What Is Stock Chart In Excel?
Stock Chart in Excel is a Column plot that helps to show the fluctuations in stock prices graphically. The chart plots the entire range of data points as a single line, indicating the highs and lows in a given period. Users can use the Stock chart to represent the variations in other datasets, such as yearly temperatures, provided they have the data organized in the right order.
For example, the below table contains the stock price fluctuation data from 2nd Feb-6th Feb.
Suppose the requirement is to represent the fluctuations in the stock prices graphically. Then insert Stock chart in Excel worksheet containing the above table to achieve the desired output.
The interpretation of the above Stock chart in Excel example is as follows:
The graph shows the stock price fluctuations in the form of boxes and lines extending upwards and downwards from them. While empty boxes represent profits from stocks, the filled boxes indicate depreciation in the stock prices. And larger the box size (ranging from the opening value to closing value), the larger the profit or loss at the day end. On the other hand, the lines moving upward and downward denote the highest and lowest price on a specific day.
For example, the plot for 2-Feb shows the box size ranging from $25.43 to $25.61, with the highest and lowest stock values for the day being $26.28 and $25.15. And as the closing value is greater than the opening value, the plot indicates profit.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The Stock chart in Excel serves to represent the variations in stock prices graphically. It shows the highs and lows in stock prices, over a period, as a single line.
- Users can apply the Stock chart for any data that involves high and low values, such as temperatures and equipment output.
- Excel offers four Stock chart types, High-Low-Close, Open-High-Low-Close, Volume-High-Low-Close, and Volume-Open-High-Low-Close.
- A Stock chart shows the stock price fluctuations as boxes and vertical lines. A box ranges from the opening to closing value, showing the profit or loss level from stock trading on the given day.
How To Create Stock Chart In Excel?
The steps to create the Stock Chart in Excel are:
- First, confirm the Excel table contains the source data organized in the right order to avoid the possible condition of the Stock Chart in Excel not working.
- Select the required data range and click Insert – Recommended Charts – All Charts – Stock to open the Insert Chart window and pick the required Stock chart type.
- Finally, update the required chart elements in the inserted Stock chart to ensure we perform an accurate visual analysis.
Let us see the procedure with a Stock Chart in Excel example.
The below table shows the stock price fluctuations from 1st April to 10th April.
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Here is how we can insert Stock chart in Excel spreadsheet containing the above table to show the given stock price variations graphically.
Step 1: Select the cell range A2:E12 and click Insert – Recommended Charts to open the Insert Chart window. And then, select All Charts – Stock to choose the specific Stock chart type. For this example, we shall pick the second option, Open-High-Low-Close.
And once we click OK in the Insert Chart window, we will get the required Stock Chart in Excel.
We can also select the chart using the Stock chart option in the Insert tab.
We shall now format the inserted chart to interpret it in line with the Stock chart in Excel definition.
Step 2: Click the chart area to enable the Chart Elements option (‘+’ icon). And then check the Axis Titles box.
Next, place the cursor on the option Legend in the Chart Elements drop-down list and select Top to shift the legend to the top in the chart area.
Finally, update the chart title and axes titles by double-clicking on the respective elements in the chart area, as depicted below.
Let us see the Stock chart interpretation using the 8th April data. The box ranges from the opening to the closing value, from $27 to $32. And the vertical line above and below the box extends to the high and low values, $35 and $24, respectively.
So thus, as the closing stock value is more than the opening value, the graph indicates profit from the stock at the end of 8th April.
On the other hand, as per the 10th April data, the closing value is less than the opening value of the stock. So, the box extends downwards, from $28 to $25, and the chart indicates this depreciation using a filled box.
However, the 2nd and 9th of April show a horizontal line instead of a box. It might appear as a case of the Stock chart in Excel not working. It is not an error, and it is because the opening and closing values on these two dates are the same, $23 and $28, respectively, leading to a box with no range.
Examples
Below are examples to explain the Stock chart in Excel definition.
Example #1
This example explains how to use the Stock chart in Excel to graphically represent a high, low, and average daily temperature dataset.
The below table contains the daily temperature data for five days.
And suppose the given data includes the high, low, and average temperature for each day, and we need to show the above data in a chart format. Then, we can apply the Stock chart in Excel, and the steps are:
Step 1: Select the data range A2:D7, click Insert – Stock, and choose the first Stock chart type.
Once we click the required Stock chart type, we will get the below graph.
We shall edit the above graph so that we can analyze it better.
Step 2: Right-click on an Average Temperature data point in the chart area and select the Format Data Series option from the Format Menu.
Next, go to the Fill & Line tab in the Format Data Series pane and select the Built-in option under Marker Options in the Marker tab.
Set the required Type and Size values.
Next, scroll down the pane and set the required marker color.
The resulting chart will be:
Step 3: Finally, once we update the chart title and axis titles and set the legend at the top of the chart area (as explained in the previous section), the final Stock chart will be:
In this chart, while the high and low temperatures are the equivalents of high and low values, the average temperature is equivalent to the closing value.
Let us consider the 11th June data to interpret the chart. The entire line represents the temperature variations on the specified day, with its two endpoints denoting the high and low-temperature values, 37°C and 23°C, respectively. And the black marker indicates the average temperature on the given day, 33°C.
Please Note: In the case of the chosen High-Low-Close Stock chart, a longer line indicates higher instability, and a shorter line denotes higher stability.
Example #2
Consider the scenario when the source data includes the volume traded for stocks, with the stock opening, high, low, and closing values. We can apply the Stock chart in Excel in such a condition.
Suppose the following table contains stock fluctuation details, including the volume traded data.
And the requirement is to display the given data in a chart format. Then, use the Stock chart in Excel to achieve the desired plot for analysis.
Step 1: Select the cell range, A2:F7, click Insert – Stock, and pick the fourth Stock chart type.
And once we click the chart type, we will get the below graph:
Step 2: Finally, once we update the chart title and axis titles and set the legend at the top of the chart area (as explained in the section How to Use Stock Chart in Excel?), the final Stock chart will be:
The primary and secondary Y-axes show the volume traded and stock price variations, respectively. And the blue bars represent the daily volume traded. On the other hand, the lines and boxes denote the stock price changes, as explained in the previous sections.
Thus, this Stock chart type shows the stock volume traded and whether one made a profit or loss on the specified date.
Uses Of Excel Stock Chart
The uses of Stock Chart in Excel are:
- The graph helps track the variations in the price of traded assets, such as stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. We can analyze the highs and lows in prices over time, considering the opening and closing values, all in one chart. And when required, we can also include the trading volume data in the Stock chart for improved analysis.
- The Stock chart in Excel does not limit to stocks. We can use it to assess data, such as temperature and weight, that involve high and low values over a period.
Important Things To Note
- Ensure we have the source data organized in the correct order before creating the required Stock chart in Excel. The columns’ sequence should start from the date, followed by open, high, low, and close values.
- The Stock charts with trading volume data show the volume data using the primary Y-axis and the stock price variations using the secondary Y-Axis.
- If the Stock chart is unclear, right-click the required axis and select the Format Axis option from the Format Menu. We can then modify the Axis Options settings in the Format Axis pane to enlarge the Stock chart vertically and horizontally.
Frequently Asked Questions
We can create a Candlestick Stock chart in Excel using the inbuilt Stock chart option, Volume-High-Low-Close.
Let us see the steps with an example.
The table below contains a five-day stock volume traded and the price variation data.
And suppose the requirement is to display the above data in a Candlestick Stock chart. Then here is how we can achieve the required graph using the inbuilt Stock chart in Excel.
Step 1: Select the cell range A2:E7, click Insert à Stock, and pick the third Stock chart type.
Once we click the required Stock chart type, we will get the Candlestick Stock chart as depicted below:
Step 2: Right-click a closing value data point and select the Format Data Series option from the Format Menu to open the Format Data Series pane.
Next, in the Fill & Line – Marker tab, set the desired Built-in type and then scroll down to change the marker color as per our requirement.
Step 3: Finally, update the chart title. And click the chart area to enable the Chart Elements option (‘+’ icon) to update axis titles, and move the legend to the top.
The final Candlestick Stock chart will be:
Let us see the 24th July data to analyze the Stock chart. The blue bar represents the volume (primary Y-axis), 5100. The vertical line extends upwards to the high value and downwards to the low value (secondary Y-axis), $29.42 and $24, respectively. And the small horizontal line indicates the closing value, $26.59.
The Excel Stock chart is not working, perhaps because of unorganized input data. If the supplied data columns in the four Stock charts are not in the order:
• High, Low, Close Values
• Open, High, Low, Close Values
• Volume, High, Low, Close Values
• Volume, Open, High, Low, Close Values
Then, Excel will show a warning message indicating incorrect data columns’ order for the chosen Stock chart type.
We can create a High-Low-End chart in Excel using the inbuilt Stock chart, High-Low-Close. And the steps are:
1. Ensure we have organized source data and then select the specific cell range.
2. Then, click Insert – Stock – High-Low-Close to insert the required Stock chart type.
3. Finally, format the chart with the necessary elements according to our requirement to make its analysis more straightforward.
Download Template
This article must be helpful to understand the Stock Chart In Excel, with its formula and examples. You can download the template here to use it instantly.
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