Total Common Shares Outstanding (Historical) Formula in Excel

Understanding Total Common Shares Outstanding (Historical)

The Total Common Shares Outstanding (Historical) formula helps you track how many shares a company has issued and are owned by shareholders for a specific period in the past. This allows Excel users to:

• Analyze historical share data for better investment decisions.
• Compare share counts across different fiscal periods to gauge dilution or stock repurchases.
• Integrate with other MarketXLS functions for comprehensive fundamental analysis.

Syntax and Parameters

Use the following syntax in Excel to call this function:

=hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding(Symbol, year, [quarter], [TTM])

?? Note: If an invalid symbol is provided, or if an internal error occurs, the function returns "NA".

Return Value:
The function returns a numeric value representing the total common shares outstanding for the specified period. If the data is unavailable or invalid, it returns "NA".

Examples and Usage

Below are practical ways to use hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding in Excel with MarketXLS:

1. By referencing a symbol directly:

   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", 2022)

   Fetches MSFT’s total common shares outstanding for the year 2022.

2. By specifying year and quarter:

   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", 2022, 2)
   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", 2022, 3, "TTM")

   • The first returns data for Q2 of 2022.
   • The second returns trailing twelve months (TTM) data from Q3 2022.

3. Using special keywords:

   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", "lq")
   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", "lq-1")
   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", "ly")
   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", "ly-1")
   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", "lt")
   =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("MSFT", "lt-1")

   • "lq" fetches last quarter.
   • "ly" fetches last year.
   • "lt" fetches last 12 months.
   • Suffixes like "-1" go further back historically.

? Pro Tip: You can supply dates in multiple ways if needed, for example:

• Using a cell reference: =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding(A1)
• Using direct dates: =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding("2024-03-15")
• Using Excel date functions: =hf_Total_Common_Shares_Outstanding(TEXT(A1,"yyyy-mm-dd"))

Common Questions

1. What if my symbol returns "NA"?

If you get an "NA" result, verify:

• The symbol is valid (e.g., "MSFT" or "^SPX").
• You have a valid MarketXLS subscription.
• The parameters (year, quarter, TTM) are correctly provided.

2. Can I use this function for non-stock assets?

Yes, you can use it for indices, options, and cryptocurrencies, as long as MarketXLS supports them.

3. Does it affect performance to use TTM vs. a single quarter?

While the function computes quickly in most cases, requesting TTM data may involve aggregating multiple historical points. However, MarketXLS handles these calls efficiently.

4. How do I compare share counts across different years?

Use the function multiple times in separate cells for each year/quarter, then compare them in Excel using standard formulas or charts.

?? Note: Data availability may vary depending on the company’s reporting frequency and historical data coverage by MarketXLS.