Automatic Google Sheets Maker

Creating an investment portfolio analysis sheet using Google Sheets and financial APIs is a comprehensive task. To build such a sheet, you'll need to follow these step-by-step instructions:
Step 1: Set up your Google Sheet

Open Google Sheets (sheets.google.com) in your web browser.
Create a new blank sheet.

Step 2: Importing Financial Data

Determine which financial APIs you want to use for data retrieval. Common choices include Alpha Vantage, Yahoo Finance, or Google Finance.
Obtain API keys or credentials if required for the chosen financial APIs.
Decide on the stocks or assets you want to include in your portfolio analysis.

Step 3: Importing Stock Data

In your Google Sheet, select an empty cell where you want to start importing stock data.
Use the IMPORTDATA or IMPORTJSON function to fetch data from the financial API using the API key and the specific URL or endpoint provided by the API.

For example, if using Alpha Vantage, you might use =IMPORTDATA("https://www.alphavantage.co/query?function=TIMESERIESDAILYADJUSTED&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOURAPI_KEY").
Repeat this process for each stock or asset you want to include in your portfolio.

Step 4: Data Formatting

Organize your data with the following columns: Date, Ticker Symbol, Open Price, Close Price, High Price, Low Price, Volume, and any additional columns you want.
Ensure that your date column is in a consistent date format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY) using the TEXT or DATEVALUE function if needed.
Format the numeric columns (Open, Close, High, Low, Volume) as numbers with the appropriate decimal places.
Use conditional formatting to highlight positive and negative price changes for quick visual analysis.

Step 5: Portfolio Calculation

Create a separate section on your sheet to calculate portfolio-related metrics such as Total Investment Value, Total Portfolio Value, and Portfolio Returns.
In these sections, you can use formulas like SUM, SUMPRODUCT, and calculate returns using percentage change formulas like (Current Price - Initial Price) / Initial Price.

Step 6: Portfolio Allocation

Create a section to input the initial number of shares or units you hold for each stock in your portfolio.
Calculate the initial investment for each stock by multiplying the initial number of shares by the purchase price.
Calculate the percentage of each stock's total portfolio value using the formula Initial Investment / Total Portfolio Value.

Step 7: Performance Metrics

Calculate key performance metrics such as the portfolio's overall return, volatility, and standard deviation.
Use formulas like AVERAGE, STDEV, and apply them to the historical price data.

Step 8: Visualization (Optional)

Create charts and graphs to visualize your portfolio's performance over time. Google Sheets provides various chart options.
Commonly used charts include line charts for price trends, bar charts for portfolio allocation, and pie charts for asset distribution.

Step 9: Automation (Optional)

If you want to automate data updates, consider using Google Apps Script to schedule regular data retrieval from the financial API.
You can also set up custom functions in Google Sheets to calculate specific metrics automatically.

Step 10: Documentation and Notes

Provide clear documentation for your sheet, explaining how to use it, what the metrics mean, and any assumptions made in the calculations.
Include any relevant notes or disclaimers about the accuracy of financial data and the risks associated with investments.

By following these steps, you can create a robust and user-friendly Google Sheets investment portfolio analysis tool that allows you to track and analyze your investments effectively.