Analyst Consensus Function

Overview

The AnalystConsensus function returns the total number of financial analysts who are currently providing earnings estimates for a given stock. This consensus number is important as it indicates the level of analyst coverage and can provide confidence in the reliability of consensus estimates. A higher number of analysts typically means more reliable consensus estimates.

Syntax

=AnalystConsensus(Symbol)

Parameters

• Symbol: Required - Stock ticker symbol (e.g., 'AAPL', 'MSFT')

Return Value

Type: Number

Returns the number of analysts providing earnings estimates

Example Usage

Basic Example

=AnalystConsensus("AAPL")

Real-World Applications

1. Investment Analysis: Use AnalystConsensus to evaluate analyst sentiment and expectations for stocks in your portfolio.

2. Earnings Strategy: Incorporate this function into earnings-based trading strategies to identify opportunities.

3. Valuation Models: Essential input for various valuation models and financial analysis.

Common Use Cases

• Portfolio Monitoring: Track analyst estimates for all holdings
• Screening: Identify stocks with improving analyst sentiment
• Risk Management: Monitor earnings expectations to anticipate volatility
• Comparative Analysis: Compare estimates across peers and sectors

Best Practices

1. Always use valid stock symbols (ticker symbols)
2. Combine with other MarketXLS functions for comprehensive analysis
3. Regular updates ensure you have the latest analyst data
4. Consider using with conditional formatting for visual alerts

Related Functions

• Other earnings and estimate functions in the Analyst Estimates category
• Price and valuation functions for complete analysis
• Historical data functions for trend analysis

Notes

• Data is updated in real-time when markets are open
• Historical data availability may vary by symbol
• Requires valid MarketXLS subscription

Troubleshooting

If the function returns "NA" or an error:

1. Verify the stock symbol is correct
2. Ensure you have an active internet connection
3. Check that your MarketXLS license is valid
4. Some symbols may have limited analyst coverage

This function is part of the MarketXLS Excel Add-in suite for financial analysis and investment research.