Many European equity funds are outpacing their entire 2024 performance less than two months into 2025, according to data compiled from FE Fundinfo*.
The highest performing European equity products year-to-date were passive funds tracking the Euro Stoxx 50 Index.
Some of these included exchange-traded-funds (ETFs) such as the Xtrackers Euro Stoxx 50 UCITS ETF and iShares Core Euro Stoxx 50 UCITS ETF, which together hold $20bn of assets between them.
These ETFs have returned 14.4% and 13.2% so far in 2025 respectively, putting them ahead of their full 2024 calendar year returns.
If European stocks continue with this momentum, the top-performing active European equity funds year-to-date also look to be on track to outpace their 2024 gains.
Franklin Mutual European
The $614m Franklin Mutual European fund is one of the top performing active European equity funds year-to-date, up 12.6% after a 15.6% return in 2024.
Managed by Mandana Hormozi and Timothy Rankin, some of its biggest holdings are in Roche, Novartis and Deutsche Bank.
Alken AM Continental Europe
The $51m Alken AM Continental Europe fund is another top performer, up 12.6% after a 14.8% return in 2024.
Managed by Nicolas Walewski and Marc Festa, the strategy focuses on finding undervalued stocks with high profitability and growth potential.
Allianz Euroland Equity Growth
The $370m Allianz Euroland Equity Growth fund is up 12.3% year-to-date, after a 3% loss in 2024.
Managed by Andreas Hildebrand and Giovanni Trombello, this strategy focuses on finding high growth stocks listed in Europe.
UBS (Lux) Key Selection SICAV European Equity Value Opportunity
The $293m UBS European Equity Value Opportunity fund is another a top performer in the sector, up 12.6% year-to-date after a 19.2% return in 2024.
Managed by Kevin Barker, Steven Magill and Philip Haigh, this strategy focuses on value stocks in Europe. Some of its biggest positions are in BNP Paribas, Roche and Novartis.
iShares Edge MSCI Europe Value Factor UCITS ETF
Not an active fund, but this $1.5bn ETF with a value tilt is one of the top-performing strategies in the sector year-to-date, up 12% after a 16.6% return in 2024.
*The performance data was measured in US dollar terms for the period ending 24/02/2025.
