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 | 65 (29/07/2022) |
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 | 2,499 | 0.25% p.a. | Distributing | France | Full replication | |
iShares MSCI France UCITS ETFIE00BP3QZJ36 | 59 | 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 | 6.78% | 0.76% | -3.92% | -1.23% | 14.23% | |
CAC 40® | 6.67% | 0.62% | -4.59% | -1.02% | 14.98% |
Index | 2022 in % |
2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAC 40® | -7.51% | 22.98% | 0.27% | 23.84% | -7.43% | |
MSCI France | -7.22% | 20.93% | 1.21% | 22.60% | -6.94% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/07/2022; 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 | -1.02% |
2 | iShares MSCI France UCITS ETF | -1.23% |
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. |
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 18 ETFs. 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® 50 | Europe
France: 39.00% (31/05/2022) |
11 ETFs | 50 |
The EURO STOXX® 50 index tracks the 50 largest companies in the eurozone.
Index factsheet |
MSCI EMU | Europe
France: 36.18% (31/05/2022) |
6 ETFs | 230 (29/07/2022) |
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: 30.80% (31/05/2022) |
1 ETF | 223 (31/03/2022) |
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 (Dist)IE0008471009 | 3,166 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53L3W79 | 2,704 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 2,493 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 1,970 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 1,863 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Amundi Index MSCI EMU UCITS ETF DR EUR (C)LU1602144575 | 1,222 | 0.25% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1,106 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (LU) MSCI EMU UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0147308422 | 443 | 0.18% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
UBS ETF (LU) EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0136234068 | 326 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 305 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
Lyxor Core MSCI EMU (DR) UCITS ETF - DistLU1646360971 | 234 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 190 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 170 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
Lyxor Core EURO STOXX 50 (DR) UCITS ETF AccLU0908501215 | 101 | 0.07% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (D)LU1931974429 | 41 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DistIE00B5B5TG76 | 19 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
Amundi ETF EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF DR USDLU1681047400 | 10 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE000MWUQBJ0 | 0 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication |
Index | 1 month in % |
3 months in % |
6 months in % |
1 year in % |
3 years in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI EMU | 5.05% | -1.63% | -8.29% | -9.40% | 5.36% | |
Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | 5.41% | -1.36% | -8.07% | -9.07% | 5.61% | |
EURO STOXX® 50 | 5.17% | -0.70% | -8.04% | -7.64% | 6.03% |
Index | 2022 in % |
2021 in % |
2020 in % |
2019 in % |
2018 in % |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI EMU | -12.54% | 14.92% | 4.87% | 20.05% | -11.68% | |
Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | -12.21% | 17.37% | 1.58% | - | - | |
EURO STOXX® 50 | -11.64% | 14.92% | 2.59% | 23.81% | -10.83% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/07/2022; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.