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: -4.16%
1 year: -1.66%
3 years: 10.68%
5 years: 36.47%
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 2 ETFs. On the CAC 40® index there is 1 ETF. On the MSCI France index there is 1 ETF. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is around 0.25% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CAC 40® | France | 1 ETF | 40 | The CAC 40® index tracks the largest and most traded French stocks listed on Euronext in Paris. Index factsheet |
MSCI France | France | 1 ETF | 60 (30/09/2024) | The MSCI France index tracks the leading French stocks. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m GBP | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF DistFR0007052782 | 2,593 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | France | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI France UCITS ETFIE00BP3QZJ36 | 148 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAC 40® | -3.49% | -3.07% | -8.14% | 5.32% | 16.12% | |
| MSCI France | -3.54% | -2.59% | -7.02% | 6.15% | 14.12% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAC 40® | -3.98% | 17.47% | -1.74% | 22.98% | 0.29% | |
| MSCI France | -2.73% | 15.42% | -2.03% | 20.93% | 1.21% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/10/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best France ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | iShares MSCI France UCITS ETF | 6.15% |
| 2 | Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist | 5.32% |
The cheapest France ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
| 1 | Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist | 0.25% p.a. |
| 2 | 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 3 indices on the Eurozone tracked by 17 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on the Eurozone is between 0.05% p.a. and 0.18% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURO STOXX® 50 | Europe France: 40.10% (30/11/2022) | 11 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) | 5 ETFs | 221 (30/09/2024) | 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 | Europe France: 31.90% (30/11/2022) | 1 ETF | 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 GBP | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53L3W79 | 3,570 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 3,321 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE0008471009 | 3,120 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 2,993 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 2,970 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681047236 | 1,854 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1,119 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 907 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 579 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI EMU UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0147308422 | 448 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| UBS ETF (LU) EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0136234068 | 390 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI EMU UCITS ETF DistLU1646360971 | 339 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 210 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE000MWUQBJ0 | 52 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (D)LU1931974429 | 39 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DistIE00B5B5TG76 | 17 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DR USD (C)LU1681047400 | 15 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI EMU | -3.07% | -1.49% | -1.94% | 15.74% | 14.38% | |
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | -3.20% | -1.90% | -2.32% | 15.89% | 15.10% | |
| EURO STOXX® 50 | -3.09% | -1.44% | -2.46% | 17.37% | 23.03% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | 4.15% | 17.65% | -7.16% | 17.38% | 1.58% | |
| MSCI EMU | 4.43% | 16.88% | -7.48% | 15.12% | 4.87% | |
| EURO STOXX® 50 | 5.80% | 20.31% | -4.16% | 14.95% | 2.93% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/10/2024; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.