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 | 58 (31/03/2025) | 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 | 2,891 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | France | Full replication | |
iShares MSCI France UCITS ETFIE00BP3QZJ36 | 169 | 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® | 2.60% | -0.36% | 12.52% | -1.59% | 29.19% | |
MSCI France | 2.37% | -0.10% | 11.31% | -0.40% | 27.60% |
Index | 2025 in % | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI France | 9.98% | -3.18% | 15.42% | -2.03% | 20.93% | |
CAC 40® | 10.16% | -3.94% | 17.47% | -1.74% | 22.98% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/05/2025; 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 | -0.40% |
2 | Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist | -1.59% |
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 | 216 (31/03/2025) | 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 | 4,459 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 4,201 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 4,109 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 4,062 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE0008471009 | 3,845 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681047236 | 2,299 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1,347 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR disLU0147308422 | 1,189 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 996 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 799 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
Amundi MSCI EMU UCITS ETF DistLU1646360971 | 505 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR disLU0136234068 | 487 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 224 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE000MWUQBJ0 | 192 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DistIE00B5B5TG76 | 39 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (D)LU1931974429 | 37 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DR USD (C)LU1681047400 | 28 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication |
Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EURO STOXX® 50 | 4.00% | 2.02% | 15.49% | 9.17% | 52.78% | |
Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | 4.48% | 4.09% | 17.99% | 10.25% | 45.01% | |
MSCI EMU | 4.49% | 4.67% | 16.94% | 10.91% | 44.60% |
Index | 2025 in % | 2024 in % | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EURO STOXX® 50 | 13.95% | 6.42% | 20.31% | -4.16% | 14.95% | |
Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | 15.85% | 4.89% | 17.65% | -7.16% | 17.38% | |
MSCI EMU | 16.07% | 4.92% | 16.88% | -7.48% | 15.12% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/05/2025; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.