Easily Retrieve ETF Risk Mean Annual Return
ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn is a powerful MarketXLS function designed to quickly fetch an ETF’s mean annual return from an external data source directly within Excel. Whether you’re analyzing 3-year, 5-year, or another custom duration, this function will return cleanly formatted information that helps you evaluate ETF performance at a glance. The function handles potential issues—like invalid symbols or temporarily unavailable data—so you can make informed decisions without missing a beat.
Why Use This Function?
- Understand Long-Term Performance: Gauge how an ETF has performed annually over a selected duration (defaulting to 3 years).
- Compare Multiple ETFs: Quickly compare multiple ETFs by placing this function in different cells with various ticker symbols.
- Integrate with Other Analytics: Feed the returned mean annual return values into additional Excel calculations (e.g., pivot tables, charts, or more advanced performance metrics).
- Reliable Data Retrieval: Automatically checks for valid symbols and license credentials, returning “NA” if invalid or “Refreshing” if data are in the process of updating, ensuring consistent usage even in large spreadsheets.
- Adaptable Durations: Change the duration to reflect your preferred time horizon, whether you need a 3-year view (default), 5-year, or another custom period.
How to Use in Excel
Use the following syntax in an Excel cell:
=ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn(Symbol, [Duration])
- Type the function into a cell.
- In “Symbol,” provide the ticker symbol of the ETF you wish to analyze (e.g., "SPY", "QQQ", etc.).
- (Optional) Set “Duration” to the desired number of years (as text, e.g., "3", "5"). If omitted, it defaults to "3".
- Press Enter to retrieve the mean annual return.
If the function detects missing or invalid data, it returns “NA”. If there is a data refresh process ongoing, it may briefly return “Refreshing”.
Parameters Explained
Parameter | Description | Example Values | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Symbol | The ETF ticker symbol to analyze. | "SPY" | Must be a valid ETF symbol; otherwise returns "NA". |
Duration | The desired time span for calculating mean annual returns. | "3", "5", "10" | Defaults to "3" if omitted. Accepts string format only (e.g., "3"). |
Example Usage
Basic Examples
-
3-Year Mean Return for SPY
• Formula:
=ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("SPY")
• Explanation:
Retrieves the mean annual return for the ETF symbol “SPY” over the past 3 years (the default duration). -
5-Year Mean Return for QQQ
• Formula:
=ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("QQQ", "5")
• Explanation:
Fetches the mean annual return for “QQQ” over the past 5 years. -
Invalid Symbol Handling
• Formula:
=ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("INVALID")
• Explanation:
Returns “NA” because "INVALID" is not recognized as a valid symbol.
Advanced Scenarios
-
Tracking Multiple ETFs Over Different Durations
• To compare, place ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn in adjacent cells with different durations:- Cell A1: =ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("SPY", "3")
- Cell B1: =ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("SPY", "5")
- Cell C1: =ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("SPY", "10")
• Explanation:
Monitor how the same ETF’s mean annual return stacks up across multiple time horizons, side by side.
-
Integrating with Other Excel Functions
• Combine results with standard Excel functions for further analysis, for example calculating average performance across various ETFs using AVERAGE:
=AVERAGE(
ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("SPY", "3"),
ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("QQQ", "3"),
ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn("IWM", "3")
)
• Explanation:
Compare the 3-year mean annual returns among multiple ETFs to see which might best fit your portfolio strategy. -
Slowing Data Refresh
• If many cells simultaneously call ETFRiskMeanAnnualReturn, the system may display “Refreshing” temporarily.
• Explanation:
The function will queue requests and return final data once refreshed.
Common Questions and Troubleshooting
-
“Why do I get ‘NA’?”
• Occurs when an invalid ETF symbol is provided, the license is not valid, or the data could not be retrieved. Double-check your symbol and ensure your MarketXLS license is active. -
“What does ‘Refreshing’ mean?”
• Indicates data are temporarily queued for update. Once the refresh completes, the function should return the correct value. -
“Do I have to include the Duration?”
• No. If omitted, it defaults to 3 years. Return values for 5 years, 10 years, or other periods by specifying “5”, “10”, etc.
This function is an excellent tool for analyzing ETF performance over different timeframes in Excel. By customizing the Duration parameter, monitoring potential “NA” or “Refreshing” responses, and combining the metric with other calculations, you can efficiently integrate mean annual return data into your spreadsheet-based research and decision-making process.