Investing Portfolio Management International Investing Investing in Switzerland By Justin Kuepper Justin Kuepper Justin Kuepper is a financial analyst, journalist, and private investor with over 15 years of experience in the domestic and international markets. learn about our editorial policies Updated on April 30, 2022 Reviewed by Amilcar Chavarria Reviewed by Amilcar Chavarria Amilcar Chavarria is a fintech and blockchain entrepreneur with expertise in cryptocurrency, blockchain, fintech, investing, and personal finance. learn about our financial review board Fact checked by Hans Jasperson Fact checked by Hans Jasperson Hans Jasperson has over a decade of experience in public policy research, with an emphasis on workforce development, education, and economic justice. His research has been shared with members of the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and policymakers in several states. learn about our editorial policies Photo: Erik Tham/Corbis Documentary / Getty Images Switzerland is one of the world's most popular safe-haven investment destinations. From its political neutrality to its banking secrecy, the country has a reputation for protecting valuables. But its strong economy, low national debt, low inflation, and low unemployment make it a relatively safe investment destination in its own right. Despite this popularity, investors should be aware of a few key risks. The country's safe-haven status is no secret, which means that Swiss francs and securities can rapidly become overvalued during times of crisis. These actions can even lead to dramatic actions by the country's central bank like its 2011 decision to tie the franc's value to the euro to curb its rise. Key Takeaways Switzerland is a popular investment destination because of its reputation as a safe haven for protecting valuables.Investors should exercise caution, however, since Swiss securities can quickly become overvalued in a time of crisis.The best options for Swiss investing are ETFs and ADRs.Purchasing Swiss stocks directly is another option, but this can be more difficult, and investors should watch out for foreign taxes. Investing in Switzerland With ETFs The easiest way to invest in Switzerland is through the use of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which let investors easily purchase a broad basket of assets in a single security. It is worth noting, however, that some of these ETFs do not offer as much diversification as other international ETFs. For instance, as of Nov. 30, 2020, just three stocks made up over 50% of the MSCI Switzerland Index since it's weighted by market capitalization. The most popular Swiss ETFs include: iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund ETF (EWL)Invesco CurrencyShares Swiss Franc Trust (FXF) Investing in Switzerland's ADRs American depository receipts (ADRs) offer investors another easy way to invest in Switzerland by purchasing individual company stocks trading on U.S. exchanges. Purchasing individual stocks makes it easy for investors to gain exposure to specific areas of Switzerland's economy or individual companies within the country. And ADRs can be easily purchased with U.S. brokerage accounts, since the securities trade on U.S. stock exchanges. The three most popular Swiss ADRs include: Nestle SA (NSRGY)Roche Holding Ltd. (RHHBY)Novartis AG (NVS) Investing in Swiss Stocks Directly The last and most difficult option for investing in Switzerland is purchasing stocks directly on one of Switzerland's two main stock exchanges. The SIX Swiss Exchange is the country's largest exchange and home to most of the largest stocks, while the Berne eXchange caters to small and medium-sized companies, much like the NYSE American or OTC Markets in the U.S. Investors can find the 20 largest Swiss companies in the Swiss Market Index (SMI), which include companies like Credit Suisse (CSGN), Swiss Re (SREN), and UBS (UBSN) in addition to the three large ADRs listed in the previous section. Popular companies on the Berne eXchange include The Swatch Group, the world's largest watchmaker, and Valiant, a major Swiss regional bank. When it comes to purchasing stocks on Swiss stock exchanges, there are some U.S. brokers that allow international trading on the stock exchanges, but others may be forced to open a separate brokerage account within the country. Investors should also be mindful of potential foreign taxes on their dividends and capital gains in certain cases. The Bottom Line Switzerland has become one of the world's most popular safe-haven investment destinations, but that popularity can sometimes lead to its currency and securities being overvalued during times of crisis. Investors can choose to invest through ETFs, ADRs, or individual company stock. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Swiss National Bank. "Swiss National Bank Sets Minimum Exchange Rate at CHF 1.20 per Euro." MSCI. "MSCI Switzerland Index (CHF)." Six Swiss Exchange Ltd. "SMI—The Blue-Chip Index."