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 3 ETFs. On the CAC 40® index there are 2 ETFs. On the MSCI France index there is 1 ETF. 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® | Frankrijk | 2 ETFs | 40 | The CAC 40® index tracks the largest and most traded French stocks listed on Euronext in Paris. Index factsheet |
MSCI France | Frankrijk | 1 ETF | 60 (29-11-2024) | 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. | Distribueren | Frankrijk | Volledige replicatie | |
| iShares MSCI France UCITS ETFIE00BP3QZJ36 | 153 | 0,25% p.a. | Accumulerend | Ierland | Volledige replicatie | |
| Xtrackers CAC 40 UCITS ETF 1DLU0322250985 | 122 | 0,20% p.a. | Distribueren | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie |
| 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 30-11-2024; 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 CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist | 0,53% |
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 Dist | 0,25% p.a. |
| 3 | iShares MSCI France UCITS ETF | 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 23 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® | Europa France: 34.60% (30/11/2022) | 1 ETF | 299 (28-06-2024) | 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 | Europa France: 40.10% (30/11/2022) | 14 ETFs | 50 | The EURO STOXX® 50 index tracks the 50 largest companies in the eurozone. Index factsheet |
| MSCI EMU | Europa France: 36.82% (30/11/2022) | 6 ETFs | 222 (29-11-2024) | 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 | Europa France: 31.90% (30/11/2022) | 2 ETFs | 195 (28-06-2024) | 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. | Distribueren | Duitsland | Volledige replicatie | |
| iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53L3W79 | 4.419 | 0,10% p.a. | Accumulerend | Ierland | Volledige replicatie | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 4.148 | 0,09% p.a. | Accumulerend | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 3.941 | 0,12% p.a. | Accumulerend | Ierland | Volledige replicatie | |
| iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE0008471009 | 3.879 | 0,10% p.a. | Distribueren | Ierland | Volledige replicatie | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 3.654 | 0,09% p.a. | Distribueren | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 II UCITS ETF AccFR0007054358 | 2.824 | 0,24% p.a. | Accumulerend | Frankrijk | Volledige replicatie | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681047236 | 2.261 | 0,09% p.a. | Accumulerend | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| iShares EURO STOXX UCITS ETF (DE)DE000A0D8Q07 | 2.061 | 0,20% p.a. | Distribueren | Duitsland | Volledige replicatie | |
| Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1.389 | 0,12% p.a. | Distribueren | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 1.006 | 0,05% p.a. | Distribueren | Ierland | Volledige replicatie | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 820 | 0,05% p.a. | Accumulerend | Ierland | Niet-gefinancierde swap | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DR - EUR (D)LU1681047319 | 615 | 0,09% p.a. | Distribueren | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI EMU UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0147308422 | 557 | 0,12% p.a. | Distribueren | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| UBS ETF (LU) EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0136234068 | 490 | 0,09% p.a. | Distribueren | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| Amundi MSCI EMU UCITS ETF DistLU1646360971 | 311 | 0,12% p.a. | Distribueren | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 253 | 0,18% p.a. | Accumulerend | Ierland | Volledige replicatie | |
| Amundi MSCI EMU UCITS ETF AccLU1646361276 | 97 | 0,12% p.a. | Accumulerend | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (C)LU2089238112 | 67 | 0,05% p.a. | Accumulerend | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE000MWUQBJ0 | 63 | 0,05% p.a. | Accumulerend | Ierland | Volledige replicatie | |
| Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (D)LU1931974429 | 31 | 0,05% p.a. | Distribueren | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DistIE00B5B5TG76 | 22 | 0,05% p.a. | Distribueren | Ierland | Niet-gefinancierde swap | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DR USD (C)LU1681047400 | 13 | 0,09% p.a. | Accumulerend | Luxemburg | Volledige replicatie |
| 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 30-11-2024; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.