Function Problems

How to Fix STOCKHISTORY Ticker Not Found Error in Excel

Natalie Taylor Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a "Stock argument not found" error when using the STOCKHISTORY function for a specific ticker over a date range that includes the company's transition between stock exchanges.

Resolving the STOCKHISTORY "Stock Argument Not Found" Error in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Pulling historical stock data using the STOCKHISTORY function across dates where the requested company transferred its stock listing from the NYSE to NASDAQ.
Observed behavior: The function returns an error for the new ticker during the transition period, while the old exchange ticker works correctly for the same historical timeframe.

Before you start

Verify the exact date your requested company transferred between stock exchanges, as historical data requests spanning the transition date often require querying the old and new exchange tickers separately.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Old Exchange Ticker for Historical Data

Since historical data before the transition is tied to the previous exchange, querying the old ticker alongside the new one resolves the missing data error.

STOCKHISTORY relies on a third-party data provider whose historical records map directly to the exchange where the stock was actively listed at the time. Querying a new ticker for dates prior to its listing transition will result in an argument error.

Identify the transfer date

Determine the exact date the company transferred from one exchange to another (e.g., August 19, 2024, for Campbell Soup's move from NYSE to NASDAQ).

Query the old ticker

Adjust your STOCKHISTORY formula to query the old exchange ticker (e.g., XNYS:CPB) for the date range prior to the transition.

Query the new ticker

Create a second STOCKHISTORY formula to query the new exchange ticker (e.g., XNAS:CPB) for dates occurring after the transition.

Combine the data

Use the VSTACK function to vertically combine the results of both STOCKHISTORY formulas if you need a continuous array of historical data in a single table.

Use the Old Exchange Ticker for Historical Data

Tip: Using VSTACK lets you seamlessly merge the two historical data arrays, ensuring your financial models continue working without manual copy-pasting.

Solution 2

Report the Data Anomaly to Microsoft

Because STOCKHISTORY uses data from a third-party provider, reporting the issue helps Microsoft coordinate a fix for inconsistent transition data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does STOCKHISTORY return a "Stock argument not found" error?

This error usually occurs when the ticker symbol is typed incorrectly, the stock is not supported by Excel's third-party data provider, or you are querying a date range during which the company transitioned to a completely different stock exchange.

How do I handle companies that moved from NYSE to NASDAQ in Excel?

You will typically need to use two separate STOCKHISTORY formulas: one using the old NYSE ticker for dates before the transfer date, and another using the new NASDAQ ticker for dates after the transfer date.

Can I manually edit the third-party stock data in Excel?

No, historical stock data is securely fetched from Microsoft's third-party providers (like Refinitiv). You cannot directly modify the source database, but you can submit feedback to Microsoft so they can correct anomalies.

Does WPS Office support financial data analysis?

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Excel & Data Problems