Guide to the Updated Analyst and Earnings Functions

MarketXLS has added a new set of functions for analyst and earnings data. This guide provides an overview of each function and its usage.

Analyst Coverage Functions

These functions provide data on the number of analysts covering a stock.

• =AnalystConsensus(Symbol): Returns the number of analysts whose estimates are included in the consensus figures.

Example:

=AnalystConsensus(“AAPL”) returns the number of analysts whose estimates are included in the consensus figures for Apple.

Price Target Functions

These functions return the consensus price targets for a stock.

• =TargetPrice(Symbol, [WeeksAgo]): Returns the average (mean) analyst price target. Use the optional WeeksAgo argument to retrieve historical values. For example, use -1 for the target from one week ago.
• =TargetPriceHigh(Symbol): Returns the highest analyst price target.
• =TargetPriceLow(Symbol): Returns the lowest analyst price target.
• =TargetPriceMean(Symbol): Returns the average (mean) analyst price target.

To get the date of the latest estimate, add “date” as the second argument. For example: =TargetPrice("MSFT", "date").

Recent Earnings Performance

These functions provide key figures from a company’s most recently reported quarter.

• =EPSActual(Symbol): Returns the actual EPS the company reported.
• =EPSEstimate(Symbol): Returns the consensus EPS estimate for the last quarter.
• =EPSSurprise(Symbol): Returns the dollar difference between actual and estimated EPS.
• =EPSSurprisePercent(Symbol): Returns the earnings surprise as a percentage.

Example:

=EPSSurprisePercent(“NFLX”) returns the percentage difference between Netflix’s actual and estimated EPS for the last reported quarter.

Forward-Looking Earnings Estimates

These functions provide consensus earnings estimates for future periods.

For Quarters and Years

• =EPSEstimateCurrentQ(Symbol): Returns the consensus EPS estimate for the current quarter.
• =EPSEstimateNextQ(Symbol): Returns the consensus EPS estimate for the next quarter.
• =EPSEstimateCurrentY(Symbol): Returns the consensus EPS estimate for the current fiscal year.
• =EPSEstimateNextY(Symbol): Returns the consensus EPS estimate for the next fiscal year.

For Long-Term Growth

• =EPSGrowth5Y(Symbol): Returns the consensus forecast for the average annual EPS growth rate over the next five years.

Putting the Functions to Use

The following examples demonstrate how to combine these functions in a spreadsheet.

Earnings Surprise Analysis

Track recent performance with the following structure.

Price Target Analysis

Compare a stock’s price to analyst targets.

Other Earnings Functions

• =EarningsOpportunitiesNext7Days(): Returns a table of all earnings opportunities in the next 7 trading days with target price momentum analysis.
• =EarningsRunUpAnalysis(): Returns a table with earnings run-up analysis showing historical price movements before earnings.

Common Errors

• #NAME? Error: This error indicates the MarketXLS add-in is not active. Ensure it is installed and enabled in Excel.
• “NA” Value: A function returns “NA” when the ticker symbol is invalid or when the requested data for that symbol does not exist, such as for a company with no analyst coverage.
• Data Freshness: Data is updated in real-time. The MarketXLS refresh button retrieves the latest information.
• License: A MarketXLS subscription that includes analyst data is required to use these functions.