The MarketXLS add-in makes tracking stocks in Excel easier by turning each data point into a formula: =Last("MSFT") returns the latest price, =Volume("MSFT") the day's volume, and =DividendYield("MSFT") the dividend yield, and the values refresh when Excel recalculates. Excel's own built-in Stocks data type (Microsoft 365) covers basic quotes and company facts; MarketXLS adds 1,000+ functions for historical prices, financial statements, technical indicators, options chains, and screening. It runs as a Windows desktop add-in and as a Microsoft 365 add-in for Excel on Mac and the web (formulas there use the mxls. prefix), and plans start at $70/month billed annually.
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Get the free MarketXLS sample workbook (.xlsx).
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What are the advantages of having stock data in Excel?
Keeping stock data in Excel lets you combine prices with your own calculations: position values, returns, allocation, and risk, all in one workbook you control. Instead of copying prices from a website, formulas pull them into cells, so a portfolio tracker or watchlist stays current without retyping.
Excel's built-in Stocks data type vs the MarketXLS add-in
Microsoft 365 includes a Stocks data type: you type a ticker, convert it to a stock, and add fields such as price or market cap. It works for simple watchlists, but it offers a limited set of fields and no options data or full financial statements. Some Excel versions do not include it at all.
The MarketXLS add-in works differently. Each value is a worksheet function, for example =PERatio("AAPL") or =SimpleMovingAverage("AAPL",50), so you can copy formulas down a column, reference ticker cells, and build models on top of them. MarketXLS also offers a Google Sheets add-on with the same data.
Where MarketXLS data comes from and how fresh it is
Quotes come from QuoteMedia. Historical and fundamental data come from multiple sources and are served through the MarketXLS API. Data speed depends on the plan:
- Standard: US stock and ETF quotes 15-minute delayed; options end-of-day.
- Advanced and Business: real-time streaming for US stocks, ETFs, and options.
Streaming functions such as =QM_Stream_Last("MSFT") update automatically while streaming is on; on-demand functions such as =QM_Last("MSFT") return a snapshot that updates when Excel recalculates. See pricing for details.
How do you add stock data in Excel with MarketXLS?
- Install the add-in: the Windows desktop add-in (ribbon tab "MarketXLS", activated with a license key) or the Microsoft 365 add-in from Microsoft AppSource for Excel on Mac or the web (ribbon "MarketXLS (Web)", sign in with your MarketXLS account). See choose your version.
- Type tickers in a column, for example A2:A10.
- Enter a formula next to the first ticker, such as
=Last(A2)(or=mxls.Last(A2)on Mac or the web), and copy it down. - Add more columns with other functions, such as
=Volume(A2),=DaysHigh(A2), or=ExponentialMovingAverage(A2). - Use the formula library to find functions, or start from a ready-made template.
How does the MarketXLS add-in update data automatically?
MarketXLS formulas recalculate with Excel, so a refresh (or reopening the workbook) pulls current values. With streaming turned on, QM_Stream_ functions update on their own as new quotes arrive, within your plan's data speed. Each unique streamed symbol uses one live symbol subscription.
Relevant MarketXLS functions on this topic
| Function Title | Function Example | Function Result |
|---|---|---|
| EMA | =ExponentialMovingAverage(“MSFT”) | It is a technical indicator that gives more importance to recent data points used to generate buy and sell signals based on historical average crossovers. |
| Current Day’s High | =DaysHigh(“MSFT”) | Returns the highest price at which the stock was traded on the last traded date |
| Today’s Volume | =Volume(“MSFT”) | The volume of the stock traded on the last traded date |
| Portfolio Efficient Frontier Chart | =PortfolioEfficientFrontierChart(A3:B10) | It brings up a chart that shows the set of portfolios which satisfy the condition that no other portfolio exists with a higher expected return but with the same standard deviation of return. |
| Last Price | =Last(“MSFT”) | Returns the last price for US and Canadian stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. |
Search all MarketXLS functions in the formula library.
Note: MarketXLS formulas pull latest data if you have MarketXLS installed. If you do not have MarketXLS consider subscribing through the MarketXLS pricing plans
Relevant blogs that you can read to learn more about the topic
Build Your Own Stock Portfolio Tracker in Excel with MarketXLS
Get High Quality Stock Data Easily with Excel Addin
Track Your Dividend Portfolio with the MarketXLS Spreadsheets
Mutual Funds Prices In Excel (With Marketxls Addin)