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®)
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 (29/11/2024) | The MSCI France index tracks the leading French stocks. Index factsheet |
Source: justETF.com; As of 28/02/2025; 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 | +2.39% |
| 2 | Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist | +1.29% |
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. |
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 | 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 | 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 |
Source: justETF.com; As of 28/02/2025; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
