)
- Index symbol:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("^SPX", 2023)
- Option symbol:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("@MSFT 110122C00020000", 2023, 1)
- Crypto symbol:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio("BTCUSD:DEFAULT", 2023, 1, "TTM")
Common Questions
-
What if I get “NA” for all reports?
- Ensure your MarketXLS license includes historical fundamentals.
- Verify that the symbol is correct, especially for non-standard identifiers like “@MSFT 110122C00020000”.
-
How do I reduce performance overhead with multiple calls?
- Consolidate requests by referencing cells that contain your symbols or years to avoid repetitive formula calls.
- Use MarketXLS caching and Excel’s calculation settings to manage large datasets effectively.
-
Is the function accurate for all symbols and time frames?
- Generally, yes. However, data availability can vary by symbol, and certain corporate events (e.g., mergers) might affect historical metrics.
-
How do I incorporate different date formats with this function?
While the function primarily uses year and quarter inputs, you can dynamically generate inputs:
» Cell references:
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio(A1, A2)
» Text dates (if needed for advanced scenarios):
=hf_Debt_to_Equity_Ratio(TEXT(A1,"yyyy"), TEXT(A2,"Q"))
Typically, direct date strings (e.g., "2024-03-15") are not required unless you are using specialized tokens within MarketXLS.
?? Note: Always confirm the correct time horizon (Year, Quarter, TTM) to match the analysis you need.
By leveraging the Debt To Equity Ratio (Historical) formula in Excel with MarketXLS, you can effortlessly gain insights into a company’s leverage trends. Use these best practices and tips to drive more informed investment decisions.