How to invest in the UK using ETFs

How do I invest in UK stocks?

The easiest way to invest in the whole UK stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.

On the UK stock market you'll find 4 indices which are tracked by ETFs. Besides these indices 4 alternative indices on small and mid caps as well as equity strategies can be considered.

Alternatively, you may invest in indices on Europe.

0.04% p.a. - 0.33% p.a.
annual total expense ratio (TER) of UK ETFs
on the UK stock market, which are tracked by ETFs
on the UK stock market
 
The best indices for UK ETFs

Performance of UK stocks (FTSE 100)

1 month: 0.57%
1 year: 11.46%
3 years: 26.65%
5 years: 26.91%
 

Indices in comparison

The best indices for ETFs on UK

For an investment in the UK stock market, there are 4 indices available which are tracked by 14 ETFs. On the FTSE 100 index there are 10 ETFs. On the FTSE All-Share index there are 2 ETFs. On the MSCI UK index there is 1 ETF. On the Morningstar UK index there is 1 ETF. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.04% p.a. and 0.33% p.a..

Index Investment focus Number of ETFs Number of constituents Short description

FTSE 100

United Kingdom 10 ETFs 100
The FTSE 100 index tracks the 100 largest UK stocks.
Index factsheet

FTSE All-Share

United Kingdom 2 ETFs 575
(31.08.23)
The FTSE All-Share index tracks all UK-based companies admitted to the main market of the London Stock Exchange.
Index factsheet

MSCI UK

United Kingdom 1 ETF 83
(29.02.24)
The MSCI UK index tracks large and mid cap equity market performance of United Kingdom.
Index factsheet

Morningstar UK

United Kingdom 1 ETF 275
(31.08.23)
The Morningstar UK index tracks mid and large cap equities of the United Kingdom.
Index factsheet
ETF
ISIN
  Fund size
in m EUR
TER
in %
Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (Dist)IE0005042456 13,245 0.07% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF DistributingIE00B810Q511 4,381 0.09% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF GBP (Acc)IE00B53HP851 2,457 0.07% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (GBP) AccumulatingIE00BFMXYP42 1,233 0.09% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
SPDR FTSE UK All Share UCITS ETFIE00B7452L46 651 0.20% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Optimized sampling
HSBC FTSE 100 UCITS ETF GBPIE00B42TW061 609 0.07% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
Lyxor Core UK Equity All Cap (DR) UCITS ETF - DistLU1781541096 427 0.04% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
Amundi FTSE 100 UCITS ETF AccLU1650492173 316 0.14% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Unfunded swap
iShares MSCI UK UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B539F030 111 0.33% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
Amundi FTSE 100 UCITS ETF DistLU1650492256 105 0.14% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Unfunded swap
SPDR FTSE UK All Share UCITS ETFIE00BD5FCF91 81 0.20% p.a. Distributing Ireland Optimized sampling
UBS ETF (LU) FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (GBP) A-disLU0136242590 74 0.20% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
Xtrackers FTSE 100 UCITS ETF Income 1DLU0292097234 74 0.09% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
Xtrackers FTSE 100 UCITS ETF 1CLU0838780707 53 0.09% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Full replication
 
Index   1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
Morningstar UK -0.40% 4.00% 3.57% 2.08% 27.40%
FTSE All-Share -0.28% 4.47% 3.91% 2.68% 26.43%
MSCI UK 0.24% 4.67% 4.51% 2.92% 36.42%
FTSE 100 0.00% 4.53% 3.85% 3.03% 33.38%
Index   2024
in %
2023
in %
2022
in %
2021
in %
2020
in %
Morningstar UK 0.00% 9.62% -4.15% 26.62% -16.10%
FTSE All-Share 0.25% 9.84% -5.07% 26.30% -14.85%
FTSE 100 0.69% 9.96% -0.93% 26.60% -16.25%
MSCI UK 0.84% 9.44% 1.13% 27.49% -18.19%

Source: justETF.com; As of 29.02.24; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.

 
Alternative investment opportunities

UK indices on small and mid caps or equity strategies

Alternatively, you may invest in indices on small and mid caps or equity strategies. In total, you can invest in 4 alternative UK indices, which are tracked by 7 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on alternative UK indices is between 0.10% p.a. and 0.58% p.a..

 
Index Investment focus Number of ETFs Number of constituents Short description
FTSE 250 United Kingdom
Mid Cap
4 ETFs 250
The FTSE 250 index tracks 250 of the largest mid-cap companies based in the United Kingdom that are not included in the FTSE 100.
Index factsheet
FTSE UK Dividend+ United Kingdom
Dividend
1 ETF 50
(31.08.23)
The FTSE UK Dividend+ index tracks the highest yielding UK stocks.
Index factsheet
MSCI UK Small Cap United Kingdom
Small Cap
1 ETF 239
(29.02.24)
The MSCI UK Small Cap index tracks UK small cap stocks.
Index factsheet
S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats United Kingdom
Dividend
1 ETF 36
(31.08.23)
The S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats index tracks UK companies whose dividends have risen in the last 7 consecutive years.
Index factsheet
ETF
ISIN
  Fund size
in m EUR
TER
in %
Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
Vanguard FTSE 250 UCITS ETF DistributingIE00BKX55Q28 1,739 0.10% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
iShares UK Dividend UCITS ETFIE00B0M63060 933 0.40% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
iShares FTSE 250 UCITS ETFIE00B00FV128 904 0.40% p.a. Distributing Ireland Optimized sampling
Vanguard FTSE 250 UCITS ETF (GBP) AccumulatingIE00BFMXVQ44 408 0.10% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
iShares MSCI UK Small Cap UCITS ETF (Acc)IE00B3VWLG82 207 0.58% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Optimized sampling
SPDR S&P UK Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF (Dist)IE00B6S2Z822 121 0.30% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
Xtrackers FTSE 250 UCITS ETF 1DLU0292097317 35 0.15% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
 
Index   1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
FTSE UK Dividend+ -2.36% 2.25% 6.16% -1.64% 23.42%
MSCI UK Small Cap -1.48% 4.74% 4.41% 0.96% -7.99%
FTSE 250 -1.55% 4.91% 4.85% 1.37% 0.33%
S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats -1.54% 5.10% 3.74% 2.03% 12.26%
Index   2024
in %
2023
in %
2022
in %
2021
in %
2020
in %
FTSE UK Dividend+ -2.11% 8.30% -6.96% 31.71% -21.50%
MSCI UK Small Cap -1.76% 11.40% -26.88% 21.88% -10.52%
FTSE 250 -1.47% 10.13% -21.80% 24.81% -9.75%
S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats -0.52% 8.38% -13.28% 22.28% -21.13%

Source: justETF.com; As of 29.02.24; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.

 

Europe indices with a large UK share

Besides UK ETFs you may invest in ETFs on the European stock market. In total, you can invest in 4 indices on Europe, which are tracked by 26 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on Europe indices is between 0.07% p.a. and 0.52% p.a..

 
Index Investment focus Number of ETFs Number of constituents Short description
MSCI Europe Europe
UK: 24.00%
(30/11/2022)
12 ETFs 424
(29.02.24)
The MSCI Europe index tracks the leading stocks from 15 European industrial countries.
Index factsheet
MSCI Europe ex EMU Europe
UK: 47.59%
(30/11/2022)
2 ETFs 197
(29.02.24)
The MSCI Europe ex EMU index tracks leading stocks in European countries outside of the eurozone.
Index factsheet
STOXX® Europe 50 Europe
UK: 27.70%
(30/11/2022)
4 ETFs 50
The STOXX® Europe 50 index tracks 50 European large cap stocks.
Index factsheet
STOXX® Europe 600 Europe
UK: 24.50%
(30/11/2022)
8 ETFs 600
The STOXX® Europe 600 index tracks the 600 largest European companies.
Index factsheet
ETF
ISIN
  Fund size
in m EUR
TER
in %
Use of profits Fund domicile Replication method
iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE00B1YZSC51 7,657 0.12% p.a. Distributing Ireland Optimized sampling
Amundi Stoxx Europe 600 UCITS ETF AccLU0908500753 7,188 0.07% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Full replication
iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B4K48X80 6,611 0.12% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Optimized sampling
iShares STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETF (DE)DE0002635307 6,009 0.20% p.a. Distributing Germany Full replication
Xtrackers MSCI Europe UCITS ETF 1CLU0274209237 3,958 0.12% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Full replication
Xtrackers STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETF 1CLU0328475792 2,359 0.20% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Full replication
Amundi Index ETF MSCI Europe UCITS ETF DR (C)LU1437015735 1,925 0.15% p.a. Accumulating Luxembourg Full replication
Deka MSCI Europe UCITS ETFDE000ETFL284 821 0.30% p.a. Distributing Germany Full replication
Amundi MSCI Europe II UCITS ETF AccFR0010261198 786 0.25% p.a. Accumulating France Full replication
BNP Paribas Easy STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETFFR0011550193 711 0.20% p.a. Accumulating France Unfunded swap
iShares STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETFIE0008470928 579 0.35% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
iShares STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETF (DE) EUR (Acc)DE000A2QP4B6 485 0.20% p.a. Accumulating Germany Full replication
Amundi ETF STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETF EUR (C)FR0010790980 459 0.15% p.a. Accumulating France Unfunded swap
Invesco STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWW18 392 0.19% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Unfunded swap
Amundi Index MSCI Europe UCITS ETF DR EUR (D)LU1737652310 332 0.15% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
Amundi ETF MSCI Europe ex EMU UCITS ETF EUR (C)FR0010821819 282 0.30% p.a. Accumulating France Unfunded swap
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI Europe UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0446734104 262 0.10% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
SPDR MSCI Europe UCITS ETFIE00BKWQ0Q14 255 0.25% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Full replication
HSBC MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EURIE00B5BD5K76 157 0.10% p.a. Distributing Ireland Full replication
Xtrackers MSCI Europe UCITS ETF 1DLU1242369327 127 0.12% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
BNP Paribas Easy STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETFFR0011550672 124 0.20% p.a. Distributing France Unfunded swap
Xtrackers Stoxx Europe 600 UCITS ETF 1DLU2581375156 123 0.07% p.a. Distributing Luxembourg Full replication
iShares STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETF (DE)DE0005933949 118 0.52% p.a. Distributing Germany Full replication
Deka STOXX Europe 50 UCITS ETFDE000ETFL250 76 0.19% p.a. Distributing Germany Full replication
Invesco MSCI Europe UCITS ETFIE00B60SWY32 64 0.19% p.a. Accumulating Ireland Unfunded swap
Deka MSCI Europe ex EMU UCITS ETFDE000ETFL458 3 0.30% p.a. Distributing Germany Full replication
 
Index   1 month
in %
3 months
in %
6 months
in %
1 year
in %
3 years
in %
MSCI Europe ex EMU 0.55% 6.56% 6.28% 7.78% 34.42%
STOXX® Europe 600 2.12% 7.96% 8.16% 10.35% 32.44%
MSCI Europe 2.06% 8.03% 8.08% 10.59% 34.55%
STOXX® Europe 50 1.76% 8.62% 7.92% 12.73% 47.87%
Index   2024
in %
2023
in %
2022
in %
2021
in %
2020
in %
MSCI Europe ex EMU 1.37% 12.57% -6.74% 27.82% -6.18%
STOXX® Europe 600 3.40% 16.04% -10.41% 25.27% -1.79%
MSCI Europe 3.53% 16.13% -9.71% 26.11% -3.09%
STOXX® Europe 50 4.81% 15.04% -2.33% 26.55% -6.30%

Source: justETF.com; As of 29.02.24; Calculations in EUR based on the largest ETF of the respective index.