How to invest in Germany using ETFs
How do I invest in German stocks?
The easiest way to invest in the whole German stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.
On the German stock market you'll find 4 indices which are tracked by ETFs. Besides these indices, 8 alternative indices are available.
As further alternative, you can consider indices on Europe. In the below listed indices Germany is weighted with around 30%.
Performance of German stocks (DAX®)
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on Germany
For an investment in the German stock market, there are 4 indices available which are tracked by 13 ETFs. On the DAX® index there are 10 ETFs. On the F.A.Z. index there is 1 ETF. On the FTSE Germany All Cap index there is 1 ETF. On the Solactive Germany 30 index there is 1 ETF. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.08% p.a. and 0.16% p.a..
Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
---|---|---|---|---|
DAX® |
Germany | 10 ETFs | 30 |
The DAX® index tracks the 30 largest and most traded German stocks listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Index factsheet |
F.A.Z. |
Germany | 1 ETF | 100 |
The F.A.Z index tracks the 100 largest German stock corporations, in terms of market capitalisation, that are traded on Deutsche Börse.
Index factsheet |
FTSE Germany All Cap |
Germany | 1 ETF | 152 (30/10/2020) |
The FTSE Germany All Cap index tracks large, mid and small cap securities from Germany.
Index factsheet |
Solactive Germany 30 |
Germany | 1 ETF | 30 |
The Solactive Germany 30 index tracks the 30 largest companies in Germany based on free float market capitalization with weight restrictions of 10% per security.
Index factsheet |
ETF ISIN |
Fund size in m EUR |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iShares Core DAX UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933931 | 7,026 | 0.16% p.a. | Accumulating | Germany | Full replication | |
Xtrackers DAX UCITS ETF 1CLU0274211480 | 4,005 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Deka DAX UCITS ETFDE000ETFL011 | 1,085 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Germany | Full replication | |
Lyxor Core DAX (DR) UCITS ETFLU0378438732 | 966 | 0.08% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Deka DAX (ausschüttend) UCITS ETFDE000ETFL060 | 960 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Lyxor DAX (DR) UCITS ETF - AccLU0252633754 | 781 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Xtrackers DAX UCITS ETF Income 1DLU0838782315 | 584 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Amundi ETF DAX UCITS ETF DRFR0010655712 | 166 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Full replication | |
Lyxor 1 DAX® UCITS ETFDE000ETF9017 | 104 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Lyxor F.A.Z. 100 Index (DR) UCITS ETFLU0650624025 | 85 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Vanguard Germany All Cap UCITS ETF DistributingIE00BG143G97 | 80 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
Lyxor DAX (DR) UCITS ETF - DistLU2090062436 | 59 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Deka Germany 30 UCITS ETFDE000ETFL516 | 40 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication |
Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F.A.Z. | 7.00% | 8.07% | 17.16% | 48.07% | 16.05% | |
Solactive Germany 30 | 8.00% | 9.00% | 16.45% | 49.57% | - | |
FTSE Germany All Cap | 6.85% | 8.11% | 16.19% | 49.59% | - | |
DAX® | 8.85% | 9.31% | 17.45% | 50.19% | 22.02% |
Index | 2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F.A.Z. | 8.07% | 1.50% | 23.15% | -18.72% | 14.75% | |
FTSE Germany All Cap | 8.11% | 3.75% | 24.81% | - | - | |
Solactive Germany 30 | 9.00% | 1.49% | - | - | - | |
DAX® | 9.31% | 2.90% | 24.86% | -18.70% | 13.75% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2021; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best Germany ETFs
by 1 year return
1 | Xtrackers DAX UCITS ETF 1C | 50.37% |
2 | Lyxor Core DAX (DR) UCITS ETF | 50.34% |
3 | Amundi ETF DAX UCITS ETF DR | 50.30% |
The cheapest Germany ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
1 | Lyxor Core DAX (DR) UCITS ETF | 0.08% p.a. |
2 | Deka Germany 30 UCITS ETF | 0.09% p.a. |
3 | Xtrackers DAX UCITS ETF 1C | 0.09% p.a. |
German indices on small and mid caps or dividend strategies
Alternatively, you can consider indices on small and mid caps, single sectors or dividend strategies. In order to compare the ETFs for the best German dividend strategies have a look at the Investment Guide on German Dividend Strategies. In total you can invest in 8 alternative indices on Germany tracked by 18 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these alternative indices is between 0.19% p.a. and 0.70% p.a..
Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
---|---|---|---|---|
DAXplus® Maximum Dividend | Germany
Dividend |
1 ETF | 25 |
The DAXplus® Maximum Dividend index tracks 25 German equities with the highest dividend yield.
Index factsheet |
DAX® 50 ESG | Germany
Social/Environmental |
2 ETFs | 50 |
The DAX® 50 ESG index tracks the 50 largest, most liquid German stocks that are classified as particularly sustainable according to ESG criteria (environmental, social and corporate governance). Companies involved in the production or trade of controversial weapons, tobacco, thermal coal and nuclear energy are categorically excluded.
Index factsheet |
DAX® ex Financials 30 | Germany
|
1 ETF | 30 |
The DAX® ex Financials 30 index tracks the 30 largest and most traded German stocks listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, excluding banks, financial services and insurance companies.
Index factsheet |
DivDAX® | Germany
Dividend |
3 ETFs | 15 |
The DivDAX® index tracks 15 stocks with the highest dividend yield within the DAX® index. The DAX® index tracks the largest and most traded German stocks listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Index factsheet |
MDAX® | Germany
Mid Cap |
6 ETFs | 60 |
The MDAX® index tracks 60 German mid cap stocks which are listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Index factsheet |
SDAX® | Germany
Small Cap |
2 ETFs | 70 |
The SDAX® index tracks 70 German small cap stocks.
Index factsheet |
Solactive Mittelstand Deutschland | Germany
Mid Cap |
1 ETF | 69 (31/03/2021) |
The Solactive Mittelstand Deutschland index tracks the largest 70 German mid cap companies excluding financial services.
Index factsheet |
TecDAX® | Germany
Technology |
2 ETFs | 30 |
The TecDAX® index tracks the 30 largest and most traded technology companies which are listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and rank below the DAX® Index in terms of size and turnover. |
ETF ISIN |
Fund size in m EUR |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iShares MDAX UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933923 | 1,700 | 0.51% p.a. | Accumulating | Germany | Full replication | |
iShares TecDAX UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933972 | 973 | 0.51% p.a. | Accumulating | Germany | Full replication | |
Deka MDAX UCITS ETFDE000ETFL441 | 704 | 0.30% p.a. | Accumulating | Germany | Full replication | |
iShares DivDAX UCITS ETF (DE)DE0002635273 | 540 | 0.31% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Deka DAXplus Maximum Dividend UCITS ETFDE000ETFL235 | 393 | 0.30% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Invesco MDAX UCITS ETF AIE00BHJYDV33 | 368 | 0.19% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Optimized sampling | |
Lyxor MDAX (DR) UCITS ETFLU1033693638 | 242 | 0.30% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor 1 MDAX® UCITS ETFDE000ETF9074 | 215 | 0.30% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Lyxor SDAX (DR) UCITS ETFLU0603942888 | 170 | 0.70% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Xtrackers Mittelstand & MidCap Germany UCITS ETF 1DIE00B9MRJJ36 | 99 | 0.40% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
Lyxor 1 TecDAX® UCITS ETFDE000ETF9082 | 95 | 0.40% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Lyxor Germany Mid-Cap MDAX UCITS ETF - DistFR0011857234 | 74 | 0.20% p.a. | Distributing | France | Unfunded swap | |
Lyxor DivDAX (DR) UCITS ETFLU0603933895 | 72 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor 1 DivDAX® UCITS ETFDE000ETF9033 | 43 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Deka DAX ex Financials 30 UCITS ETFDE000ETFL433 | 25 | 0.30% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Lyxor 1 DAX® 50 ESG (DR) UCITS ETFDE000ETF9090 | 20 | 0.23% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Lyxor 1 SDAX® UCITS ETFDE000ETF9058 | 17 | 0.70% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Amundi DAX 50 ESG UCITS ETF DR (C)LU2240851688 | 4 | 0.19% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication |
Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TecDAX® | 1.42% | 5.02% | 10.25% | 29.89% | 33.84% | |
MDAX® | 1.38% | 2.29% | 17.12% | 49.76% | 21.31% | |
DAX® ex Financials 30 | 7.68% | 9.18% | 17.76% | 57.45% | 20.84% | |
Solactive Mittelstand Deutschland | 1.67% | 3.33% | 17.77% | 59.11% | 23.86% | |
DAXplus® Maximum Dividend | 8.90% | 11.24% | 23.93% | 60.33% | 1.43% | |
DivDAX® | 10.09% | 12.19% | 23.83% | 62.36% | 25.46% | |
SDAX® | 2.16% | 4.07% | 23.20% | 65.50% | 25.82% | |
DAX® 50 ESG | 7.20% | 8.06% | 16.88% | - | - |
Index | 2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MDAX® | 2.29% | 8.51% | 30.38% | -18.24% | 17.13% | |
Solactive Mittelstand Deutschland | 3.33% | 17.34% | 29.20% | -23.82% | 31.19% | |
SDAX® | 4.07% | 17.15% | 30.42% | -20.76% | 23.69% | |
TecDAX® | 5.02% | 6.31% | 22.49% | -3.61% | 39.15% | |
DAX® 50 ESG | 8.06% | - | - | - | - | |
DAX® ex Financials 30 | 9.18% | 5.05% | 23.77% | -20.23% | 10.93% | |
DAXplus® Maximum Dividend | 11.24% | -2.96% | 11.64% | -18.87% | 5.67% | |
DivDAX® | 12.19% | 2.13% | 23.17% | -16.58% | 13.62% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2021; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
Europe indices with a large share of Germany
Besides Germany ETFs you may consider ETFs on the European stock markets. In total, you can invest in 3 indices on the Eurozone tracked by 27 ETFs. All Eurozone indices weight Germany with around 29% to 34%. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on the Eurozone is between 0.05% p.a. and 0.25% p.a..
Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
---|---|---|---|---|
EURO STOXX® | Europe
Germany: 31.00% (30/10/2020) |
2 ETFs | 295 (26/02/2021) |
The EURO STOXX® index tracks stocks from eurozone countries included in the STOXX® Europe 600 Index. The STOXX® Europe 600 index tracks large, mid and small capitalisation stocks from European developed countries.
Index factsheet |
EURO STOXX® 50 | Europe
Germany: 34.40% (30/10/2020) |
19 ETFs | 50 |
The EURO STOXX® 50 index tracks the 50 largest companies in the eurozone.
Index factsheet |
MSCI EMU | Europe
Germany: 28.67% (30/10/2020) |
6 ETFs | 238 (31/03/2021) |
The MSCI EMU index tracks large and mid cap stocks from countries in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
Index factsheet |
ETF ISIN |
Fund size in m EUR |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iShares EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933956 | 5,793 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE0008471009 | 4,223 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 4,204 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor EURO STOXX 50 (DR) UCITS ETF - AccFR0007054358 | 4,134 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Full replication | |
iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53L3W79 | 3,823 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 2,775 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 2,771 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681047236 | 2,558 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1,875 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
iShares EURO STOXX UCITS ETF (DE)DE000A0D8Q07 | 1,829 | 0.20% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Amundi Index MSCI EMU UCITS ETF DR EUR (C)LU1602144575 | 1,397 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Deka EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFDE000ETFL029 | 1,044 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI EMU UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0147308422 | 683 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (LU) EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0136234068 | 399 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor Core EURO STOXX 300 (DR) UCITS ETF AccLU0908501058 | 349 | 0.07% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 299 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
BNP Paribas Easy EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFFR0012740983 | 292 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | France | Full replication | |
Lyxor Core MSCI EMU (DR) UCITS ETF - DistLU1646360971 | 270 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor Core EURO STOXX 50 (DR) UCITS ETF DistLU0908501488 | 252 | 0.07% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 225 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 216 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
BNP Paribas Easy EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFFR0012739431 | 166 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Full replication | |
Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DistIE00B5B5TG76 | 88 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (D)LU1681047319 | 85 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor Core EURO STOXX 50 (DR) UCITS ETF AccLU0908501215 | 81 | 0.07% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor 1 EURO STOXX 50® UCITS ETFDE000ETF9504 | 53 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Deka EURO STOXX 50 (thesaurierend) UCITS ETFDE000ETFL466 | 31 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication |
Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EURO STOXX® 50 | 7.91% | 10.13% | 23.31% | 43.89% | 27.28% | |
MSCI EMU | 6.64% | 9.02% | 22.90% | 44.40% | 23.12% | |
EURO STOXX® | 6.63% | 8.23% | 22.70% | 45.39% | 24.93% |
Index | 2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI EMU | 8.21% | -0.76% | 26.22% | -12.40% | 12.75% | |
EURO STOXX® | 8.23% | 0.55% | 28.14% | -12.88% | 13.09% | |
EURO STOXX® 50 | 10.13% | -3.08% | 30.41% | -12.01% | 9.77% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2021; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.