You asked, we answered: Data accuracy on StockReports

21st Dec '23 by Alex Naamani

26 comments 3989 reads

The StockReports are the most popular feature of Stockopedia. The insights contained within them are vital for making informed decisions. We are therefore committed to ensuring that the StockReports are as useful as possible. Over the last few months, we have used your comments and feedback to make a number of small yet impactful improvements...

New display for Fiscal Years

You asked:

"Stockopedia is missing data for some stocks, such as Wickes (LON:WIX) and 4imprint (LON:FOUR). It appears that there were two statements in the same calendar year, but only one statement is reflected on the StockReport."

We answered:

We have updated our data import process. Now, all statements for every stock are reflected on the StockReport, even in cases where two annual statements are issued within the same calendar year. We also made a subtle tweak to the webpage design. These changes ensure that the data is presented clearly, especially when multiple annual reports are issued in a single calendar year.

Let’s take a closer look at 4imprint…

Example - 4imprint:

4imprint produced two annual reports in 2022; one for the year ending January 2022 and another for the year ending December 2022. Both were published within the same calendar year, but both reports covered different fiscal periods. See here…

The first annual report for 2022, i.e. the January report, has very little to do with the firm’s financial performance in 2022. We have therefore updated the headers on the StockReport tables so that they now indicate Fiscal Years, rather than the year corresponding to the Period End Date (see below).

While changing the display, we also updated our data import process so that we import all annual reports published within a given calendar year. This means that the StockReport displays data for both Fiscal Years - i.e. 2021 and 2022. Previously, data for the 2022 Fiscal Year was missing.

Before

After

FAQs

Have you changed the display for all stocks? Yes. The StockReport will always show the Fiscal Year in the table headers.
Is the Fiscal Year the same as the Period End Date? Usually, but not always. The Fiscal Year will typically be the same as the Period End Date. However, this is not always the case. For example, retailers sometimes report a 53-week year ending in January, followed by a 52-week year ending in December to cover their full Christmas sales period.
Can I still see the Period End Date? Yes. The Period End Date will be the date found in official company statements. It can be found via the dropdown for individual statement pages (see below).

Dropdown

Individual statements page

Improved accuracy for broker forecasts

You asked:

“A case of fat fingers with the broker forecasts — has the decimal wandered off to the wrong place?”

We answered:

We resolved a glitch in the way we processed the data on dual-listed stocks, notably American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) as well as other secondary listings. Let’s look at the details…

When we build StockReports, we use data from several separate sources, including:

Refinitiv Knowledge Direct (historic data);
Refinitiv I/B/E/S (broker estimates).

Different sources sometimes presents data differently. For example, I/B/E/S may show £0.97, whereas Refinitiv Knowledge Direct may show 97p. We standardise this data, so that historic figures are consistent with future estimates. However, we found a specific issue with dual-listed stocks, particularly ADRs.

We resolved the data for many companies, but Baidu and Alibaba were particularly interesting. The US ADRs for Baidu and Alibaba are the primary listings. Our processes previously assumed ADRs were secondary listings. This resulted in inaccurate StockReports, although the issue has been addressed…

Baidu (HKG:9888)

Alibaba (HKG:9988)

Banco Santander-Chile (NYQ:BSAC)

Again, there was a huge jump before the fix. Now the data is presented more accurately and more consistently.

Alibaba (HKG:9988)

Before

After

More improvements for broker data

In fixing the decimal placing issue around broker forecast, we also resolved other problems.

We show estimates data for additional years. See below for Volkswagen’s 2024 estimates.
We show estimates data for additional data points.
- See Net Profit for Berkshire Hathaway.
- See Analyst Consensus and Forecasts for Sinotrans.

Volkswagen AG (FRA:VOW)

Before (Missing data for 2024!)

After (Data visible!)

Berkshire Hathaway (NYQ:BRK.B)

Before (Missing Net Profit!)

After (Resolved)

Sinotrans (HKG:598)

Before (Missing!)

After (Present!)

Prompt updating of price data for European markets

You asked:

“Hello, it's Tuesday, after the market close, and I've noticed that the price quotes for my Swiss stocks are outdated, showing information from Monday.”

We answered:

For some European markets, we are unable to source intraday price data. For these exchanges, we have optimised our data import process to ensure you receive the latest information more promptly.

Previously, price data for a small number of European exchanges was imported overnight, when financial ratios were calculated. Now, we import the data much sooner after the market closes so it can be displayed as soon as possible.

These exchanges are the:

Bulgarian Stock Exchange;
Budapest Stock Exchange;
Irish Stock Exchange;
Oslo Stock Exchange;
Warsaw Stock Exchange;
Bucharest Stock Exchange;
Belgrade Stock Exchange;
SIX Swiss Exchange;
Istanbul Stock Exchange.

Your feedback is valued

We know that the accuracy and timeliness of our data is important. Therefore, we are always looking at ways to improve our data pipelines while, at the same time, ensuring that we're receiving the highest-quality input from our data provider, Refinitiv. Towards this end, we have raised hundreds of support tickets with Refinitiv this year, on your behalf.

Your feedback plays a vital role in ensuring that the Stockopedia service fulfils your needs. If you want to talk in more detail about a specific issue on the site, the best way of feeding back to us is reaching out to our customer support team via the green Intercom button on your screen.

hayton

22nd Dec '23

Excellent. But no mention of inaccurate historic eps figures for companies -

this experience has happened to me time and again for years.

Alex Naamani

Hey,

Are you referring to the same issue as per LON:AXL? (See previous comments).

With LON:AXL, we fixed an issue going forward but did not fix the already existing (historic) data, so the chart was distorted.

Best,

Alex

Samsgrandad

It's a result that you have listened and acted, so thanks and thanks for your feedback. It will be ongoing I'm sure like roadworks. Better I feel to complain to the right person than walk away and try another provider with a different set of problems. I've spent my morning arguing with very polite but not very well informed help desk people on a technical matter with smart metering on my gas supply. A mention of a letter to the CEO has got my problem escalated to the person who gives a damn and the promise of replacing my meter to a more up to date model if necessary plus a £100 for the hassle. We'll see.

Sachiv Mehta

23rd Dec '23

Love this - always working on accuracy, transparency, and more! Keep it coming - better than all the "bells and whistles" tools launching all around us - don't need fancy chats if you keep bringing out incremental improvements! looking forward to 2024! Would love some better charting tools (I currently use the basic versions of ycharts for this)

seawash

27th Dec '23

What is happening about data accuracy on ASX200/300 stocks? A number of stocks in the ASX200/300 are not tagged as such in the database and dont get picked up in any screens.

eg CXO is (currently) an ASX200 stock but the Index field is blank

Was advised on 1 September that this was being rectified

Thanks

Paul Scott

Thanks Alex, this is a useful improvement, using the fiscal year, rather than the year end date. I've just checked one of the problem companies, Wickes (LON:WIX) and it now looks corrected. Very pleased at this being fixed, as it caused me problems sometimes writing the SCVRs, having to manually recalculate figures for affected companies that use 52/53 week accounting.

ChrisW

Alex,

Thanks for your comment about using the green Intercom button.

I have twice done this and chased up continually, only to be ignored. Extraordinarily rude.

The issue is that your dividend numbers that you give on your StockReport page are sometimes not consistent with the dividend page for a stock.

E.G. Alternative Income REIT. You give the the year to June 23 dividend on your StockReport as 4.84 pence per share.

If you add up the 4 dividends, 3 interim, one final, paid for that year , from the Dividend Summary page it totals 6.06 pence per share.

That's 25% higher, a big error.

Can you fix this please or will i be ignored yet again!

All the best

Chris Wright

P.S. There are others, they will be on your messages from me.

4Minutesfa

Similar experiences. I've made suggestions and the final word (months ago) is that "we will pass your suggestions to the IT gurus". Nothing since

A dedicated "improve the site/flag problems" board would be useful rather than the button. Would also reduce duplicate requests needing multiple responses using up team time if we could see it had already been raised/flagged.

Rusty2

Paul, the figures were there under the Accounts - Interims, you would need to add the 2 together. I don't think it is a 52/53 week issue. It was just the 1.1 results came out as 31.12.

The other issue, that has not been mentioned, was the analysts forecasts, were around 2 years behind. They had 2022 and 2023 forecasts, but the 2023 results were already out, this was still the case until a few weeks ago, see: https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws...

28th Dec '23

Hi,

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

The green Intercom button is the best way to raise both problems/complains and product enhancement requests. We addressed the above problems because they were raised via intercom. We tracked user feedback and used it to prioritise our work. Naturally, problems raised by a larger number of users are prioritised.

A dedicated "improve the site/flag problems" board would most likely be dominated by people who have the time and energy to write the most. I hate the phrase, but the risk is that the board would be skewed towards a 'vocal minority' that know how to lobby for their own issue.

That being said, it does seem that there is scope for improvement around communication. I sense a lot of frustration because people raise a problem via the green button. Then nothing. That clearly isn't good enough and I will raise the problem internally.

Indie

Hi Alex, one idea would be to make the Suggestions button easier to find. At the moment, it’s hidden in Learn under Roadmap as an anonymous blue plus sign button.

intuitive6191

"A dedicated "improve the site/flag problems" board would most likely be dominated by people who have the time and energy to write the most. I hate the phrase, but the risk is that the board would be skewed towards a vocal minority' that know how to lobby for their own issue."

With due respect this is a slightly strange comment? If there is a problem then discussion might be very useful for both sides. If someone makes a valid point then it surely matters not if they have the time and energy to do so,

I dont see any evidence that the board is dominated by a "vocal minority"?

I agree and it would highlight wide spread issues, with the site.

I have problems accessing Stockopedia, nearly always have to click on, having problems button, l don't know if it is just me or are others having this issue?

If you have a problems page, then other users, might be able to fix the problem.

If you report the problem, then don't get any response for weeks, then is not very helpful.

Hey,

Thanks for taking the time to get back.

I guess it's not a question of using one or the other. We can use both and we do listen to discussion boards. We posted this article in order to stimulate a bit of public conversation, which is healthy. If someone makes a valid point on the boards, then we will take note. At the same time, we would use the discussion board in addition to Intercom feedback, while bearing in mind that Intercom is the primary mechanism for processing issues/requests.

Intercom has several advantages. People can submit independent feedback in a private context where they are less likely to be influenced by the opinions of those around them. Discussion forums arguably have problems around 'echo chambers', 'herd mentality' etc. People may also be reluctant to voice unpopular opinions for fear of being shouted down and/or censored.

A dedicated "improve the site/flag problems" board would have disadvantages. We hope that people will only make valid points and give constructive feedback, but unfortunately this does not always happen. The risk is that the board would become another platform to spread negativity and/or a space for everyone to complain that their 'pet peeve' has not be addressed.

Discussion forums can also create a false 'illusion' of consumer sentiment and demand. If you looked at the problems/requests mentioned in this thread and compared them with the problems/requests raised via Intercom, you would notice a stark difference. For example, there is huge demand for real-time data (Level 2) but that is tucked away in the comments below.

Again, I'm not saying that a public discussion is off the cards. I'm saying that it would be a secondary mechanism for processing issues/requests. Please note, I do hear what people are saying about their messages being lost in Intercom. We do need to address this in order to make the best use of Intercom as a feedback channel.

Talking of data accuracy, where is Stockopedia, getting the share prices from?

I'm getting a bit fed up with misleading prices, just now Oxford Instruments (LON:OXIG) is up 6.2%, on both my platforms they have it down 1%. I can't see the current price on Stockopedia has been reached today.

Taff6

I have to say I totally disagree with you on this one. You'd be better off having genuine issues publicly commented on in an open forum. In this way you'd have collective feedback from a wide audience. The more people commenting the greater the need for resolution. People making suggestions for their own purpose would have little community support. Stockopedia comtinulally promoting the green button lacks transparency and is sugestive of stockopedia hiding the issue's from the community. I'm also sure that some issue's raised are raised in error and could be resolved by simple explanation. In relation to this I believe Stockopedia are neglecting the collective wisdom of the community which time and again enhances their offering. Just my opinion but almost sure that it'll be the consensus opinion of subscribers! Thank you. Hope you've all had a great Xmas and Happy New to staff and community. Best wishes for 2024.

Damian Cannon

Thanks Alex this is a really useful update - especially as I was one of the people pointing out the problem with the 4imprint (LON:FOUR) data!

illiswilgig

Hi Alex,

Thank you for being brave enough to publish an article on data accuracy, And even more so for being good enough to engage with the comments.

I am posting here because on the 18th December what should have been a routine update of the previous weeks interims figures to create ttm figures appears to have glitched on the MS International (LON:MSI) stockreport. Prior to the 18th the data was correct. Unfortunately it's not just a single error:

All the ttm figures in the financial summary are just the recent interims?

Even weirder all the 2022 figures are zeroed out.

To be honest I've not checked by hand that all the other columns are correct, but they do look ok at first glance.

Presumably in addition all the stockreport values derived from these incorrect figures are unreliable. I can see that the ttm P/E is incorrect.

I don't recall seeing anything like it before on the stock reports? I used the green box to notify on the morning that it happened - and rapidly received a reply from Sam that he would forward to the data team.

Since then articles have been published which discuss MS International (LON:MSI) and paste screenshots from the stockreport - and others commented on - based upon probably incorrect figures.

There are no forecast figures for this company - which makes errors in the historic data all the more problematic. Added to which it's become a widely followed company in the stockpedia community and has on occasion topped the most viewed table.

To date I have not heard anything from the data team and the figures remain incorrect as of this evening.

This seems a fairly fundamental and basic problem? I have no idea whether or not anything is being done to rectify it. Does it require enough members to report the problem before it gets actioned? Or does a data failure like this get actioned more rapidly?

To be clear I don't think it's a problem that its happened. Glitches happen. What is more of an issue is that there is no communication from Stockopedia to the community. Meanwhilst articles are being written and commented upon using incorrect figures from the stockreport - and there appears to be no way to flag that this is happening until the glitch is fixed?

I think that Stockopedia is becoming a unique investment site and community and I've no doubt that its a tough job to be on the other end of the site from all of us! So thank you for being there and doing what you do so well. Without you I'd still be sitting at the kitchen table scanning the listings in the FT :-) well maybe not entirely, but I do think Stockopedia is achieving something remarkable and I'm actually quite proud to be a member of the community.

cheers

Mark (Allery) aka Illiswilgig

(Sometime, bodger, woodsman, scythesman, private investor, tinkerer with old landrovers and fettler of recalcitrant spacecraft.)

3rd Jan

Just to say thanks for fixing the data glitch on MS International (LON:MSI) stockreport so quickly in the new Year.

Mark

7th Jan

Something I flagged months ago is that Portfolios show cost per share in £ and current price in p (UK). Whether that is a data source or a database storage bug it's not rocket science to multiply or divide by 100 where needed for consistency. Even if it means having a scaling field in the d/b (either 1 or 100) to multiply one of the two prices by. If you default to (say) 100 then it only needs a manual entry for those that don't need scaling. Or vice versa.

You asked, we answered: Data accuracy on StockReports

New display for Fiscal Years

You asked:

We answered:

Example - 4imprint:

Improved accuracy for broker forecasts

You asked:

We answered:

Baidu (HKG:9888)

Alibaba (HKG:9988)

Banco Santander-Chile (NYQ:BSAC)

Alibaba (HKG:9988)

More improvements for broker data

Volkswagen AG (FRA:VOW)

Berkshire Hathaway (NYQ:BRK.B)

Sinotrans (HKG:598)

Prompt updating of price data for European markets

You asked:

We answered:

Your feedback is valued

Recent Updates

26 comments