QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE Zacks Link

[Pages:10]QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Zacks Link

? Zacks Investment Research, Inc. 2015 Last Updated: 06/23/2015

Zacks Link Quick Reference Guide

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Single Data Point Link .................................................................................................................................. 4 Multi-Company Table Link ........................................................................................................................... 5 Time Series Link ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Creating Calculated Expressions .................................................................................................................. 8 Zacks Pre-Defined Tearsheets ...................................................................................................................... 9 Handling N/A Values.................................................................................................................................. 10 Advanced Functions ................................................................................................................................... 10 Using Composite Tickers ............................................................................................................................ 10

Introduction

Zacks Link allows you to download data from Zacks' databases directly into Excel. Easily build dynamic models or tearsheets that update with a single click. This Quick Start guide will give you a primer of the basic functions of Zacks Link, an overview of the Zacks databases and the various ways to populate your spreadsheet. For more details, you can download the full Zacks Link User's Guide. To get started, click the "Zacks Excel Link" icon. This will launch Excel and initiate the Zacks add-in within Excel. Clicking on "Zacks" on the top menu bar of Excel will display the Zacks Ribbon:

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Single Data Point Link

A Single Data Point Link allows you to add Zacks Data to a specific cell in Excel. Click on "Single Data Point" on the Zacks Ribbon to bring up the Wizard:

Steps to Create a Single Data Point Link: 1) Select a database (for more information on Zacks databases, please download the Database Appendix) 2) Select a Category 3) Select a Data Item 4) Select a Date/Period. The most recent period available is the default period, but for items that have more than one period you can make a selection in the dropdown 5) Choose whether you want the "Item Name" and/or the "Item Date" in addition to the "Item Value" 6) Choose a ticker. If the "Ticker" box is blank the Main ticker will be used. If you want to specify a ticker, enter it in the "Ticker" box. 7) Click "Apply" then click "Close." Next, select "Yes" when asked if you would like to update the Zacks data. HINT: to reference a cell that contains a ticker instead of using the Main ticker or having a hardcoded ticker, enter a ticker, such as AMZN, in the "Ticker" box in step 6 above. This will give you the Zacks code:

Next, edit the Zacks code and change "amzn" to the cell that contains the ticker, such as cell A1 (without quotes):

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Multi-Company Table Link

A Multi-Company Table Link lets you to easily create a table of multiple data items for a ticker list. An example of a Multi-Company Table Link is below:

Click on "Multi-Co. Table" in the Zacks Ribbon to get started. Steps to Create a Multi-Company Table Link:

1) The first window lets you design the general layout of the table. Choose the first radio button to have tickers going down and data items going across. Choose the second radio button to have tickers going across and data items going down.

2) Choose whether or not you want to have the date of the item, the name of the item and the company name appear in the table. Click "Next."

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In the next window, add data items to your table.

3) Select a database (for more information on Zacks databases, please download the Database Appendix)

4) Select a data item (the period is defaulted to most recent, change the period using the "Starting Date/Period" dropdown if you like)

5) Click "Add" which will add the selected item to the table on the left side of the window 6) Repeat steps 3-7 to add additional items. When you are done adding items to your table click

"Next" 7) In the next window, choose how you would like to enter tickers into your table:

a) "Tickers to be entered in first table column": user will manually enter tickers. When you click "Finish" the cursor will go to the cell that should contain the first ticker

b) "Ticker List": user will be prompted to select a ticker list file. This file should be a text (.txt) file, with tickers going down column A

c) "Criteria (Screen Definition)": for users that subscribe to a Zacks Screener, this option will prompt the user to select a saved screen definition (.und file). When the Zacks Data is refreshed the tickers that pass the screen will populate in the table

Note: To edit the table, go to the left-most cell with a red border and select "Multi-Company Table" in the Zacks Ribbon. You can then add additional items or remove items.

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Time Series Link

A Time Series Link lets you download a time series for a specific data item for a specific ticker. For example, you can download the daily price for a stock for the last 200 days. Click on "Time Series" in the Zacks Ribbon to get started. Steps to create a Time Series Link:

1) Select a database (for more information on Zacks databases, please download the Database Appendix)

2) Select a Category 3) Select a Data Item 4) In the box labelled "Times" choose the number of periods you would like to download 5) In the dropdown labelled "By" choose the frequency of the item 6) Choose whether you would like to add the Item Name and/or the Date of Value in addition to

the Item Value 7) Optional: change Time Direction and/or Orientation if you would like 8) The default ticker will be the Main ticker, or enter in a ticker in the "Ticker" box 9) Click Apple, then Close then Yes when asked whether you would like to refresh data

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Creating Calculated Expressions

Zacks Link allows you to create your own calculated items using data in the Zacks database. For example, if you want to create an item that is the % of the current price relative to the 52 week high, you can do this by creating a calculated expression. Calculated expression can be used in Single Data Point Links, Multi-Company Links or Time Series Links. Steps to create a Calculated Expression:

1) Select one of the following: Single Data Point Links, Multi-Company Links or Time Series Links 2) In the Wizard, click on "Calculate" which is at the bottom of the window. This will expand the

Wizard window with the Calculation Expression pane 3) To add items to your calculated expression, double click on an item. That item will be added to

the "Calculation Expression" box For example, to build "Current Price / 52 Week High," in DBCM double click on "Current Price (i5)" then double click on the "/" sign in the "Operator" box. Next double click on "52 Week High (i8)." This will result in the expression "i5 / i8"

4) Enter a ticker if you do not want to use the Main ticker 5) Click Apply then Close

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