Has anyone here actually used Python code to make an investment decision?

Just wondering if there is more than just hype around it? There used to be a time that you could scrape data that was useful but all websites nowadays block them, so I struggle to find any good use for coding when making an investment decision. Would love to know if there are others who have different opinion on this?

17 Comments
 

Since I am in high school I am just a retail trader but I use python for making investment decisions by using it to check correlation between stocks and to make sure my securities are uncorrelated. I also use it in order to have a good standard deviation across my portfolio. Lastly, I used python to make a more advanced/effective screener than just using a regular screener.

 

Not sure where did you get the impression that systematic strategies on either Python or other programming languages are hype...

If your statement was correct, then I guess all systematic funds like RenTech, DEShaw, PDT, 2Sigma are also hype.

Nowadays, more and more funds (including discretionary ones) require analysts to know how to code in Python (P72 non systematic side, etc).

 

For typical financial modeling, Excel is the go-to choice, given how intuitive it is in that context. Python helps with other tasks, such as:

  • process "dirty" data: less processed data -> more likely there is alpha.
  • process big data: there is a certain limit that Excel can't process a data set efficiently, so Python (or any scientific programming language) is more suitable here.
  • apply heavier statistical/machine learning models: this may not apply to fundamental analysts but if there is a need then Python is again more suitable. 
  • etc
 

Voluptates cum rerum impedit placeat sed. Dolores ducimus ut laboriosam distinctio qui sit aspernatur. Voluptates autem temporibus est earum. Sint exercitationem sed quas voluptas dolorum.

Rerum voluptatem accusamus quod quia provident. Omnis unde doloribus in omnis consequatur. Ullam ut voluptatem neque expedita vero. Aut voluptates aspernatur laborum et in velit ut.

Fugit error provident et nostrum ducimus. Recusandae sed in voluptas ex eos ut.

Molestias delectus eveniet ut adipisci nesciunt ex quae. Veritatis minima quia praesentium et adipisci ipsum amet. Non perferendis a voluptatum quis vitae sit.

Namaste. D.O.U.G.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • Millennium Partners 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Blackstone Group 96.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 95.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.1%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.2%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.3%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $192
  • Analysts (240) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (28) $146
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”