How to invest in France using ETFs
How do I invest in French stocks?
The easiest way to invest in the French stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.
On the French stock market you'll find 2 indices which are tracked by ETFs.
Alternatively, you may invest in indices on the Eurozone.
Performance of French stocks (CAC 40®)
1 month: 1.56%
1 year: -0.94%
3 years: 15.71%
5 years: 37.79%
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on France
For an investment in the French stock market, there are 2 indices available which are tracked by 5 ETFs. On the CAC 40® index there are 3 ETFs. On the MSCI France index there are 2 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.20% p.a. and 0.25% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CAC 40® | France | 3 ETFs | 40 | The CAC 40® index tracks the largest and most traded French stocks listed on Euronext in Paris. Index factsheet |
MSCI France | France | 2 ETFs | 60 (29.11.24) | The MSCI France index tracks the leading French stocks. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m EUR | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF DistFR0007052782 | 3,140 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | France | Full replication | |
| Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF AccFR0013380607 | 631 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI France UCITS ETFIE00BP3QZJ36 | 153 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers CAC 40 UCITS ETF 1DLU0322250985 | 122 | 0.20% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi ETF MSCI France UCITS ETFFR0010655704 | 10 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Unfunded swap |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAC 40® | -3.82% | -6.28% | -10.08% | 0.53% | 15.65% | |
| MSCI France | -2.60% | -4.78% | -7.99% | 2.70% | 15.11% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAC 40® | -3.15% | 19.89% | -6.91% | 31.60% | -5.11% | |
| MSCI France | -0.65% | 17.81% | -7.18% | 29.36% | -4.22% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30.11.24; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best France ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | iShares MSCI France UCITS ETF | 2.70% |
| 2 | Xtrackers CAC 40 UCITS ETF 1D | 1.80% |
| 3 | Amundi ETF MSCI France UCITS ETF | 1.09% |
The cheapest France ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
| 1 | Xtrackers CAC 40 UCITS ETF 1D | 0.20% p.a. |
| 2 | Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Acc | 0.25% p.a. |
| 3 | Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist | 0.25% p.a. |
Alternative investment opportunities
Eurozone indices with a large share of France
Besides France ETFs you may consider ETFs on the European stock markets. In total, you can invest in 4 indices on the Eurozone tracked by 25 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on the Eurozone is between 0.05% p.a. and 0.24% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURO STOXX® | Europe France: 34.60% (30/11/2022) | 1 ETF | 299 (28.06.24) | 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 France: 40.10% (30/11/2022) | 16 ETFs | 50 | The EURO STOXX® 50 index tracks the 50 largest companies in the eurozone. Index factsheet |
| MSCI EMU | Europe France: 36.82% (30/11/2022) | 6 ETFs | 222 (29.11.24) | The MSCI EMU index tracks large and mid cap stocks from countries in the European Economic and Monetary Union. Index factsheet |
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | Europe France: 31.90% (30/11/2022) | 2 ETFs | 195 (28.06.24) | The Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap index tracks large and mid cap securities from Eurozone countries. 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 | 7,583 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
| iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53L3W79 | 4,419 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 4,148 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 3,941 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE0008471009 | 3,879 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 3,654 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 II UCITS ETF AccFR0007054358 | 2,824 | 0.24% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Full replication | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681047236 | 2,261 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| iShares EURO STOXX UCITS ETF (DE)DE000A0D8Q07 | 2,061 | 0.20% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1,389 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 1,006 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Deka EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFDE000ETFL029 | 885 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 820 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DR - EUR (D)LU1681047319 | 615 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI EMU UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0147308422 | 557 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| UBS ETF (LU) EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0136234068 | 490 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| BNP Paribas Easy EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFFR0012739431 | 423 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI EMU UCITS ETF DistLU1646360971 | 311 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 253 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| BNP Paribas Easy EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFFR0012740983 | 104 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | France | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI EMU UCITS ETF AccLU1646361276 | 97 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (C)LU2089238112 | 67 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE000MWUQBJ0 | 63 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (D)LU1931974429 | 31 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DistIE00B5B5TG76 | 22 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Unfunded swap |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | -2.14% | -3.72% | -4.10% | 10.50% | 18.48% | |
| EURO STOXX® | -0.90% | -2.17% | -2.78% | 11.69% | 18.89% | |
| MSCI EMU | -0.86% | -2.24% | -2.67% | 11.94% | 19.40% | |
| EURO STOXX® 50 | -1.49% | -2.75% | -2.99% | 12.92% | 29.26% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | 6.99% | 20.09% | -12.01% | 25.57% | - | |
| EURO STOXX® | 8.20% | 18.99% | -12.09% | 22.41% | 0.55% | |
| MSCI EMU | 8.44% | 19.29% | -12.35% | 23.17% | -0.76% | |
| EURO STOXX® 50 | 9.41% | 22.79% | -9.20% | 23.49% | -3.08% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30.11.24; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.