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 7 indices which are tracked by ETFs.
Alternatively, you can consider indices on Europe. These indices weight Switzerland with more than 20%.
Performance of Swiss stocks (SLI®)
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on Switzerland
For an investment in the Swiss stock market, there are 7 indices available which are tracked by 18 ETFs. On the Dow Jones Switzerland Titans 30 index there is 1 ETF. On the MSCI Switzerland index there are 3 ETFs. On the MSCI Switzerland 20/35 index there are 3 ETFs. On the SLI® index there are 4 ETFs. On the SMI® index there are 2 ETFs. On the SPI® index there are 3 ETFs. On the Solactive Swiss Large Cap index there are 2 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.10% p.a. and 0.52% 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 | 3 ETFs | 39 (31/12/2020) |
The MSCI Switzerland index tracks leading stocks on the Swiss market.
Index factsheet |
MSCI Switzerland 20/35 |
Switzerland | 3 ETFs | 39 (30/10/2020) |
The MSCI Switzerland 20/35 index tracks leading stocks on the Swiss market. The imbedded 20/35 rule limits the weight of the largest company to 35% and all other companies to maximum 20%.
Index factsheet |
SLI® |
Switzerland | 4 ETFs | 30 |
The SLI® index tracks the 30 largest and most liquid stocks of the entire Swiss equity market.
Index factsheet |
SMI® |
Switzerland | 2 ETFs | 20 |
The SMI® index tracks the 20 largest and most liquid Swiss large and mid cap stocks. |
SPI® |
Switzerland | 3 ETFs | 205 (31/12/2020) |
The SPI® index tracks the performance of the Swiss equity market as a whole.
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 CHF |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iShares SMI (CH)CH0008899764 | 2,024 | 0.35% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (CH) SMI (CHF) A-disCH0017142719 | 2,020 | 0.21% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication | |
iShares Core SPI (CH)CH0237935652 | 1,876 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Optimized sampling | |
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Switzerland 20/35 UCITS ETF (CHF) A-accLU0977261329 | 1,055 | 0.20% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Xtrackers Swiss Large Cap UCITS ETF 1DLU0274221281 | 872 | 0.30% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (CH) SPI (CHF) A-disCH0131872431 | 745 | 0.16% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Optimized sampling | |
UBS ETF (CH) SLI (CHF) A-disCH0032912732 | 610 | 0.21% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication | |
iShares SLI (CH)CH0031768937 | 396 | 0.35% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (CH) MSCI Switzerland (CHF) A-disCH0226274246 | 395 | 0.21% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Switzerland 20/35 UCITS ETF (CHF) A-disLU0979892907 | 374 | 0.20% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Xtrackers Swiss Large Cap UCITS ETF 1CLU0943504760 | 353 | 0.30% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
iShares SLI UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933964 | 273 | 0.52% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication | |
Amundi MSCI Switzerland UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681044720 | 142 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
Amundi ETF MSCI Switzerland UCITS ETF CHFLU1681044993 | 102 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap | |
Xtrackers SLI UCITS ETF 1DLU0322248146 | 96 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor DJ Switzerland Titans 30 (DR) UCITS ETFLU0392496427 | 69 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Switzerland 20/35 UCITS ETF (CHF) A-UKdisLU1107560036 | 34 | 0.20% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Lyxor SPI UCITS ETFLU0603946798 | 17 | 0.40% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Unfunded swap |
Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solactive Swiss Large Cap | 1.97% | 3.37% | 4.85% | 1.46% | 22.10% | |
MSCI Switzerland 20/35 | 2.40% | 4.13% | 6.10% | 2.13% | 21.80% | |
MSCI Switzerland | 2.41% | 4.14% | 6.05% | 2.77% | 24.74% | |
SPI® | 2.48% | 4.73% | 6.90% | 2.93% | 22.10% | |
SMI® | 2.17% | 5.16% | 6.38% | 3.01% | 23.76% | |
Dow Jones Switzerland Titans 30 | 2.04% | 7.90% | 10.61% | 3.93% | 18.55% | |
SLI® | 1.86% | 8.44% | 11.93% | 6.38% | 21.45% |
Index | 2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solactive Swiss Large Cap | 1.29% | 1.46% | 29.87% | -7.34% | 16.39% | |
MSCI Switzerland 20/35 | 2.13% | 2.13% | 29.83% | -8.15% | 17.36% | |
MSCI Switzerland | 2.77% | 2.77% | 30.87% | -7.26% | 18.38% | |
SPI® | 2.93% | 2.93% | 29.87% | -8.66% | 19.78% | |
SMI® | 3.01% | 3.01% | 29.70% | -7.37% | 17.46% | |
Dow Jones Switzerland Titans 30 | 3.76% | 3.93% | 29.02% | -11.59% | 19.46% | |
SLI® | 6.38% | 6.38% | 29.80% | -12.04% | 20.74% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/12/2020; Calculations in CHF based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best Switzerland ETFs
by 1 year return
1 | UBS ETF (CH) SLI (CHF) A-dis | 6.38% |
2 | iShares SLI (CH) | 5.57% |
3 | Xtrackers SLI UCITS ETF 1D | 4.92% |
The cheapest Switzerland ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
1 | iShares Core SPI (CH) | 0.10% p.a. |
2 | UBS ETF (CH) SPI (CHF) A-dis | 0.16% p.a. |
3 | UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Switzerland 20/35 UCITS ETF (CHF) A-acc | 0.20% p.a. |
Swiss indices on small and mid caps or dividend strategies
Alternatively, you can consider indices on small and mid caps or dividend strategies. In total you can invest in 3 alternative indices on Switzerland tracked by 4 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these alternative indices is between 0.15% p.a. and 0.45% p.a..
Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
---|---|---|---|---|
SMIM® | Switzerland
Mid Cap |
2 ETFs | 30 |
The SMIM® index tracks the 30 largest and most liquid Swiss mid-cap equities. |
SPI® Mid Cap | Switzerland
Mid Cap |
1 ETF | 80 |
The SPI® MID index tracks the 80 largest mid-cap stocks in the Swiss equity market that are not included in the blue chip SMI® index. |
SPI® Select Dividend 20 | Switzerland
Dividend |
1 ETF | 20 |
The SPI® Select Dividend 20 index tracks the 20 companies with the highest dividend yield in the Swiss equity market. |
ETF ISIN |
Fund size in m CHF |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iShares SMIM (CH)CH0019852802 | 1,252 | 0.45% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication | |
iShares Swiss Dividend (CH)CH0237935637 | 957 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (CH) SMIM (CHF) A-disCH0111762537 | 924 | 0.27% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (CH) SPI Mid (CHF) A-disCH0130595124 | 225 | 0.28% p.a. | Distributing | Switzerland | Full replication |
Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPI® Select Dividend 20 | 2.64% | 11.34% | 11.35% | 2.81% | 31.25% | |
SMIM® | 3.15% | 9.22% | 15.42% | 4.28% | 14.02% | |
SPI® Mid Cap | 3.35% | 9.66% | 16.99% | 7.28% | 18.68% |
Index | 2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPI® Select Dividend 20 | 2.81% | 2.81% | 33.58% | -4.44% | 17.05% | |
SMIM® | 4.28% | 4.28% | 33.18% | -17.90% | 32.48% | |
SPI® Mid Cap | 7.28% | 7.28% | 32.44% | -16.47% | 30.47% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/12/2020; Calculations in CHF based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
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 2 Europe indices, which are tracked by 3 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on Europe indices is between 0.35% p.a. and 0.52% p.a..
Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI Europe ex UK | Europe
Switzerland: 21.27% (30/10/2020) |
1 ETF | 346 (31/12/2020) |
The MSCI Europe ex UK index tracks the leading stocks from European industrial countries, excluding United Kingdom.
Index factsheet |
STOXX® Europe 50 | Europe
Switzerland: 22.80% (30/10/2020) |
2 ETFs | 50 |
The STOXX® Europe 50 index tracks 50 European large cap stocks.
Index factsheet |
ETF ISIN |
Fund size in m CHF |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iShares MSCI Europe ex-UK UCITS ETFIE00B14X4N27 | 1,242 | 0.40% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Optimized sampling | |
iShares STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETFIE0008470928 | 575 | 0.35% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
iShares STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933949 | 122 | 0.52% p.a. | Distributing | Germany | Full replication |
Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
STOXX® Europe 50 | 1.52% | 7.27% | 6.24% | -6.75% | -1.22% | |
MSCI Europe ex UK | 2.64% | 11.28% | 14.43% | 1.48% | 7.61% |
Index | 2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
STOXX® Europe 50 | -7.66% | -6.75% | 22.55% | -13.55% | 18.85% | |
MSCI Europe ex UK | 1.29% | 1.48% | 23.41% | -14.07% | 21.71% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/12/2020; Calculations in CHF based on the largest ETF of the respective index.