What Is France's CAC 40 Index?

What Is France's CAC 40 Index?

Similar to the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the United States, the CAC 40 consists of the 40 largest equities by market capitalization and liquidity. While the CAC 40 is almost exclusively French companies, their multinational reach makes it one of the most popular European indices for foreign investors.

The CAC 40 launched on Dec. 31, 1987, with a base value of 1,000. After reaching an all-time high of nearly 7,000 during the dot-com boom in 2000, the index fell to around 3,000 during the economic crisis in 2011 before recovering to upward of 5,000 in 2020.

Several other indices, including the CAC Next 20 and the CAC Mid 60, have been introduced alongside the CAC 40 and gained popularity among domestic and international investors.

How France's CAC 40 Index Works

The composition of the CAC 40 index is reviewed each quarter by an independent committee known as the Conseil Scientifique, which ranks the top companies listed on the Euronext Paris by market capitalization and share turnover over the past year.

Some recognizable components of the CAC 40 include:

• Total SA (EPA: FP) (NYSE: TOT) – Total SA is a France-based integrated international oil and gas company with operations in more than 130 countries.
• Sanofi (EPA: SAN) (NYSE: SNY) – Sanofi SA is a France-based global and diversified healthcare company with 55 projects in its diverse clinical development portfolio.
• BNP Paribas SA (EPA: BNP) – BNP Paribas is a France-based bank group focused on retail, investment, and corporate banking operations around the world.
• Societe Generale (EPA: GLE) (OTC: SCGLY) – Societe Generale SA is a France-based banking group with operations in 85 different countries.
• ArcelorMittal (EPA: MT) (NYSE: MT) – ArcelorMittal SA is a France-based global steel producer with steel shipments of approximately 85 million tons and production of 90.6 million tons.

Euronext provides a full list of the current CAC 40 companies.

How to Invest in France’s CAC 40

International investors seeking direct exposure to the CAC 40 can do so using any number of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trading on the NYSE Euronext Paris. Investors can also purchase individual components of the index using American Depository Receipts (ADRs) or by purchasing foreign stock directly on the Euronext Paris exchange.

Here are five of the most popular CAC 40 ETFs:

• Lyxor CAC 40 ETF (EPA: CAC)
• Amundi CAC 40 ETF (EPA: C40)
• EasyETF CAC 40 ETF (EPA: E40)
• DBXT CAC 40 ETF (EPA: X40)
• HSBC CAC 40 ETF (EPA: K40)

International investors should carefully consider tax implications, currency risks, and other risk factors when purchasing foreign stock directly on the Euronext Paris exchange. When purchasing ADRs, it's also important to consider liquidity risks compared to the EU-listed security. 

Alternatives to France's CAC 40

International investors interested in alternatives to French-listed CAC 40 ETFs have several options. The easiest and most direct way to invest is with the iShares MSCI France Index ETF (NYSE: EWQ), but there are also many other ETFs and mutual funds with exposure to French securities. These funds provide diversified exposure without the time and cost of building a portfolio from individual foreign stocks or ADRs or the need to purchase ETFs on foreign exchanges.

Here are three popular European ETFs with French exposure:

• MSCI European ETF (NYSE: VGK)
• iShares S&P Europe 350 Index Fund (NYSE: IEV)
• SPDR DJ Euro STOXX 50 ETF (NYSE: FEZ)

When considering these ETFs, international investors should look at the expense ratio and risk factors related to sector concentration. Investors should generally seek out the lowest-cost passively managed funds to maximize their long-term risk-adjusted returns.