hf_low_price_earnings_ratio: Retrieve the Lowest Price-Earnings Ratio for a Stock
The hf_low_price_earnings_ratio function from MarketXLS makes it simple to retrieve a stock’s lowest price-earnings (PE) ratio directly in Excel. By specifying the ticker symbol and desired period (annual, quarterly, or TTM), you can quickly compare pricing and earnings data without manual research. This function is especially helpful when evaluating whether a stock is potentially undervalued based on historical PE ratio data.
Why Use This Function?
- Quickly fetch a stock’s lowest PE ratio for a given year and quarter.
- Optionally retrieve the trailing twelve months (TTM) value, eliminating the need for manual calculations.
- Evaluate valuation trends: compare multiple stocks’ PE ratios over different periods or TTM.
- Save time and reduce data-entry errors by automating these lookups in Excel.
- Use the function for screening undervalued stocks, portfolio analysis, or investment presentations.
How to Use in Excel
Use the function in any Excel cell just like a native formula. For example:
=hf_low_price_earnings_ratio(Symbol, Year, Quarter, "TTM")• Enter the required Symbol (e.g., "AAPL" for Apple).
• Specify the Year (e.g., "2022").
• Choose an optional Quarter (1, 2, 3, or 4). If none is specified, the function normally defaults to 1, but internally the function may adjust the quarter to 2 if none is provided.
• To retrieve a trailing twelve months figure, provide "TTM" in the last parameter.
When called, hf_low_price_earnings_ratio sends a request to the MarketXLS API to fetch the “LOWPE” metric for the specified period. If it finds valid numeric data, it returns that number in the cell. Otherwise, it may return “NA” (if data is unavailable or the symbol is invalid), or “Refreshing” (if data is still being updated).
Parameters Explained
| Parameter | Description | Example Values | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Stock ticker symbol. Must be valid or returns "NA". | "AAPL", "MSFT", "TSLA" | Check the symbol’s correctness; invalid symbols yield "NA". |
| Year | The year for which you want the lowest PE data. | "2021", "2022" | If relevant historical data is not found, it returns "NA". |
| Quarter | Optional quarter of the year (1, 2, 3, or 4). | "1", "4" | Defaults to "1" in the function signature. If left blank, function internally sets it to "2" in the URL. |
| TTM | Optional parameter to retrieve trailing twelve months data. | "TTM" or "" | If set to "TTM", the function looks up TTM data and bypasses the Quarter logic. Otherwise, not used. |
Example Usage
Basic Examples
-
Annual Data for a Single Year
» Formula:
=hf_low_price_earnings_ratio("AAPL", "2022")
» Explanation: Returns the lowest price-earnings ratio for Apple in 2022. -
Quarterly Data
» Formula:
=hf_low_price_earnings_ratio("MSFT", "2021", "4")
» Explanation: Returns Microsoft’s lowest PE ratio for the fourth quarter of 2021. -
Missing Quarter, Defaults Internally
» Formula:
=hf_low_price_earnings_ratio("GOOG", "2023")
» Explanation: You omitted the quarter parameter. The function will still form an internal URL for the data, typically defaulting the quarter in the request.
Advanced Scenarios
-
TTM (Trailing Twelve Months)
» Formula:
=hf_low_price_earnings_ratio("TSLA", "2023", "", "TTM")
» Explanation: Looks up Tesla’s trailing twelve months lowest price-earnings ratio, ignoring any specific quarter selection. -
Dynamic Ranges and Comparative Analysis
- Suppose you have a list of symbols in cells A2 through A10 and years in column B. You can use a formula like:
=hf_low_price_earnings_ratio(A2, B2, 1)
and drag down to compare multiple stocks’ quarterly lowest PE ratios for a single year.
- Suppose you have a list of symbols in cells A2 through A10 and years in column B. You can use a formula like:
-
Combining with Other Excel Functions
- Use this formula within IF statements or as part of a larger investment tracker. For instance:
=IF(hf_low_price_earnings_ratio("AMZN", "2022") < 20, "Potentially Undervalued", "Review Further")
- Use this formula within IF statements or as part of a larger investment tracker. For instance:
Common Questions and Troubleshooting
• “Why do I get NA?”
- NA typically means the symbol is invalid, the data does not exist, or your license subscription type does not cover the metric. Double-check the stock ticker (like “AAPL” vs. “APPL”) and confirm you have the right subscription.
• “Why do I see ‘Refreshing’ sometimes?”
- If a fresh API call is still fetching results, the function can temporarily return “Refreshing.” Wait a moment and re-check the cell.
• “How do I handle older data?”
- If you request data from a year or quarter without valid records in the database, you’ll likely see “NA.” Confirm that MarketXLS supports historical data for that period.
• “Does TTM override the quarter value?”
- Yes. If you specify “TTM” in the last argument, the function fetches trailing twelve months data, regardless of the quarter value provided in the third parameter.
With these tips and examples, you can confidently incorporate hf_low_price_earnings_ratio into your Excel workflow to rapidly assess a stock’s historical valuation levels by retrieving its lowest price-earnings ratio data.
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