Paper-trading competitionsโwhere participants trade virtual stocks in simulated marketsโare surging in popularity, particularly among students, finance enthusiasts, and budding investors. These competitions offer a risk-free environment to test investment strategies, learn market dynamics, and compete for prizes. Amid this growing trend, one tool is proving indispensable for tracking trades and analyzing performance: Microsoft Excel.

Paper-trading competitions allow participants to experience the thrill of trading without the financial risk. Competitors start with a hypothetical balanceโsay $100,000โand simulate buying and selling stocks as if they were operating in a live market. The goal is to grow the portfolio by the competitionโs end.
In the example above, the Excel workbook tracks APPL, TSLA, AMZN, and BAC with specific buy dates and prices. It automatically gathers current market data and shows paper gains or losses.
And here’s a guide on how to build your own Excel stock tracker.
These competitions appeal to a broad audience, from high school students dipping their toes into finance to experienced investors testing new strategies. Platforms hosting these events often include leaderboards, but detailed tracking and analysis are left to the participants. Thatโs where Excel steps in.
Why Microsoft Excel is the Go-To Option
While many platforms offer basic tracking tools, they lack the flexibility and depth that Excel provides. A recent tutorial from SpreadsheetPoint.com demonstrated how Excel can be used to create a powerful, automated stock portfolio tracker thatโs perfect for paper-trading competitions.
Excelโs key advantage lies in its ability to fetch real-time stock data through its Stocks data type. By inputting stock ticker symbols, users can automatically populate the current price, gain or loss, and other vital metrics. This eliminates the need to manually update dataโa critical feature in competitions where accuracy and speed can make or break a strategy.
Note that you can also use Excel to track cryptocurrency investments.
Tracking and Analyzing Performance
For paper traders, staying organized is essential. Excel allows users to set up columns for ticker symbols, buy dates, purchase prices, and share quantities. Built-in formulas calculate total investments, current values, and overall performance at a glance.
Conditional formatting further enhances usability by visually highlighting gains and losses, helping competitors quickly assess their standing. Participants can also sum up their portfolioโs total gain or loss to see how they compare to competitors.
Beyond tracking, Excel empowers users to dive deeper into analysis. By linking to additional stock dataโlike 52-week highs or company descriptionsโtraders can make informed decisions that mirror real-world research. This functionality turns Excel into more than a ledger; it becomes a decision-making companion. There’s also an easy way to create dashboards in Excel.
The popularity of paper-trading competitions reflects a broader shift toward gamified learning and financial literacy. For participants, Excel offers the opportunity to take their performance tracking to the next level, providing tools that rival professional trading software without the associated cost.
Moreover, the skills gained from using Excelโdata analysis, formula creation, and financial modelingโare directly transferable to careers in finance, business, or economics.
Preparing for the Real World
For those eyeing a future in investing, paper-trading competitions are more than just games. They simulate the high-stakes environment of real-world markets, providing participants with a chance to refine strategies and develop the discipline needed for long-term success. Excelโs powerful tools complement this experience, equipping traders with a robust and customizable framework for success.
As the trend of paper-trading competitions grows, Excel remains at the forefront, enabling participants to stay ahead of the game. For anyone looking to dive into these competitions, mastering Excel could be the key to climbing the leaderboard.
For more tutorials and tools to enhance your financial tracking, visit SpreadsheetPoint.com. Or visit on YouTube for walkthroughs, tutorials, and news.