Retrieve Current Target Price Standard Deviation for Earnings Estimates

The EarningsEstimates_targetPriceHistory_standardDeviation_currentTarget function provides an easy way to see how much variation there is in current price targets for a particular stock. By analyzing this data, you can assess the volatility or dispersion of analysts’ estimates, helping you make more informed portfolio decisions. This function leverages real-time (or near real-time) data if available, returning a single numeric value that can be used for further calculations or direct evaluation.

Why Use This Function?

• Gauges Volatility in Analyst Targets: Quickly identify whether analysts' price targets have a wide spread (higher standard deviation) or a narrow focus (lower standard deviation).
• Aids in Risk Assessment: Understand how much consensus or disagreement there is among analysts, giving insight into potential market risk.
• Streamlines Data Retrieval: Automatically fetches current target price information for your chosen symbol, saving time on research.
• Integrates with MarketXLS Tools: Pairs seamlessly with other MarketXLS functions like volatility metrics and fundamental analysis.
• Supports Multiple Symbols: Simply change the symbol parameter to review different stocks across your watchlist.

How to Use in Excel

=EarningsEstimates_targetPriceHistory_standardDeviation_currentTarget("SYMBOL")

1. Enter the formula in a cell.
2. Replace "SYMBOL" with the ticker symbol of the stock you’re analyzing (e.g., "AAPL", "MSFT", etc.).
3. Press Enter to retrieve the current target price standard deviation from the MarketXLS data feeds.

• Make sure you are logged into MarketXLS with a valid license.
• The function requires an active internet connection to pull data from the MarketXLS API.

Parameters Explained

• Symbol must be a string recognized by the MarketXLS API.
• Different symbols will return different current target price standard deviations depending on analyst coverage.

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. =EarningsEstimates_targetPriceHistory_standardDeviation_currentTarget("AAPL")

   • Returns the current target price standard deviation for Apple (AAPL).
   • If Apple analysts’ targets vary widely, this number could be relatively high.
   • If the function cannot retrieve data or no coverage exists, “NA” is returned.

2. =EarningsEstimates_targetPriceHistory_standardDeviation_currentTarget("TSLA")

   • Might show a higher standard deviation if analyst opinions on Tesla (TSLA) diverge significantly.

Advanced Scenarios

• Combine with Other Analysis:

• Use this function alongside “=EarningsEstimates_targetPriceHistory_median_currentTarget(Symbol)” to compare the median target versus the dispersion of estimates in the same sheet.

• Portfolio-Wide Application:

• Calculate the standard deviation for multiple securities (e.g., MSFT, GOOG, AMZN) to quickly see where the greatest uncertainty lies in target prices.

• Trading Strategy Examples:

• Monitor changes in standard deviation over time to anticipate possible price swings or to allocate capital based on volatility preferences.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

1. Why am I getting “NA”?

   • Possible reasons include an invalid or unsupported symbol, no available data from analysts, expired MarketXLS license, or an exception during the data retrieval process.

2. What if the result shows “Refreshing”?

   • Sometimes the data needs to be cached or updated. Wait a few seconds or refresh your worksheet; MarketXLS will attempt to retrieve the latest information.

3. Can I use this on multiple symbols at once?

   • Yes. Simply add the formula to different cells with different symbols. Each cell will return the appropriate standard deviation for the given symbol.

4. Do I need a particular MarketXLS subscription tier?

   • Some advanced fundamental and estimates data, including target price stats, may require a subscription tier that supports these endpoints.

By leveraging the EarningsEstimates_targetPriceHistory_standardDeviation_currentTarget function, you can quickly evaluate the overall variation among analysts’ target prices for your favorite stocks. This insight helps you gauge consensus (or the lack thereof) around potential price outcomes and adjust your strategies accordingly.