I'm looking for historical listings for the NYSE?

Question

I'm wanting a historical listing (daily) of all the companies on the NYSE, I prefer the opening and closing figures for each company, and I would prefer this to be downloadable or spreadsheet compatible. I've found several which list trends, summaries, or subgroups, but I really prefer a comprehensive listing of all the individual stocks (companies). For example, let's say I wanted to look at January 12th, 1997 and see how all the stocks did that day, and I wanted to compare that to December 8th, of 1986, or any other date. I don't need to go back to 1950, but I am interested in going back a number of years. Does anyone provide this sort of service, are there any free ones available, or can anyone suggest how I might find this information? Thank you!

Answer 1

if you can get to a good business library, then bloomberg would be your best bet.  as would be factset or compustat.   maybe even the nyse itself?

the Univ of Chicago has something called CRSP i think it's called, where they have compiled all this info.  

also Ibbotson has this info in general terms.  overall market performance.

but if you have access to bloomberg or the other ones i mentioned, you'd have your answer right there.

Answer 2

The best source for that info is the individual stock exchanges that carry the stocks.  If you want one stop shopping, most higher end brokerages will have that info available for a price.  You will have to open an account and possibly pay extra for that data.  Those rates are different for each exchange.   You won't find it for free.  At least I haven't been able to find free historical data like that.  Other than for an individual stock at a time at different finance pages ie. Yahoo, Google, MSN, CNBC, etc.

Answer 3

The trouble with online databases like Yahoo is that they don't keep discontinued stocks.

Finance academics use the CRSP database.  This is expensive -- but if you are a student, it is highly likely that your college library has access to the CRSP database through the WRDS system at the Wharton School.  Talk to your school librarian about this.