Google Finance Documentation Attributes

Google Finance provides a robust set of attributes and features within its documentation (though its official API access is somewhat limited nowadays). Understanding these attributes is crucial for effectively utilizing the platform for financial research, data analysis, and investment tracking. This focuses on the attributes and data fields presented within the Google Finance interface and spreadsheet functions like GOOGLEFINANCE() (where available).

Quote Data

The core of Google Finance lies in its real-time or near-real-time quote data. These attributes encompass a wide range of information about a specific stock, bond, or other financial instrument.

• Ticker Symbol: The unique identifier for a security (e.g., GOOG for Alphabet Inc.). This is a primary attribute for identifying a specific financial instrument.
• Price: The current market price of the security. This is often presented with details like the last trade time and exchange.
• Change: The difference between the current price and the previous day’s closing price, displayed in both currency and percentage terms.
• Previous Close: The closing price of the security from the previous trading day.
• Open: The price at which the security first traded when the market opened for the current day.
• Day’s High: The highest price reached by the security during the current trading day.
• Day’s Low: The lowest price reached by the security during the current trading day.
• 52-Week High: The highest price reached by the security over the past 52 weeks.
• 52-Week Low: The lowest price reached by the security over the past 52 weeks.
• Volume: The number of shares or contracts traded during the current trading day. High volume often indicates strong interest or price movement.
• Average Volume: The average number of shares traded over a specific period, often 30 or 90 days. This helps to gauge typical trading activity.

Key Statistics

Google Finance also provides key statistics that offer insights into a company’s financial health and valuation. These attributes are often used for fundamental analysis.

• Market Capitalization: The total value of a company’s outstanding shares, calculated by multiplying the share price by the number of outstanding shares.
• Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio: A valuation ratio comparing a company’s share price to its earnings per share. A high P/E ratio may indicate that a stock is overvalued.
• Earnings Per Share (EPS): A company’s profit divided by the number of outstanding shares. EPS is a key measure of profitability.
• Dividend Yield: The annual dividend payment per share divided by the share price. It indicates the percentage return on investment from dividends alone.
• Beta: A measure of a stock’s volatility relative to the overall market. A beta of 1 indicates that the stock moves in line with the market.

Company Information

Besides quantitative data, Google Finance presents key company details:

• Company Description: A brief overview of the company’s business and operations.
• Industry: The sector in which the company operates.
• Headquarters: The location of the company’s main office.
• Website: Link to the official company website.

Historical Data

While accessing historical data directly through a reliable API is ideal, the GOOGLEFINANCE() function (in Google Sheets) sometimes can be used to retrieve historical price information.

Considerations

Google Finance data, while convenient, should be used with caution. Data delays are common and official API access is limited. Always verify data with a reputable financial data provider before making investment decisions. Access to some attributes or the GOOGLEFINANCE() function may vary depending on your location and the specific security.