Trying to extract different numbers out of structured text

Hi guys,

I am trying to extract numbers out of a bunch of strings, where every number is different in each line but they have the same structure like this:

phrases = ["Analyst Actions: Stifel Nicolaus Cuts Apache Price Target to $37 From $40, Maintains Buy Rating"; % to $NEWPT From $OLDPT
          "Analyst Actions: Citigroup Initiates Coverage on Expedia With Buy Rating, $130 Price Target"; % $NEWPT Price Target
          "Johnson & Johnson's PT cut by Credit Suisse Group AG to $159.00. outperform rating. (NYSE:JNJ)"; % to $NEWPT
          "Kroger's equal weight rating reiterated at Stephens. $35.00 PT. (NYSE:KR)"; % $NEWPT PT
          "Analyst Actions: Citigroup Initiates Coverage on Booking Holdings With Buy Rating" % this row has no value and should be "None" "None"
          % more similiar lines in the same structure
          ]
      
      % Extract NewPT from each line
      
      % Extract OldPT from each line
      
      % Write "None" where NewPT or OldPT values are null

I am trying to create two columns - NewPT and OldPT and extract the values as commented above and assign "None" whenever values don't exist

I'll be thankful to anybody who can help me with this.

Thank you!

[Rik]

There are only 3 cases, so it shouldn't be too difficult to write a parser. Did you try locating the values by searching for the dollar signs?

[Or Shem Tov]

Not sure how to do that, notice that there is one case "From $OldPT" where the value next to the $ sign has a different meaning, not sure how to tackle that one

Answer 1

[Akira Agata]

I believe 'Regular Expression' will extract the target part of string. The following is an example.

% Extract target part of string
newpt = regexp(phrases,'((?<=to \$)\d+\.?\d*|\d+\.?\d*(?= (Price Target|PT)))','match','once');
oldpt = regexp(phrases,'(?<=From \$)\d+\.?\d*','match','once');

% Convert to numerical array
newpt = str2double(newpt);
oldpt = str2double(oldpt);

[Or Shem Tov]

Works perfectly! thank you!