Tracking Investments: A Guide For Indians

Tracking your investments is an important part of managing your finances. It can be challenging to keep tabs on all your assets, from stocks and bonds to mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Luckily, there are now many tools available to help you monitor your portfolio's performance and stay on top of the market. This article will discuss the best ways to track your investments, including online tools, software, and apps available in India. We will also cover the key features to look for in a portfolio tracker and how to keep your data secure.

Investment portfolio trackers

Money Control

Money Control is a financial portal that offers a portfolio manager tool. It allows you to track investments in stocks, mutual funds, Unit-Linked Insurance Plans, precious metals, real estate, and your borrowings and loans. The app is accessible in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.

ETMoney

ETMoney is an investment and spending tracker app. It allows you to track investments in mutual funds, stocks, fixed deposits, and NPS Schemes. It also enables you to track credit card costs and e-wallet expenditures. ETMoney does not charge a commission on mutual fund investments.

INDmoney

INDmoney's investment tracker covers stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, PPF, EPF, NPS, real estate, bonds, and more. It connects to your email account and pulls data linked to your PAN number. You can also upload NSDL/CDSL statements to track your stock portfolio.

TickerTape

TickerTape is a platform for tracking the performance of stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. It allows you to connect your Demat account if your broker is Zerodha, ICICI, or Groww. TickerTape also offers screeners for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds.

Kuvera

Kuvera is a platform that enables you to track stocks, mutual funds, EPF, and fixed deposits. Additionally, it allows you to trade stocks directly through its app and connect multiple brokerage accounts. You can set financial 'Goals' and track your investments towards them.

Wealthy Portfolio Tracker

The portfolio tracker by Wealthy can be used to monitor your and your family's investments in stocks and mutual funds. It also offers services like portfolio reviews by experienced financial advisors. You can sync investment data by linking your email. They provide portfolios focused on tax saving, diversification, debt, and SIPs.

Equitymaster Portfolio Tracker

Equitymaster's Portfolio Tracker is a premium online stock and mutual fund tracking utility. It offers intelligent tools, charts, and reports to help you analyse your portfolio and track its movements, even during trading hours. It has over 20,000 users and costs Rs. 2,000 annually.

Tracking investments with spreadsheets

Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel are the two most widely used spreadsheet applications. Google Sheets is free and provides real-time data for stocks listed on NSE and BSE. Excel, on the other hand, is a powerful tool for interpreting data, but it requires manual input for collecting stock data in India.

To track investments using spreadsheets, you can follow these steps:

Decide on the Data to Include:

Firstly, determine what information you want to track. This could include the date, entry price, number of shares, closing prices, percentage return, profit and loss, and standard deviation.

Input and Update Data:

Manually enter the relevant data for your investments, such as the number of shares, entry price, and any other desired information. To automate data input, you can utilise the "Stocks" feature in Excel (for Microsoft 365 subscribers) or the "GOOGLEFINANCE" function in Google Sheets, which updates prices automatically.

Create Formulas:

Utilise formulas to calculate key metrics. For example, to find the difference between an asset's current and entry price, use the formula: =(current price – entry price). Similarly, you can calculate the percentage return using: =((price – entry) / entry).

Analyse and Visualise Data:

With the data and formulas in place, you can generate intuitive graphs and visuals to track your portfolio's performance. This includes monitoring the value of your stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs, as well as running custom reports and analysing trends.

Customise and Maintain:

The beauty of spreadsheets lies in their customisability. Tailor your spreadsheet to your specific needs and preferences, adding or removing data as necessary. Ensure that you regularly update your spreadsheet with current information to make informed investment decisions.

Tracking mutual funds

Utilise Fund Fact Sheets:

The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) recommends using Fund Fact Sheets, which are one-page documents published monthly by each mutual fund. These sheets provide an overview of the fund's performance, portfolio, and key information. They include details such as the investment objective, fund manager, initial allotment date, latest assets under management (AUM), total expense ratio (TER), investment allocation, risk assessment, and historical returns. Fact Sheets are designed to be easily understandable and offer a perfect starting point for investors to evaluate their fund's performance.

Explore Online Tools and Apps:

Several online tools and mobile applications are available in India to help track mutual fund investments. Here are some popular options:

• Money Control: A financial portal that allows you to track investments in mutual funds, stocks, Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs), gold, real estate, and more. The app is available in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.
• ETMoney: An investment and spending tracker that enables users to monitor mutual funds, stocks, fixed deposits, and NPS Schemes. It also tracks credit card costs and e-wallet expenditure.
• INDmoney: This investment tracker covers a wide range of investments, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, PPF, EPF, NPS, real estate, and bonds. It connects to your email to pull data linked to your PAN number.
• TickerTape: A platform to track the performance of stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. It allows you to connect your Demat account if your broker is Zerodha, ICICI, or Groww.
• Kuvera: On this app, you can track stocks, mutual funds, EPF, and fixed deposits. Kuvera also enables direct stock trading and the ability to connect multiple brokerage accounts.
• Wealthy: Their portfolio tracker helps track investments in stocks and mutual funds. It also offers services like portfolio reviews by financial advisors and tax-saving, diversification, debt, and SIP-focused portfolios.

Create Custom Spreadsheets:

If you prefer customisation, you can use spreadsheet applications like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel to track your mutual fund investments. These tools allow you to collect and maintain data, generate intuitive graphs, and visualise your investment information. Google Sheets provides real-time data for stocks listed on NSE and BSE, while Microsoft Excel can retrieve data from Indian financial websites like Rediff Money.

Remember to research and understand the risks and returns associated with your mutual fund investments. While these tools provide valuable insights, consulting a financial advisor can also help you make informed decisions about your investment portfolio.

Tracking ETFs

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a popular investment vehicle for those looking to track investments in India. ETFs offer investors the ability to geographically diversify their portfolios by investing in a range of companies listed on India's National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

There are several online tools, software, and apps available in India to help investors track their ETF investments. These include:

• Money Control: A financial portal that offers a portfolio manager for tracking investments in stocks, mutual funds, Unit-Linked Insurance Plans, gold, silver, platinum, real estate, and more. The app is available in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.
• ETMoney: An investment and spending tracker that allows users to track mutual funds, stocks, fixed deposits, and NPS Schemes, as well as credit card costs and e-wallet expenditures.
• INDmoney: An investment tracker that covers stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, PPF, EPF, NPS, real estate, and bonds. INDmoney connects to your email account and pulls data associated with your PAN number.
• TickerTape: A platform for monitoring the performance of stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. It offers screeners for these investment types and allows you to connect your Demat account if your broker is Zerodha, ICICI, or Groww.
• Kuvera: A platform that enables users to track stocks, mutual funds, EPF, and fixed deposits, as well as trade stocks directly through its app. Multiple brokerage accounts can be connected, and users can set and track investments towards specific goals.

When choosing an ETF, it is important to consider factors such as expense ratios, fund performance, investment objectives, and risk assessment. These details can often be found in fact sheets published by the mutual fund or through ETF Database Categories, which provide comprehensive information on US-listed India ETFs.

• Franklin FTSE India ETF (FLIN): This ETF offers the lowest expense ratio among India ETFs, at 0.19%. It tracks the FTSE India RIC Capped Index, focusing on large- and mid-cap stocks, with a significant portion in the financial sector.
• Columbia India Consumer ETF (INCO): With a one-year performance of 19.12%, INCO has the best 1-year return among India ETFs. It targets the Indxx India Consumer Index, focusing on consumer-facing companies in the automotive, food products, media, and household goods sectors.
• IShares MSCI India ETF (INDA): The iShares MSCI India ETF is the most liquid India ETF, with a 30-Day Average Daily Volume of over 2 million. It tracks the MSCI India Index, focusing on large- and mid-cap companies listed on the NSE and BSE.

Tracking stocks

Online Tools and Software

There are several online tools and software available in India to help you track your stock investments. These include:

• Money Control: A financial portal owned by TV18 that allows you to track stocks, mutual funds, Unit-Linked Insurance Plans, gold, silver, platinum, NSEL e-Series products, real estate, and your borrowings and loans. It offers an app in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.
• ETMoney: An investment and spending tracker that allows you to track stocks, mutual funds, fixed deposits, and NPS Schemes. It also helps you track credit card costs and e-wallet expenditures.
• INDmoney: An investment tracker that allows you to track stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, PPF, EPF, NPS, real estate, and bonds. It connects to your email account and pulls data associated with your PAN number.
• TickerTape: A platform for tracking the performance of stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. It also offers stock, ETF, and mutual fund screeners. However, you can only connect your Demat account if your broker is Zerodha, ICICI, or Groww.
• Kuvera: A platform that enables you to track and trade stocks, mutual funds, EPF, and fixed deposits. It allows you to connect multiple brokerage accounts and set investment goals.
• Portfolio Tracker – Wealthy: This tracker can help you and your family track investments in stocks and mutual funds. It also offers tax-saving and diversification-focused portfolios and the option to get your portfolio reviewed by an experienced financial advisor.

Spreadsheets

If you prefer a more customizable option, you can use spreadsheets to track your stock investments. Popular spreadsheet applications include Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Google Sheets provides real-time data for stocks listed on NSE and BSE, and you can use Google Finance to collect data on stock prices and parameters like P/E Ratio, Earnings Per Share (EPS), and beta. Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for interpreting data, but for India-specific stock data, you may need to manually add sources or retrieve data from sites like Rediff Money.

Premium Services

You can also opt for premium services like Equitymaster's Portfolio Tracker, which provides intelligent tools, reports, and charts to help you analyse your portfolio and make smarter investment decisions. This service is available for an annual fee of Rs 2,000.

Frequently asked questions