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Become a Data Driven Investor. Take the guesswork out of your investing forever. Leverage the power of Financial Data Science, Financial Analysis, and Quantitative Finance to make robust investment decisions (and generate Alpha).

Discover how to use rigorous statistical techniques to guide your investment decisions (even if you don't know statistics or your math is weak).

Say hello to the most comprehensive Data Driven Investing course on the internet. Featuring:

#

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Structured learning path, Designed for Distinction™ including:

Read more

Become a Data Driven Investor. Take the guesswork out of your investing forever. Leverage the power of Financial Data Science, Financial Analysis, and Quantitative Finance to make robust investment decisions (and generate Alpha).

Discover how to use rigorous statistical techniques to guide your investment decisions (even if you don't know statistics or your math is weak).

Say hello to the most comprehensive Data Driven Investing course on the internet. Featuring:

#

# )

Structured learning path, Designed for Distinction™ including:

  • 13 hours of engaging, practical, on-demand HD video lessons

  • Real-world applications throughout the course

  • 200+ quiz questions with impeccably detailed solutions to help you stay on track and retain your knowledge

  • Assignments that take you outside your comfort zone and empower you to apply everything you learn

  • A Practice Test to hone in and gain confidence in the core evergreen fundamentals

  • Excel® spreadsheets/templates (built from scratch) to help you build a replicable system for investing

  • Mathematical proofs for the mathematically curious

  • An instructor who's insanely passionate about Finance, Investing, and Financial Data Science

PART I:

Explore Investment Security Relationships & Estimate Returns

  • Discover powerful relationships between Price, Risk, and Returns

  • Intuitively explore the baseline fundamental law of Financial Analysis - The Law of One Price.

  • Learn what "Shorting" a stock actually means and how it works

  • Learn how to calculate stock returns and portfolio returns from scratch

  • Download and work with real-world data on Excel® for any stock(s) you want, anywhere in the world

Estimate Expected Returns of Financial Securities

  • Explore what "expected returns" are and how to estimate them starting with the simple mean

  • Dive deeper with "state contingent" expected returns that synthesise your opinions with the data

  • Learn how to calculate expected returns using Asset Pricing Models like the CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model)

  • Discover Multi Factor Asset Pricing Models including the "Fama French 3 Factor Model", Carhart 4 ("Momentum"), and more)

  • Master the theoretical foundation and apply what you learn using real-world data on your own.

Quantify Stock Risk and Estimate Portfolio Risk

  • Examine the risk of a stock and learn how to quantify total risk from scratch

  • Apply your knowledge to any stock you want to explore and work with

  • Discover the 3 factors that influence portfolio risk (1 of which is more important than the other two combined)

  • Explore how to estimate portfolio risk for 'simple' 2-asset portfolios

  • Learn how to measure portfolio risk of multiple stocks (including working with real-world data. )

Check your Mastery

  • So. Much. Knowledge, Skills, and Experience. Are you up for the challenge? - Take the "Test Towards Mastery"

  • Identify areas you need to improve on and get better at in the context of Financial Analysis / Investment Analysis

  • Set yourself up for success in Financial Data Science / Quantitative Finance by ensuring you have a rigorous foundation in place

PART II:

Discover Data Driven Investing and Hypothesis Design

  • Discover what "data driven investing" actually is, and what it entails

  • Explore the 5 Step Data Driven Investing process that's designed to help you take the guesswork out of your investment decision making

  • Learn how to develop investment ideas (including how/where to source them from)

  • Explore the intricacies of "research questions" in the context of Financial Data Science / Data Driven Investing

  • Transform your investment ideas into testable hypotheses (even if you don't know what a "testable hypothesis" is)

Collect, Clean, and Explore Real-World Data

  • Explore how and where you can source data to test and validate your own hypotheses

  • Master the backbone of financial data science - data cleaning - and avoid the "GIGO" trap (even if you don't know what "GIGO" is)

  • Work with large datasets (arguably "Big Data") with over 1 million observations using Excel®.

  • Discover quick "hacks" to easily extract large amounts of data semi-automatically on Google Sheets

  • Learn while exploring meaningful questions on the impact of ESG in financial markets

Conduct Exploratory Data Analysis

  • Discover how to conduct one of the most common financial data science techniques - "exploratory data analysis" using Excel®.

  • Evaluate intriguing relationships between returns and ESG (or another factor of your choice)

  • Learn how to statistically test and validate hypotheses using 'simple' t-tests

  • Never compromise on the mathematical integrity of the concepts - understand why equations work the way they do

  • Explore how to "update" beliefs and avoid losing money by leveraging the power of financial data science and quantitative finance

Design and Construct Investment Portfolios

  • Explore exactly what it takes to design and construct investment portfolios that are based on individual investment ideas

  • Learn how to sort firms into "buckets" to help identify monotonic relationships (a vital analysis technique of financial data science)

  • Discover intricate "hacks" to speed up your workflow when working with large datasets on Excel

  • Strengthen your financial data science skills by becoming aware of Excel®'s "bugs" (and what you can do to overcome them)

  • Plot charts that drive meaningful insights for Quantitative Finance, including exploring portfolio performance over time

Statistically Test and Validate Hypotheses

  • Say goodbye to guesswork, hope, and luck when it comes to making investment decisions

  • Rigorously test and statistically validate your investment ideas by applying robust financial data science techniques

  • Add the use of sophisticated tools including simple t-stats and more 'complex' regressions to your suite of financial data science analytics

  • Explore what it really takes to search for and generate Alpha (to "beat the market")

  • Learn and apply tried and tested financial data science and quantitative finance techniques used by hedge funds, financial data scientists, and researchers

g.

You're in good hands.

Here's how we'll help you master incredibly powerful Financial Data Science & Financial Analysis techniques to become a robust data driven investor...

A Solid Foundation

You’ll gain a solid foundation of the core fundamentals that drive the entire financial analysis / investment analysis process. These fundamentals are the essence of financial analysis done right.

And they'll hold you in mighty good stead both when you start applying financial data science techniques in Part II of this course, but also long after you've completed this course. Top skills in quantitative finance - for the rest of your life.

Practical Walkthroughs

Forget about watching videos where all the Excel® templates are pre-built. We'll start from blank Excel® spreadsheets (like the real world).

And we'll build everything from scratch, one cell at a time. That way you'll literally see how we conduct rigorous financial analysis / financial data science using data-driven investing as the core basis, one step at a time.

Hundreds of Quiz Questions, Dozen Assignments, and Much More

Apply what you learn immediately with 200+ quiz questions, all with impeccably detailed solutions. Plus, over a dozen assignments that take you outside your comfort zone. There's also a Practice Test to help you truly hone your knowledge and skills. And boatloads of practical, hands-on walkthroughs where we apply financial data science / quantitative finance techniques in data driven investing environments.

Proofs & Resources

Mathematical proofs for the mathematically curious. And also because, what's a quantitative finance course without proofs?.

Step-by-step mathematical proofs, workable and reusable Excel® spreadsheets, variable cheat sheets – all included. Seriously.

This is the only course you need to genuinely master Data Driven Investing, and apply Financial Data Science & Quantitative Finance techniques without compromising on the theoretical integrity of concepts.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understand why the math works (and why equations work the way they do) - even if your math is weak and if math freaks you out.
  • Explore evergreen concepts like expected returns, asset pricing models, and portfolio construction in unique financial data science settings
  • Learn and apply powerful quantitative finance techniques including "sorts" to create and design portfolios, regressions to "test for alpha", and much more
  • Discover how to quantify risk and measure returns of individual stocks and investment portfolios, both manually as well as on excel working with real-world data
  • Remove the "guesswork" from your investing forever by learning how to statistically test and validate your investment ideas rigorously
  • Discover and master the systematic and scientific data driven investing process that will transform the way you analyse investments forever
  • Apply everything you learn using rich, large real world data (without compromising on the mathematical and theoretical integrity of concepts)
  • Learn how to leverage incredibly powerful relationships and rigorous financial data science techniques to generate alpha (seriously)

Syllabus

Before You Start...
Welcome To The Course. Here's What You'll Master...
Disclaimer
Important: Course Pointers
Read more
Course FAQs
PART I: INVESTMENT ANALYSIS FUNDAMENTALS
In This Part
Price, Risk, and Return - Definitions, Relationships, and Measurement
Price, Risk, and Return - Definitions & Relationships
Price, Risk, and Return - Definitions & Relationships [Quiz]
What is Shorting?
What is Shorting? [Quiz]
Calculating Stock Returns
Calculating Stock Returns [Quiz]
Calculating Stock Returns II (Applied)
Calculating Stock Returns II (Applied) [Assignment]
Estimating Portfolio Returns
Estimating Portfolio Returns [Quiz]
Additional Resources
Estimating Expected Returns of Stocks / Financial Securities
Expected Returns using Average (Mean) Method
Expected Returns using Average (Mean) Method [Quiz]
Expected Returns using Average (Mean) Method [Assignment]
Expected Returns using State Contingent Weighted Probabilities
Expected Returns using State Contingent Weighted Probabilities [Quiz]
Expected Returns using State Contingent Weighted Probabilities [Assignment]
Expected Returns using Asset Pricing Models I
Expected Returns using Asset Pricing Models I [Quiz]
Expected Returns using Asset Pricing Models I (Applied)
Expected Returns using Asset Pricing Models I (Applied) [Quiz]
Expected Returns using Asset Pricing Models II
Expected Returns using Asset Pricing Models II [Quiz]
Introduction to Data Driven Investing [Quiz]
Estimating Total Stock Risk and Portfolio Risk
Estimating The Total Risk of a Stock I
Estimating The Total Risk of a Stock I [Quiz]
Estimating The Total Risk of a Stock II - Applied
Estimating The Total Risk of a Stock II - Applied [Assignment]
Estimating Portfolio Risk I (2 Assets)
Estimating Portfolio Risk I (2 Assets) [Quiz]
Estimating Portfolio Risk II (Multiple Assets)
Estimating Portfolio Risk II (Multiple Assets) [Quiz]
Estimating Portfolio Risk II (Multiple Assets) - Applied
Estimating Portfolio Risk [Assignment]
Mastery Check & Setup for the Next Part
Take a breather!
Test Guidelines [READ BEFORE YOU START THE TEST]
A Test Towards Mastery
Installing the "Analysis Toolpak"
PART II: DATA DRIVEN INVESTING | FINANCIAL DATA SCIENCE / QUANTITATIVE FINANCE
Data Driven Investing and Hypothesis Design
Introduction to Data Driven Investing
Developing an Investment Idea / Thesis
Developing an Investment Idea / Thesis [Quiz]
Developing an Investment Idea / Thesis [Assignment]
Creating a Testable Hypothesis
Creating a Testable Hypothesis [Quiz]
Creating a Testable Hypothesis [Assignment]
Data Collection, Cleaning, & Exploratory Analysis
Sourcing Relevant Data
Sourcing Relevant Data [Quiz]
Sourcing Relevant Data [Assignment]
Extracting Stock Price Data (Large Sample)
Extracting Stock Price Data (Large Sample) [Assignment]
Cleaning Returns Data (Large Sample)
Exploring Returns Data
Exploring Returns Data [Quiz]
Extracting, Cleaning, & Exploring ESG Data
Cleaning and Exploring Data [Assignment]
Testing & Validating the Hypotheses: H1, H2
Evaluating the Relationship Between ESG, Returns, Risk
Evaluating the Relationship Between ESG, Returns, Risk [Quiz]
Testing the Hypothesis: Relationships with ESG (H1 & H2)
Testing the Hypothesis: Relationships with ESG (H1 & H2) [Quiz]
Updating the Hypothesis / Beliefs
Testing and Validating Hypotheses I [Assignment]
ESG Investment Portfolio Design & Construction
Estimating ESG Portfolio Returns
Estimating ESG Portfolio Returns [Quiz]
Sorting Firms on ESG Risk
Sorting Firms on ESG Risk [Quiz]
Estimating ESG Portfolio Returns - Applied
Estimating ESG Portfolio Returns - Applied [Quiz]
Estimating ESG Portfolio Returns - Applied ("Workflow Hacks")
Estimating Factor Portfolio Returns - Applied [Assignment]
Exploring ESG Portfolio Performance
Exploring ESG Portfolio Performance [Quiz]
Testing & Validating the Hypotheses: H3, H4
Testing the Hypothesis - Lower vs. Higher ESG Portfolio Returns (H3)
Testing the Hypothesis - Lower vs. Higher ESG Portfolio Returns (H3) [Quiz]
Testing the Hypothesis - Earning Alpha (H4)
Testing the Hypothesis - Earning Alpha (H4) [Quiz]
Testing the Hypothesis - Earning Alpha (H4) - Applied
Testing and Validating Hypotheses II [Assignment]

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Uses Excel to perform financial data science, which makes it accessible to learners without extensive programming experience
Covers the Fama French 3 Factor Model and Carhart 4 Factor Model, which are important models in asset pricing
Includes mathematical proofs, which may appeal to learners who want a deeper understanding of quantitative finance
Requires the use of Excel's Analysis Toolpak, which may require installation and setup for some learners
Teaches techniques for extracting large amounts of data using Google Sheets, which is useful for working with big datasets
Uses Excel ®, which may present limitations when working with extremely large datasets compared to more specialized tools

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Data-Driven Investing with Excel ® | Financial Data Science with these activities:
Review Basic Statistics Concepts
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental statistical concepts like hypothesis testing and regression analysis, which are crucial for data-driven investing.
Browse courses on Hypothesis Testing
Show steps
  • Review introductory statistics textbooks or online resources.
  • Practice solving basic statistical problems.
  • Familiarize yourself with statistical terminology.
Brush Up on Excel Skills
Improve your proficiency in Excel, focusing on formulas, charting, and data analysis tools, to effectively utilize the software for financial data science.
Browse courses on Excel Formulas
Show steps
  • Complete an online Excel tutorial.
  • Practice using Excel functions relevant to data analysis.
  • Create charts and graphs to visualize data.
Read 'The Intelligent Investor'
Gain a deeper understanding of investment principles and strategies by reading a classic book on value investing.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book chapter by chapter.
  • Take notes on key concepts and strategies.
  • Reflect on how these principles can be applied in a data-driven context.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Portfolio Return Calculations
Reinforce your understanding of portfolio return calculations through repetitive exercises using different datasets.
Show steps
  • Download historical stock price data.
  • Calculate daily and monthly returns for individual stocks.
  • Calculate portfolio returns based on different asset allocations.
Create a Blog Post on ESG Investing
Solidify your understanding of ESG investing by creating a blog post summarizing key concepts and findings from the course.
Browse courses on ESG
Show steps
  • Research ESG investing strategies.
  • Summarize the key concepts and benefits of ESG investing.
  • Provide examples of companies with strong ESG practices.
  • Publish the blog post on a platform like Medium or LinkedIn.
Build a Stock Screener in Excel
Apply your knowledge by building a stock screener in Excel using financial data and relevant metrics.
Browse courses on Excel
Show steps
  • Gather financial data from reliable sources.
  • Define screening criteria based on key financial metrics.
  • Implement the screener in Excel using formulas and functions.
  • Test the screener with different datasets.
Read 'Quantitative Equity Portfolio Management'
Expand your knowledge of quantitative portfolio management techniques by reading an advanced book on the subject.
Show steps
  • Read the book chapter by chapter.
  • Take notes on key concepts and models.
  • Explore how these techniques can be implemented in Excel or other software.

Career center

Learners who complete Data-Driven Investing with Excel ® | Financial Data Science will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Financial Data Scientist
A financial data scientist applies data science techniques to analyze financial data, develop models, and provide recommendations. The Data Driven Investing with Excel course will provide a solid foundation in financial data science. The course's focus on using statistical techniques, exploring relationships between price, risk, and returns, and using Excel to analyze real-world data is highly relevant. This course also covers exploratory data analysis, hypothesis testing, and portfolio design, skills used by a financial data scientist. The course's emphasis on rigor and mathematical integrity help build the skills necessary to work in this field, even with a weak math background.
Portfolio Manager
A portfolio manager constructs and manages investment portfolios to meet specific financial goals. This course, Data Driven Investing with Excel, will directly support a portfolio manager's work. The course content focuses on using financial data science, analysis, and quantitative finance to make informed decisions, particularly useful in portfolio construction and management. This course teaches how to quantify risk and returns and apply asset pricing models, key tasks for a portfolio manager. The course further teaches methods to statistically validate investment ideas, leading to more robust portfolio decisions. The course's hands-on approach, using Excel to analyze real-world data, helps build skills essential for a portfolio manager.
Hedge Fund Analyst
A hedge fund analyst conducts quantitative analysis and research to support investment strategies at hedge funds. This course in Data Driven Investing with Excel aligns well with the work of a hedge fund analyst. The course offers a structured approach to financial data science, quantitative finance, and financial analysis, skills critical for this role. The course teaches how to estimate returns, quantify risks, and statistically test investment ideas. The practical approach with real-world data and Excel also prepares a learner to generate insights for hedge fund strategies. A learner should take this course to build valuable, practical financial data science skills that are directly applicable to hedge fund analysis.
Investment Analyst
An investment analyst evaluates investment opportunities for firms or clients. The course, Data Driven Investing with Excel, is highly relevant to the role because it enables learners to make robust investment decisions through financial data science and quantitative finance. The course curriculum on calculating stock and portfolio returns, quantifying risk, and using asset pricing models, help build a foundation for an investment analyst. This course provides practical skills to develop and test investment hypotheses using Excel alongside real-world data. An investment analyst should consider taking this course to gain a rigorous, data-driven approach to investing.
Quantitative Analyst
A quantitative analyst, or quant, uses mathematical and statistical models to analyze financial markets and develop trading strategies. The Data Driven Investing with Excel course is highly relevant as it focuses on financial data science and quantitative finance. A quant will find the course content on statistical techniques, asset pricing models, and hypothesis testing beneficial. The course will teach how to apply these techniques using real data in Excel, enhancing their ability to build and test models. A learner should take this course to learn to apply advanced quantitative methods to real-world financial data.
Financial Analyst
A financial analyst examines financial data to provide insights and recommendations. This course in Data Driven Investing with Excel, with its focus on financial data science, analysis, and quantitative finance, directly supports the work of a financial analyst. The course's methodology of using statistical techniques to guide investment decisions, even without a strong math background, provides critical skills for this role. The course's emphasis on working with real-world data, calculating returns and risks, and using asset pricing models enhances a financial analyst's ability to make informed decisions. The exploration of portfolio construction using Excel also helps build a crucial skillset for a financial analyst.
Equity Research Analyst
An equity research analyst researches and analyzes public companies to provide investment recommendations. The Data Driven Investing with Excel course is highly relevant to this role. The course's curriculum on financial data science and quantitative finance helps build a strong foundation for analyzing stock performance and making investment decisions. By taking this course, learners will understand how to calculate stock and portfolio returns, quantify risk, and explore relationships between various factors in the market. The course provides an approach to data-driven investing using real-world data, a critical skill for an equity research analyst.
Risk Analyst
A risk analyst assesses financial risks for an organization, identifying potential issues and recommending mitigation strategies. The Data Driven Investing with Excel course may help a risk analyst, as it covers the quantitative aspects of risk measurement, particularly in the context of investment portfolios. In the course, learners will discover how to quantify the total risk in the financial context. They will learn how to analyze real data using Excel. The course also explores how portfolio risk is influenced by several factors, which is directly applicable to this role. This course may be helpful to someone wishing to build a foundation in the financial aspects of risk analysis by offering methods to examine risk.
Investment Consultant
An investment consultant provides advice on investment strategies and portfolio management to clients. A course like Data Driven Investing with Excel may be useful for an investment consultant. The course's focus on financial data science, analysis, and quantitative finance helps build a strong foundation for developing robust investment strategies. The course discusses how to calculate returns and risks, and how to apply asset pricing models. The course also teaches how to statistically test and validate investment ideas. These skills may help inform an investment consultant's recommendations, though this course is more focused on the quantitative aspects of investing.
Financial Consultant
A financial consultant provides financial advice to clients on a range of topics, including investments. The Data Driven Investing with Excel course may be useful to a financial consultant, as it provides a framework in data driven investing using financial data science and quantitative finance techniques. The course covers important concepts of financial analysis, such as calculating stock returns, quantifying risk, and using asset pricing models. This course introduces the methodologies to develop and test investment hypotheses, and to explore real-world financial data using Excel. These skills may help in developing investment recommendations for a client. While the course is more focused on quantitative skills than general financial planning, this course may be helpful for a financial consultant.
Data Analyst
A data analyst collects, cleans, and interprets data to provide insights. The Data Driven Investing with Excel course may be useful as it teaches learners how to work with financial data, conduct exploratory data analysis, and test hypotheses using Excel. A data analyst may use the course's content of data cleaning, exploration, and statistical testing of hypothesis . The course's exploration of relationships between returns and factors is a valuable skill. The course also emphasizes Excel for these tasks, which are often needed for data analysis work. A data analyst might find some of the skills taught here to be useful, but the course is not a general data science course.
Business Intelligence Analyst
A business intelligence analyst uses data analysis to support an organization's decision-making processes. While the Data Driven Investing with Excel course is focused on financial data, it may be useful to a business intelligence analyst. The course's content on explorative data analysis and hypothesis testing could be helpful in the analyst's work. The course also demonstrates how to work with real-world data, clean it, and use tools like Excel to derive insights and validate hypotheses. Although this is not a general data analysis course, the course may be helpful in developing the skills applicable to this role.
Statistician
A statistician applies statistical theories and methods to collect, interpret, and analyze data in order to solve problems or extract insight. The Data Driven Investing with Excel course may be helpful to a statistician. The course focuses on using statistical techniques to guide investment decisions, including hypothesis testing. The course will teach how to work with financial data and perform statistical calculations, and it explores underlying mathematical proofs. The course does not offer an intensive statistics education. A statistician may find the specific application of statistics in finance helpful though this is not a general statistics course.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies market conditions for a business, identifying trends and providing insight. The Data Driven Investing with Excel course may be useful for a market research analyst, as it explores the use of data to analyze trends and to make data-driven decisions. This course teaches how to collect and clean data, explore data, and conduct hypothesis testing. The course emphasizes working with real-world data in Excel. Although the course is specific to financial data, some of these concepts may be useful in the work of a market research analyst.
Economist
An economist studies the production and distribution of resources, goods, and services by collecting data and analyzing markets, for example. This course, Data Driven Investing with Excel, may be useful for an economist, particularly one who is interested in the financial markets. The course provides a structured approach to financial data science, quantitative finance, and financial analysis. The course does not offer a comprehensive education in economics. However, the course may be helpful in learning analytical methods that are often used in the field.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Data-Driven Investing with Excel ® | Financial Data Science.
Delves into the quantitative techniques used in equity portfolio management, providing a deeper understanding of factor models, portfolio optimization, and risk management. It builds upon the concepts covered in the course and offers practical insights into applying data-driven methods in real-world investment scenarios. This book valuable reference for those seeking to advance their knowledge in quantitative finance.
Provides a solid foundation in value investing principles, which are essential for making informed investment decisions. It offers a framework for analyzing financial statements and understanding market behavior. While not directly focused on data science, it provides the fundamental investment knowledge needed to apply data-driven techniques effectively. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals.

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