How to invest in Switzerland using ETFs
How do I invest in Swiss stocks?
The easiest way to invest in the whole Swiss stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.
On the Swiss stock market you'll find 4 indices which are tracked by ETFs.
Alternatively, you can consider indices on Europe.
Performance of Swiss stocks (SLI®)
1 month: -2.00%
1 year: 8.99%
3 years: 8.05%
5 years: 46.03%
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on Switzerland
For an investment in the Swiss stock market, there are 4 indices available which are tracked by 7 ETFs. On the Dow Jones Switzerland Titans 30 index there is 1 ETF. On the MSCI Switzerland index there are 2 ETFs. On the SLI® index there are 2 ETFs. On the Solactive Swiss Large Cap index there are 2 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.25% p.a. and 0.51% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dow Jones Switzerland Titans 30 | Switzerland | 1 ETF | 30 | The Dow Jones Switzerland Titans 30 index tracks the 30 largest Swiss stocks. The weight of each stock is capped at 10%. Index factsheet |
MSCI Switzerland | Switzerland | 2 ETFs | 45 (29.11.24) | The MSCI Switzerland index tracks leading stocks on the Swiss market. Index factsheet |
SLI® | Switzerland | 2 ETFs | 30 | The SLI® index tracks the 30 largest and most liquid stocks of the entire Swiss equity market. Index factsheet |
Solactive Swiss Large Cap | Switzerland | 2 ETFs | 20 | The Solactive Swiss Large Cap index tracks the 20 largest and most liquid Swiss large and mid cap stocks. |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m EUR | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers Swiss Large Cap UCITS ETF 1DLU0274221281 | 1,232 | 0.30% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers Swiss Large Cap UCITS ETF 1CLU0943504760 | 476 | 0.30% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| iShares SLI UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933964 | 403 | 0.51% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers SLI UCITS ETF 1DLU0322248146 | 317 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi MSCI Switzerland UCITS ETF CHFLU1681044993 | 206 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi MSCI Switzerland UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681044720 | 139 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi DJ Switzerland Titans 30 UCITS ETF DistLU2611732632 | 136 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Switzerland | -1.59% | -5.28% | 2.96% | 10.10% | 9.13% | |
| Solactive Swiss Large Cap | -0.88% | -4.31% | 3.84% | 12.16% | 11.58% | |
| Dow Jones Switzerland Titans 30 | -0.90% | -3.37% | 4.32% | 16.04% | 16.80% | |
| SLI® | 0.11% | -2.60% | 5.20% | 17.96% | 16.46% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Switzerland | 5.50% | 11.65% | -13.16% | 28.18% | 2.17% | |
| Solactive Swiss Large Cap | 6.15% | 11.65% | -12.20% | 28.62% | 1.60% | |
| Dow Jones Switzerland Titans 30 | 8.86% | 17.20% | -13.69% | 30.97% | 4.52% | |
| SLI® | 10.42% | 17.23% | -15.59% | 31.24% | 4.81% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30.11.24; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best Switzerland ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | Xtrackers SLI UCITS ETF 1D | 18.16% |
| 2 | iShares SLI UCITS ETF (DE) | 17.96% |
| 3 | Amundi DJ Switzerland Titans 30 UCITS ETF Dist | 16.04% |
The cheapest Switzerland ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
| 1 | Amundi DJ Switzerland Titans 30 UCITS ETF Dist | 0.25% p.a. |
| 2 | Amundi MSCI Switzerland UCITS ETF CHF | 0.25% p.a. |
| 3 | Amundi MSCI Switzerland UCITS ETF EUR (C) | 0.25% p.a. |
Alternative investment opportunities
Switzerland indices that follow a certain equity strategy
Alternatively, you can consider indices on small and mid caps or dividend strategies. In total you can invest in 1 alternative index on Switzerland tracked by 1 ETF. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these alternative indices is around 0.28% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Switzerland IMI Extended SRI Low Carbon Select 5% Issuer Capped | Switzerland Social/Environmental | 1 ETF | 61 (30.11.22) | The MSCI Switzerland IMI Extended SRI Low Carbon Select 5% Issuer Capped index tracks large, mid and small cap stocks of the Swiss equity markets. The index only considers companies with high Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings relative to their sector peers, to ensure the inclusion of the best of class companies from an ESG perspective. The weight of each company is capped to 5%. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m EUR | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Switzerland IMI Socially Responsible UCITS ETF (CHF) A-accLU2250132763 | 192 | 0.28% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Switzerland IMI Extended SRI Low Carbon Select 5% Issuer Capped | 0.20% | -2.38% | 5.88% | 16.04% | 12.33% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Switzerland IMI Extended SRI Low Carbon Select 5% Issuer Capped | 8.85% | 16.49% | -17.33% | - | - |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30.11.24; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
Alternative investment opportunities
Europe indices with a share of Switzerland
Besides Switzerland ETFs you may consider investing in ETFs on the European stock market. In total, you can invest in 4 Europe indices, which are tracked by 9 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on Europe indices is between 0.09% p.a. and 0.52% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Developed Europe ex UK | Europe Switzerland: 20.36% (30/11/2022) | 2 ETFs | 459 (31.07.23) | The FTSE Developed Europe ex UK index tracks large and mid cap stocks from developed countries in Europe excluding the UK. Index factsheet |
| MSCI Europe ex UK | Europe Switzerland: 20.75% (30/11/2022) | 2 ETFs | 337 (29.11.24) | The MSCI Europe ex UK index tracks the leading stocks from European industrial countries, excluding United Kingdom. Index factsheet |
| S&P Europe ex UK | Europe Switzerland: 20.00% (30/11/2022) | 1 ETF | 358 (31.08.23) | The S&P Europe ex UK index tracks European stocks in developed markets, except stocks from the UK. Index factsheet |
| STOXX® Europe 50 | Europe Switzerland: 21.10% (30/11/2022) | 4 ETFs | 50 | The STOXX® Europe 50 index tracks 50 European large cap stocks. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m EUR | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe ex UK UCITS ETF DistributingIE00BKX55S42 | 2,003 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI Europe ex-UK UCITS ETFIE00B14X4N27 | 998 | 0.40% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Optimized sampling | |
| iShares STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETFIE0008470928 | 580 | 0.35% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe ex UK UCITS ETF (EUR) AccumulatingIE00BK5BQY34 | 547 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi ETF STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETF EUR (C)FR0010790980 | 483 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Unfunded swap | |
| Xtrackers S&P Europe ex UK UCITS ETFIE00BGV5VM45 | 393 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933949 | 111 | 0.52% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
| Deka STOXX Europe 50® UCITS ETF DE000ETFL250 | 89 | 0.19% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
| Invesco MSCI Europe ex-UK UCITS ETFIE00BYX5K108 | 40 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Europe ex UK | -0.89% | -3.66% | -2.16% | 11.50% | 16.57% | |
| STOXX® Europe 50 | -0.69% | -4.63% | -2.42% | 11.59% | 30.29% | |
| FTSE Developed Europe ex UK | -0.81% | -3.46% | -1.90% | 11.84% | 16.75% | |
| S&P Europe ex UK | -0.64% | -3.37% | -1.61% | 12.67% | 17.46% |
| Index | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Europe ex UK | 7.38% | 17.70% | -12.70% | 24.45% | 1.61% | |
| FTSE Developed Europe ex UK | 7.71% | 18.11% | -12.73% | 24.91% | 2.57% | |
| S&P Europe ex UK | 8.03% | 18.42% | -12.94% | 25.29% | 2.36% | |
| STOXX® Europe 50 | 8.56% | 15.04% | -2.33% | 26.55% | -6.30% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30.11.24; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.