Stock Return Six Months Formula in Excel

Looking to quickly analyze stock performance over the past six months? The Stock Return Six Months formula in Excel with MarketXLS offers a streamlined method to measure returns. Whether you want total returns or price-only returns, this function lets you gauge half-year investment gains (or losses) at a glance.

Understanding Stock Return Six Months

• Purpose and Use Cases
  The StockReturnSixMonths function calculates a stock’s return over a six-month period, from 181 days before today until yesterday.
• Key Benefits
  • Provides an at-a-glance half-year performance metric.
  • Helps investors compare short- to mid-term performance.
  • Ideal for spotting trends or re-evaluating investment strategies.
• When to Use
  Use this function to analyze returns for rebalancing, budgeting, or general performance tracking when you need a concise six-month outlook.

Syntax and Parameters

Here is the basic syntax for the StockReturnSixMonths function:

=StockReturnSixMonths(Symbol, [TypeOfReturn])

Return Value:

• Typically, a numeric value representing the percentage return over the past six months.
• If the symbol is invalid or there is a data/licensing issue, the function returns "NA".

?? Note: The second parameter is optional. If you leave it blank, the default calculation (often total return) applies.

Additional Notes on Dates

This function automatically determines the date range (today - 181 days through yesterday), so direct date inputs are not required. For more granular date control, use other MarketXLS functions designed to accept date parameters.

Examples and Usage

Below are some common use cases with different symbols and return-type parameters:

1. Basic six-month return for a stock:

   =StockReturnSixMonths("MSFT")

   Returns the default half-year return (e.g., total return) for Microsoft.

2. Total return for a stock:

   =StockReturnSixMonths("MSFT", "total")

   Includes dividends in the return calculation over the six-month period.

3. Price return for an index:

   =StockReturnSixMonths("^SPX", "price")

   Fetches price-only changes (excludes dividends) for the S&P 500 index.

? Pro Tip: You can use this function to compare half-year returns among multiple assets in a single worksheet to see how different symbols stack up.

Common Questions

Why am I getting "NA"?

• An invalid symbol was used or your MarketXLS subscription/license may be invalid. Double-check the symbol and ensure your MarketXLS license is active.

Does the function account for dividends?

• If you specify "total", dividends are included. If you specify "price", only price change is considered.

How often is the data updated?

• Data typically updates daily around 5 PM EST. Confirm you have a stable internet connection and valid license.

Are there any limitations or performance concerns?

• For large batch calculations, performance could be slower, as each call retrieves data from external services. To optimize, try consolidating queries or using caching features offered by MarketXLS.

Can I use custom dates?

• This function is designed specifically for a six-month period. Use other specialized MarketXLS functions if you require custom date ranges.

?? Note: Stock performance is subject to market fluctuations. Always double-check results if they appear unusual.

This completes your overview of the Stock Return Six Months formula in Excel with MarketXLS. Use it to streamline your half-year performance analysis and make more informed investment decisions.