Unlock Previous Closing Prices with QM_PreviousClose

The QM_PreviousClose function in MarketXLS is designed to retrieve a stock’s most recent prior closing price directly within Excel. By simply entering a valid ticker symbol, you can quickly access historical performance to inform trades, compare market movements, or stay on top of your investment portfolio without juggling multiple data sources.

Why Use This Function?

• Accurate Historical Reference: Gain immediate access to a ticker’s previous closing price for better analysis.
• Time-Saving Insights: Fetch data directly into your spreadsheet to streamline workflows and decision-making.
• Portfolio Tracking: Summarize previous close information across a range of symbols to monitor market changes effectively.
• Trading Strategies: Combine with other MarketXLS functions for deeper insights into charting, trend analysis, or correlation studies.
• Data Integrity: Eliminates manual entry errors, ensuring consistency across your Excel models.

How to Use in Excel

=QM_PreviousClose("symbol")

1. Choose a cell in your Excel worksheet where you want the previous close value to appear.
2. Type “=QM_PreviousClose(” and then insert the ticker symbol in quotes.
3. Press Enter to fetch the previous close price, which will automatically populate from the data feed if you have a valid MarketXLS license.

• If the data is currently refreshing or unavailable, you may see temporary messages like “Refreshing,” “Please Refresh,” or “NA.”
• Always ensure you have a valid MarketXLS license and active data subscription to retrieve the most accurate results.

Parameters Explained

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. Retrieving Apple’s Previous Close:

   • In any cell, type: =QM_PreviousClose("AAPL")
   • Press Enter. You should see the most recent prior closing price for Apple.

2. Checking Microsoft’s Closing Price:

   • Enter: =QM_PreviousClose("MSFT")
   • The cell will display Microsoft’s previous close value.

These simple examples demonstrate how easy it is to fetch the previous day’s closing price for individual stocks.

Advanced Scenarios

1. Comparative Analysis:

   • Enter the function in multiple cells, each with a different symbol (e.g., Google, Amazon, Tesla).
   • Combine these outputs in a table or chart to compare closing prices across multiple stocks.

2. Portfolio Summary:

   • Listed across your worksheet, you could stride through your entire portfolio by referencing a list of symbols (e.g., in column A) and using QM_PreviousClose in column B to quickly pull each previous close.

3. Integration with Other Excel Functions:

   • Use the retrieved previous close prices alongside other MarketXLS functions like current price, historical data, or average volume functions to form a more holistic trading analysis.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

1. “NA” Returned:

   • This generally indicates that the symbol is invalid, empty, or not found in the data cache. Double-check your spelling and ensure the ticker is supported.

2. “Refreshing” or “Please Refresh” Response:

   • The data feed is currently updating or the requested symbol has not yet been stored in the cache. Try refreshing MarketXLS or waiting a few moments.

3. License or Configuration Issues:

   • If your MarketXLS subscription is not active or you have not configured your data subscriptions, you might see a message prompting you to set them up. Correctly configure your MarketXLS settings to resolve any license validation errors.

4. Unexpected “ERR” Response:

   • If an error occurs behind the scenes or there is a system issue, the function returns “ERR.” Check your MarketXLS log or contact support if the issue persists.

By deploying QM_PreviousClose effectively, you can stay informed about relevant stock moves and keep your data-driven strategies on track. Leverage it alongside other MarketXLS functions for a powerful, comprehensive market analysis right in Excel.