How the Largest Stock ETFs in the UK Performed

Each month, we check in on the performance of the largest Europe-domiciled stock exchange-traded funds available for sale in UK.

When evaluating ETFs, investors should focus on long-term returns across multiple years and market cycles. However, short-term returns can provide valuable information about biases within strategies.

Out of the 10 largest Europe-domiciled stock ETFs, the top performer last month was the £112.8 billion iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF IWDA, which lost 0.86%. The bottom performer was the £32.7 billion iShares Core MSCI EM IMI UCITS ETF EIMI, which lost 4.82%.

Here’s more about the performance of the largest stock ETFs.

iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF CSSPX

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : US Large-Cap Blend Equity

The £118.3 billion iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF fell 1.45% in July. The loss on the fund edged out the 2.12% loss on the average fund in the US large-cap blend equity category, outperforming 65% of its peers. Over the past year, the iShares fund rose 17.29%, while the average fund in its category rose 14.64%. The fund, which launched in May 2010, has climbed 17.25% over the past three years annualized and gained 13.29% annualized over the past five years.

iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF IWDA

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : Global Large-Cap Blend Equity

The iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF lost 0.86% in July, falling less than the average fund in the global large-cap blend equity category, which fell 1.40%. The £112.8 billion fund has gained 18.43% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 14.76%. The iShares fund, which launched in September 2009, has climbed 16.43% over the past three years annualized and gained 11.98% annualized over the past five years.

Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF VUSD

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : US Large-Cap Blend Equity

In July, the Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF fell 1.45%, while the average US large-cap blend equity fund lost 2.12%. The fund outperformed 65% of its peers. The £66.2 billion fund has climbed 17.29% over the past year, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 14.64%. The Vanguard fund, which launched in May 2012, has climbed 17.24% over the past three years annualized and gained 13.29% annualized over the past five years.

Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF VWRD

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : Global Large-Cap Blend Equity

The Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF lost 1.29% in July, falling less than the average fund in the global large-cap blend equity category, which fell 1.40%. The £60.6 billion fund has gained 20.02% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 14.76%. The Vanguard fund, which launched in May 2012, has climbed 16.51% over the past three years annualized and gained 11.57% annualized over the past five years.

Invesco S&P 500 UCITS ETF SPXS

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : US Large-Cap Blend Equity

The £43.8 billion Invesco S&P 500 UCITS ETF fell 1.45% in July. The loss on the fund edged out the 2.12% loss on the average fund in the US large-cap blend equity category, underperforming 62% of its peers. Over the past year, the Invesco fund rose 17.43%, while the average fund in its category rose 14.64%. The fund, which launched in May 2010, has climbed 17.43% over the past three years annualized and gained 13.50% annualized over the past five years.

iShares Core MSCI EM IMI UCITS ETF EIMI

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Bronze
• Morningstar Category
  : Global Emerging Markets Equity

The £32.7 billion iShares Core MSCI EM IMI UCITS ETF fell 4.82% in July. The loss on the fund edged out the 7.54% loss on the average fund in the global emerging markets equity category, outperforming 74% of its peers. Over the past year, the iShares fund rose 30.85%, while the average fund in its category rose 29.41%. The fund, which launched in May 2014, has climbed 16.53% over the past three years annualized and gained 8.50% annualized over the past five years.

State Street SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF SPY5

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : US Large-Cap Blend Equity

The £32.6 billion State Street SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF fell 1.45% in July. The loss on the fund edged out the 2.12% loss on the average fund in the US large-cap blend equity category, outperforming 65% of its peers. Over the past year, the State Street fund rose 17.32%, while the average fund in its category rose 14.64%. The fund, which launched in March 2012, has climbed 17.26% over the past three years annualized and gained 13.29% annualized over the past five years.

iShares V PLC - iShares MSCI ACWI UCITS ETF ISAC

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : Global Large-Cap Blend Equity

The £27.1 billion iShares V PLC - iShares MSCI ACWI UCITS ETF fell 1.26% in July. The loss on the fund edged out the 1.40% loss on the average fund in the global large-cap blend equity category, outperforming 56% of its peers. Over the past year, the iShares fund rose 20.18%, while the average fund in its category rose 14.76%. The fund, which launched in October 2011, has climbed 16.57% over the past three years annualized and gained 11.68% annualized over the past five years.

Amundi Core S&P 500 Swap UCITS ETF LSPU

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : US Large-Cap Blend Equity

The Amundi Core S&P 500 Swap UCITS ETF lost 1.45% in July, falling less than the average fund in the US large-cap blend equity category, which fell 2.12%. The £24.4 billion fund has gained 17.45% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 14.64%. The Amundi fund, which launched in March 2010, has climbed 17.43% over the past three years annualized and gained 13.47% annualized over the past five years.

Xtrackers MSCI World UCITS ETF XDWD

• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Gold
• Morningstar Category
  : Global Large-Cap Blend Equity

In July, the Xtrackers MSCI World UCITS ETF fell 0.86%, while the average global large-cap blend equity fund lost 1.40%. The fund outperformed 65% of its peers. The £22.5 billion fund has climbed 18.48% over the past year, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 14.76%. The Xtrackers fund, which launched in July 2014, has climbed 16.44% over the past three years annualized and gained 11.98% annualized over the past five years.