How to invest in Germany using ETFs
How do I invest in German stocks?
The easiest way to invest in the whole German stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.
On the German stock market you'll find 2 indices which are tracked by ETFs. Besides these indices, 0 alternative indices are available.
As further alternative, you can consider indices on the Eurozone.
Performance of German stocks (DAX®)
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on Germany
For an investment in the German stock market, there are 2 indices available which are tracked by 4 ETFs. On the DAX® index there are 3 ETFs. On the FTSE Germany All Cap index there is 1 ETF. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.09% p.a. and 0.15% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DAX® | Germany | 3 ETFs | 40 | The DAX® index tracks the 40 largest and most traded German stocks listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Index factsheet |
FTSE Germany All Cap | Germany | 1 ETF | 164 (30/11/2022) | The FTSE Germany All Cap index tracks large, mid and small cap securities from Germany. Index factsheet |
| ETF ISIN | Fund size in m GBP | TER in % | Use of profits | Fund domicile | Replication method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers DAX UCITS ETF 1CLU0274211480 | 3,352 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Lyxor DAX (DR) UCITS ETF - AccLU0252633754 | 500 | 0.15% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi ETF DAX UCITS ETF DRFR0010655712 | 492 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | France | Full replication | |
| Vanguard Germany All Cap UCITS ETF DistributingIE00BG143G97 | 121 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication |
| Index | 1 month in % | 3 months in % | 6 months in % | 1 year in % | 3 years in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE Germany All Cap | -3.19% | 1.02% | 0.26% | 21.22% | 8.65% | |
| DAX® | -3.09% | 0.96% | 0.98% | 23.05% | 16.85% |
| Index | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | 2019 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAX® | 10.12% | -7.90% | 7.20% | 8.96% | 18.17% | |
| FTSE Germany All Cap | 10.19% | -12.97% | 5.96% | 9.63% | 18.70% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/08/2023; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best Germany ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | Xtrackers DAX UCITS ETF 1C | 23.05% |
| 2 | Amundi ETF DAX UCITS ETF DR | 23.01% |
| 3 | Lyxor DAX (DR) UCITS ETF - Acc | 22.99% |
The cheapest Germany ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
| 1 | Xtrackers DAX UCITS ETF 1C | 0.09% p.a. |
| 2 | Amundi ETF DAX UCITS ETF DR | 0.10% p.a. |
| 3 | Vanguard Germany All Cap UCITS ETF Distributing | 0.10% p.a. |
Germany indices on small and mid caps or dividend strategies
Alternatively, you can consider indices on small and mid caps, single sectors or dividend strategies. In order to compare the ETFs for the best German dividend strategies have a look at the Investment Guide on German Dividend Strategies. In total you can invest in 0 alternative indices on Germany tracked by 0 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these alternative indices is at -.
- For the selected origin country, there are no ETFs with this investment focus available.
You are able to select your country of origin on the top of the screen.
Europe indices with a large share of Germany
Besides Germany 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 Germany: 30.90% (30/11/2022) | 11 ETFs | 50 | The EURO STOXX® 50 index tracks the 50 largest companies in the eurozone. Index factsheet |
| MSCI EMU | Europe Germany: 25.37% (30/11/2022) | 5 ETFs | 228 (31/08/2023) | 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 Germany: 24.40% (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 | 2,918 | 0.10% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1CLU0380865021 | 2,688 | 0.09% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Dist)IE0008471009 | 2,500 | 0.10% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| iShares Core MSCI EMU UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE00B53QG562 | 2,359 | 0.12% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF 1DLU0274211217 | 2,012 | 0.09% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Xtrackers MSCI EMU UCITS ETF 1DLU0846194776 | 1,089 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| UBS ETF (LU) MSCI EMU UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0147308422 | 415 | 0.17% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EURIE00B4K6B022 | 392 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Invesco EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETFIE00B60SWX25 | 328 | 0.05% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Unfunded swap | |
| UBS ETF (LU) EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF (EUR) A-disLU0136234068 | 318 | 0.15% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Lyxor Core MSCI EMU (DR) UCITS ETF - DistLU1646360971 | 262 | 0.12% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| SPDR MSCI EMU UCITS ETFIE00B910VR50 | 188 | 0.18% p.a. | Accumulating | Ireland | Full replication | |
| Lyxor Core EURO STOXX 50 (DR) UCITS ETF AccLU0908501215 | 139 | 0.07% p.a. | Accumulating | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| Amundi Prime Eurozone UCITS ETF DR (D)LU1931974429 | 23 | 0.05% p.a. | Distributing | Luxembourg | Full replication | |
| HSBC EURO STOXX 50 UCITS ETF EUR (Acc)IE000MWUQBJ0 | 11 | 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 | -3.14% | 1.76% | 0.26% | 20.36% | 30.72% | |
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | -3.27% | 1.68% | 0.57% | 20.58% | 33.67% | |
| EURO STOXX® 50 | -3.90% | 1.30% | 1.50% | 25.46% | 36.70% |
| Index | 2023 in % | 2022 in % | 2021 in % | 2020 in % | 2019 in % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI EMU | 10.49% | -7.48% | 15.12% | 4.87% | 20.05% | |
| Solactive GBS Developed Markets Eurozone Large & Mid Cap | 10.87% | -7.16% | 17.37% | 1.58% | - | |
| EURO STOXX® 50 | 12.41% | -4.16% | 14.95% | 2.93% | 23.40% |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/08/2023; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.