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®)
1 month: 2.91%
1 year: 11.99%
3 years: 34.56%
5 years: 60.77%
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 | 63 (30/11/2023) | 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 | 2,611 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | France | Full replication | |
| iShares MSCI France UCITS ETFIE00BP3QZJ36 | 72 | 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 | 5.85% | -0.84% | 0.65% | 9.69% | 32.28% | |
| CAC 40® | 5.97% | -0.09% | 1.82% | 11.48% | 37.70% |
| Index | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | 2019 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI France | 10.96% | -2.03% | 20.93% | 1.21% | 22.60% | |
| CAC 40® | 13.03% | -1.74% | 22.98% | 0.29% | 23.81% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30/11/2023; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best France ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF Dist | 11.48% |
| 2 | iShares MSCI France UCITS ETF | 9.69% |
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. |
Alternative investment opportunities
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 | 229 (30/11/2023) | 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 | 214 (31/08/2023) | 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 | 3,196 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 2,843 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE0008471009 | 2,569 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 2,535 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 2,124 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (C)LU1681047236 | 1,536 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1,162 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 487 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI EMU UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0147308422 | 404 | 0.17% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| UBS ETF (LU) EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0136234068 | 350 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 339 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
| Lyxor Core MSCI EMU (DR) UCITS ETF - DistLU1646360971 | 260 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 185 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (D)LU1931974429 | 35 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE000MWUQBJ0 | 20 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DistIE00B5B5TG76 | 11 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
| Amundi EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DR USD (C)LU1681047400 | 8 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI EMU | 7.73% | 1.36% | 2.16% | 11.27% | 22.30% | |
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | 7.93% | 1.64% | 2.44% | 11.72% | 25.84% | |
| EURO STOXX® 50 | 7.78% | 2.38% | 2.66% | 13.77% | 31.25% |
| Index | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | 2019 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI EMU | 12.53% | -7.48% | 15.12% | 4.87% | 20.05% | |
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | 13.23% | -7.16% | 17.37% | 1.58% | - | |
| EURO STOXX® 50 | 15.85% | -4.16% | 14.95% | 2.93% | 23.40% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 30/11/2023; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.