The dataset I selected for my visualization project is a set of two sheets containing daily closing prices and percent returns for Amazon and Coca Cola from 2005 until 2014.  Initially, I had considered using RAW to visualize my data interactively; however, after trying various approaches, I realized RAW is more suitable for visualizing datasets with multiple columns of attributes, whereas my dataset was more time-centered, featuring only two attributes. Thus, I decided that Tableau would be a better tool since it allows for better time-centered visualization and juxtaposition of multiple charts.

First, let me start by explaining my dataset: there are two sheets – one for Amazon and one for Coca Cola. Each has three columns: Date (by day), Closing Price (in dollars), and Daily Return (by percentages). In terms of interpretation and analysis, we can either look at relationships within a single company, or how these attributes compare between these two companies across time.  I decided to examine if there are any patterns first between Amazon’s and Coca Cola’s daily Closing Prices, and the between their Daily returns.

Amazon vs Coca Cola Closing Prices over 10 years

I changed the date from “year” to “month”, and set the Closing Prices to display the “average” value. The blue is AMZN, while red is KO. I also added the Label option to make it easier to read points on the graph.  From this visualization it seems that the average daily Closing Prices of both companies seem to increase from 2005 to 2014. Note, however, that each company has a different price scale: for Amazon the range is from about $44 to $407, while for Coca Cola it’s $16 – $45. This difference could influence us to see patterns that are not really there. In this case, however,  it is valid to interpret the data in this way because the pattern is consistent for each company within its own price range. Also, it is noticeable that somewhere toward the end of 2009, prices for both had decreased.

Next, I created a similar visualization to compare Daily Percentage Returns for Amazon and Coca Cola.

Daily Percent Returns Amazon vs Coca Cola

Again, I set the Date to display by month, and the percentages to show by average. Notice, again, that the percentage ranges are not the same for each company: for Amazon it’s between -2% and 3%, and for Coca Cola it’s between -0.7% and 0.7%. And, just like the previous chart, we can interpret this one relatively in terms of general patterns. So here, it looks like both Amazon and Coca Cola experienced a significant decrease sometime near the end of 2008. Recalling what that the first chart illustrated both companies’ prices having decreased near 2009, it is possible to infer some connection between the two events.

Since I am not knowledgeable about stock prices, I am aware that I may be making inaccurate inferences about relationships. However, by completing this visualization project, I realized that by presenting your columns and rows visually, allows to see relationships that could hardly be spotted before. Furthermore, it allows to make comparisons across multiple sheets, and to view each attribute more closely (e.g. day by day), or more objectively (year by year).