Having a data provider that allows you to download historical data is like a goldmine these years. However, complexity has made it difficult for people with minimal coding skills to have access to such services.
This article shows a way to simplify this process by circumventing the coding part and getting directly the data through a user-friendly interface.
What is No-Code and How to Use it With FMP
No-code refers to a way of creating software applications without needing to write traditional code. Essentially, it's a method that allows people who aren't professional programmers to build software applications. Instead of writing lines of code, users can use visual interfaces, drag-and-drop tools, and pre-built components to design and develop their applications.
✨ Important note
No-code democratizes the process of software development, making it more accessible to a wider range of people, including business users, entrepreneurs, and professionals in various fields who may not have technical coding skills.
FMP now has API VIEW, which basically the no-code version of what they provide. The interface is extremely user-friendly and has the following appearance:
On the left, the tab lets you choose the different elements such as sentiment analysis and historical data. In the middle, you have the search bar for the asset, and on the right, you have the export option to download the required data.
Let's see some examples to understand more how the process goes.
FMP is offering 15% discount on their subscriptions currently. Since I've started using their services, I've partnered with them to share the news. Check it out here:
Fetching BTCUSD Historical Data
Using the code way to export historical BTCUSD data requires a few lines, like we have seen in previous articles. If you prefer to use your mouse and save time, you can simply use the FMP platform to do this quickly.
The data will be downloaded in csv format. Now, we will continue our work in the spirit of no-code, and continue to analyze the chart of BTCUSD. Remember, we're now using Microsoft Excel, and our two main analysis tasks are:
- Chart the historical BTCUSD values downloaded from FMP, and add a moving average.
- Perform a statistical analysis on the returns of BTCUSD in order to come up with a basic statistical opinion.
✨ Important note
You can download the historical OHLC data of the desired asset by looking them up in the tab on the left and choosing the last option (the one that has Daily in it). For example, for FX data, you go to Forex and then Forex Daily.
The following shows the chart:
To add a 200-day moving average, follow these steps:
- Right click on the chart and choose Format Trendline.
- Choose moving average and set it to 200. Then, you can choose the color.
To perform a statistical analysis, we need to use the Change column and not the Close column as the former is stationary. Why is this? Stationary data, in the context of statistics and time series analysis, refers to data where the statistical properties such as mean, variance, and autocorrelation structure remain constant over time. In simpler terms, it means that the data doesn't exhibit any trends, seasonality, or systematic patterns that change over time.
Luckily, FMP's data export provides the change column directly. So, let's follow these steps:
- Go to Data tab and select Data analysis.
- From the drop-down window select Descriptive Statistics.
- The input range is the numerical values from the Change column. The output range is whichever cell you want, as long as it is empty. Make sure to check Summary statistics.
The following should be the output:
Let's interpret this table. The mean is the average change you'd expect to see across the time. The standard deviation is the volatility of the change around the mean. The median splits the change values in half. The count is the number of observations.
You can also search for other cryptocurrencies such as Solana:
Fetching Apple's Annual Income Statements
An annual income statement, also known as a profit and loss statement or P&L statement, is a financial document that shows a company's revenues, expenses, and net income over a specific period, usually one year. It provides a snapshot of how well a company performed financially during that time.
The income statement starts with the company's total revenues, which are the money it earned from selling goods or services. Then, it subtracts the total expenses, such as the cost of goods sold, operating expenses, and taxes. The result is the net income, which represents the company's profit after all expenses have been deducted from its revenues.
✨ Important note
The main purpose of an income statement is to show stakeholders, like investors, creditors, and management, how efficiently the company is generating profits and managing its expenses. It helps them evaluate the company's financial performance and make informed decisions about investing or lending money to the business.
How to do this? Let's follow these steps:
- Go to the tab on the left and select Financial Statement.
- Select Income Statements, and then choose your symbol (e.g. AAPL).
- Click on Export to download the data in csv format.
The excel file should look like the following:
Let's perform a simple trend analysis on the gross profit ratio. The gross profit ratio is a financial metric used to measure a company's profitability by comparing its gross profit to its total revenue. If we chart the gross profit ratio since inception, we will get the following chart:
It seems that the ratio has been rising since 1996. FMP is offering 15% discount on their subscriptions currently, check it out here:
Conclusion
In conclusion, the emergence of no-code data providers represents a significant paradigm shift in the world of data analytics and business intelligence. By offering intuitive, user-friendly platforms that require minimal coding knowledge, these services empower organizations to harness the full potential of their data without the barriers of technical complexity.
Through the exploration of FMP's no-code functionality, it becomes evident that accessibility, efficiency, and versatility are at the forefront of its service. Whether it's through streamlined data integration, customizable visualization tools, or advanced analytics capabilities, FMP empowers users of all skill levels to derive actionable insights and drive informed decision-making.