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Excel tips, productivity advice, and updates from the Desk Dojo team.

Finance

DuPont Analysis: Breaking Down Return on Equity

Learn how DuPont analysis breaks ROE into profit margin, asset turnover, and the equity multiplier to show where a company's returns come from.

·5 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

How to Use FIND and SEARCH in Excel

Learn how to use FIND and SEARCH to locate text within cells in Excel, with examples for splitting data and handling case sensitivity.

·4 min read
Finance

Financial Ratios: How to Measure a Company's Performance

Learn how to calculate and interpret key financial ratios for liquidity, profitability, and leverage using a company's financial statements.

·6 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use LEN, TRIM, and CLEAN in Excel

Learn how to use LEN, TRIM, and CLEAN to find and fix hidden spaces and non-printable characters in Excel data.

·5 min read
Finance

Bond Valuation: How to Price Bonds Using Present Value

Learn how to price a bond by discounting coupon payments and face value. Covers premium bonds, discount bonds, and yield to maturity.

·7 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

How to Use TRIM, CLEAN, and SUBSTITUTE in Excel

Learn how to use TRIM, CLEAN, and SUBSTITUTE to fix messy text in Excel, with syntax, examples, and formulas you can combine.

·6 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS in Excel

Learn how to use AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS to calculate conditional averages in Excel, with syntax, examples, and comparison tables.

·6 min read
Finance

NPV and IRR: How Companies Decide Which Projects to Take

Learn how net present value and internal rate of return work, how to calculate each, and how companies use them together to evaluate investments.

·7 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

Absolute vs Relative Cell References in Excel

Learn the difference between absolute and relative cell references in Excel, when to use the $ sign, and how references behave when you copy formulas.

·7 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use SUMPRODUCT in Excel

Learn how to use SUMPRODUCT for total revenue calculations, conditional counting, conditional summing, and weighted averages in Excel.

·5 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use SORT and SORTBY in Excel

Learn how to use SORT and SORTBY to reorder data dynamically in Excel, with examples for single and multi-column sorting.

·5 min read
Excel TipsFormulasProductivity

How to Use Date Functions in Excel (With Practical Examples)

Master Excel's essential date functions including TODAY, DATEDIF, EDATE, NETWORKDAYS, and more with clear examples and formulas.

·9 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

How to Use ROUND, ROUNDUP, and ROUNDDOWN in Excel

Learn how to use ROUND, ROUNDUP, and ROUNDDOWN to control decimal places in Excel, with practical examples for reports and budgets.

·4 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

How to Use LEFT, RIGHT, and MID to Extract Text in Excel

Learn how to use LEFT, RIGHT, and MID to pull specific characters from cells in Excel, with step-by-step examples.

·4 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

Every Excel Error Explained (and How to Fix Them)

Learn what each Excel error means, what causes it, and how to fix it. Covers #DIV/0!, #VALUE!, #REF!, #NAME?, #N/A, #NULL!, and #NUM!.

·4 min read
Finance

WACC Explained: How Companies Calculate Their Cost of Capital

Learn how to calculate the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) and why it serves as the discount rate for corporate investment decisions.

·5 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

How to Use PROPER, UPPER, and LOWER in Excel

Learn how to use PROPER, UPPER, and LOWER in Excel to quickly fix capitalization and keep your text consistent.

·2 min read
Excel TipsProductivity

Fortify Your Files: How to Protect an Excel Workbook

Learn how to protect an Excel workbook and worksheet with this step-by-step guide to securing your files.

·2 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

How to Use TEXTJOIN in Excel

Learn how to use TEXTJOIN in Excel to combine text from multiple cells with custom delimiters for cleaner data and reports.

·2 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP: Which Lookup Function Is Better?

Explore the differences between VLOOKUP vs. XLOOKUP in Excel. Learn when to use each function for efficient data retrieval and analysis.

·3 min read
Excel TipsProductivity

Create a Drop-Down List in Excel (Step-by-Step Guide)

Drop-down lists in Excel make data entry faster and reduce errors. Learn how to build one step by step using Data Validation.

·2 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use the FILTER Function in Excel

The FILTER function extracts rows that meet specific conditions, making datasets easier to manage and reports cleaner.

·2 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

5 Helpful Finance Excel Functions: NPV, IRR, and More

Discover key Finance Excel functions for analysis: NPV, IRR, PMT, FV, and XNPV. These are helpful for complex analyses and modeling.

·5 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

Mastering INDEX and MATCH: A Powerful Alternative to VLOOKUP

Learn how to use INDEX and MATCH in Excel for flexible, efficient data retrieval. Master this powerful combination as an alternative to VLOOKUP.

·3 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use COUNTIFS in Excel (With Examples)

Learn how to use COUNTIFS in Excel to count cells that meet multiple conditions, with syntax, examples, and comparison to COUNTIF.

·3 min read
Excel TipsFormulasProductivity

How to Use IFERROR in Excel (With Examples)

Learn how to use IFERROR in Excel to replace error messages with clean, readable outputs. Includes syntax and step-by-step examples.

·3 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use the UNIQUE Function in Excel

The UNIQUE function removes duplicates by returning a distinct list of values. It's a simple way to keep datasets and reports clean.

·2 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

Unlock Excel's Power: Master IF, AND, and OR Functions

Learn how to combine IF, AND, and OR functions in Excel to build smarter, more dynamic formulas for business, grading, or financial modeling.

·4 min read
Finance

Present Value vs Future Value: Moving Money Through Time

Learn the difference between present value and future value, how to calculate each, and why these concepts matter in corporate finance and investment analysis.

·5 min read
Excel TipsData AnalysisProductivity

Effective Methods for Removing Duplicates in Excel

Learn how to remove duplicates in Excel to clean datasets, improve accuracy, and ensure your analysis and reports are reliable.

·3 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

PMT Function in Excel: Syntax, Examples, and Tips

Learn how to use Excel's PMT function to calculate loan or investment payments based on a fixed interest rate and term. Includes syntax, examples, and key tips.

·6 min read
Excel TipsFormulas

How to Calculate Mortgage Payments in Excel Using PMT

Learn how to calculate mortgage payments in Excel using the PMT function. Step-by-step guide with example to simplify loan planning and budgeting.

·3 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNT in Excel

Learn how to use SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNT in Excel to add numbers, calculate averages, and count entries, with syntax and examples.

·4 min read
Finance

Time Value of Money: The Foundation of Finance

Learn the time value of money, including present value, future value, discount rates, and how to apply TVM concepts with formulas.

·5 min read
Excel TipsProductivityShortcuts

Essential Excel Shortcuts for Faster Spreadsheet Work

Boost your productivity with essential Excel shortcuts. Learn key combinations that streamline navigation, data selection, and formatting.

·3 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use SUMIFS in Excel (With Examples)

Learn how to use the SUMIFS function in Excel to sum values based on multiple conditions. This guide includes syntax and a step-by-step example.

·2 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

How to Use XLOOKUP in Excel (With Examples)

Learn how to use Excel's XLOOKUP function for fast data retrieval. Includes syntax, real-world examples, and tips for handling missing data.

·2 min read
Excel TipsFormulasData Analysis

COUNTIF and SUMIF in Excel: Complete Guide with Examples

Learn how to use Excel's COUNTIF and SUMIF functions to perform conditional counting and summation. This guide includes syntax, examples, and use cases.

·3 min read
Excel TipsProductivityShortcuts

5 Underrated Excel Shortcuts That Will Boost Your Productivity

Discover 5 underrated Excel shortcuts to boost productivity, from quickly filling data to navigating large sheets and formatting cells with ease.

·2 min read