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 Europe. In the below listed indices France is weighted with more than 30%.
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 | 73 (31/03/2021) |
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lyxor CAC 40 (DR) UCITS ETF - DistFR0007052782 | 3,284 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | France | Full replication | |
iShares MSCI France UCITS ETFIE00BP3QZJ36 | 63 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication |
Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI France | 3.76% | 3.04% | 17.08% | 34.94% | 23.17% | |
CAC 40® | 4.22% | 3.80% | 18.32% | 35.28% | 24.19% |
Index | 2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI France | 2.65% | 1.21% | 22.60% | -6.94% | 18.02% | |
CAC 40® | 3.80% | 0.27% | 23.84% | -7.43% | 16.51% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2021; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best France ETFs
by 1 year return
1 | Lyxor CAC 40 (DR) UCITS ETF - Dist | 35.28% |
2 | iShares MSCI France UCITS ETF | 34.94% |
The cheapest France ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
1 | iShares MSCI France UCITS ETF | 0.25% p.a. |
2 | Lyxor CAC 40 (DR) UCITS ETF - Dist | 0.25% p.a. |
Europe 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. All Eurozone indices weight France with around 31% to 37%. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on the Eurozone is between 0.05% p.a. and 0.25% p.a..
Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
---|---|---|---|---|
EURO STOXX® | Europe
France: 31.20% (30/10/2020) |
1 ETF | 295 (31/03/2021) |
The EURO STOXX® index tracks stocks from eurozone countries included in the STOXX® Europe 600 Index. The STOXX® Europe 600 index tracks large, mid and small capitalisation stocks from European developed countries.
Index factsheet |
EURO STOXX® 50 | Europe
France: 35.00% (30/10/2020) |
10 ETFs | 50 |
The EURO STOXX® 50 index tracks the 50 largest companies in the eurozone.
Index factsheet |
MSCI EMU | Europe
France: 33.63% (30/10/2020) |
6 ETFs | 238 (31/03/2021) |
The MSCI EMU index tracks large and mid cap stocks from countries in the European Economic and Monetary Union.
Index factsheet |
ETF ISIN |
Fund size in m GBP |
TER in % |
Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 3,707 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE0008471009 | 3,661 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53L3W79 | 3,337 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 2,429 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 2,408 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1,654 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Amundi Index MSCI EMU UCITS ETF DR EUR (C)LU1602144575 | 1,323 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI EMU UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0147308422 | 594 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (LU) EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0136234068 | 348 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 262 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Lyxor Core MSCI EMU (DR) UCITS ETF - DistLU1646360971 | 236 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 211 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 189 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
Lyxor Core EURO STOXX 50 (DR) UCITS ETF AccLU0908501215 | 78 | 0.07% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DistIE00B5B5TG76 | 76 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
Lyxor EURO STOXX 300 (DR) UCITS ETF DistLU0908501132 | 11 | 0.07% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Amundi ETF EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DR USDLU1681047400 | 9 | 0.15% 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 | 5.63% | 4.95% | 15.19% | 38.38% | 24.05% | |
MSCI EMU | 4.37% | 3.33% | 14.78% | 38.80% | 19.92% | |
EURO STOXX® | 4.35% | 3.28% | 14.58% | 39.95% | 21.92% |
Index | 2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
2017 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EURO STOXX® | 3.28% | 6.29% | 20.52% | -11.43% | 18.24% | |
MSCI EMU | 3.33% | 4.87% | 20.05% | -11.68% | 16.84% | |
EURO STOXX® 50 | 4.95% | 2.64% | 22.03% | -10.83% | 14.16% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2021; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.