International stocks have once again been outpacing US stocks: The MSCI World Ex US Index has gained 8% year to date, versus a flat S&P 500® Index.1 This follows international stocks topping US stocks last year after nearly 2 decades of outperformance by the US.
Fidelity’s Capital Markets Strategy Group recently noted that international stocks may offer investors diversification at an opportune time. “There has been stronger earnings growth in all major global regions,” according to the research report. “Typically, this has favored non-US stocks, particularly when paired with a softer dollar and easing financial conditions abroad, which has been the case thus far in early 2026."
These factors, plus US stocks still selling at a premium to international stocks, remain reasons to think there could continue to be opportunities in international stocks. If you’d like to explore international stocks, here are 3 ETF screens from the Fidelity.com ETF Screener to consider, plus the top 5 results for each.
European leadership
The Winter Olympics just wrapped in Italy and it will stay on the European continent in 2030 in the French Alps. Meanwhile, Europe is looking to keep its winning stock market performance going after several European countries rose near the top of the performance podium in 2025.2 Among the trends that could propel stocks in Europe include the significant ramp-up in European defense spending, which has boosted defense stocks in the region.
Here are the top 5 results for an ETF screen with at least 50% exposure to European stocks and a low net expense ratio, sorted by net assets, as of February 26, 2026:
- iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF GBP (
) - Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF (
) - Global X DAX Germany ETF (
) - Franklin FTSE Switzerland ETF (
) - Franklin FTSE Germany ETF (
)
A critical step when running a screen is to understand the risks associated with each one. For example, this list includes ETFs that are specific to a single country, as well as an ETF that is diversified across multiple countries. You’ll want to understand the unique risks associated with these different flavors of ETFs to be able to evaluate if it is right for you.
Sun rising on Japan
Japan’s stock market surged for the third consecutive year in 2025, as corporate governance reforms continued to drive higher returns on equity, improved capital discipline, and sustained earnings momentum.1
Here are the top 5 results for an ETF screen with at least 30% exposure to Japanese stocks and a low net expense ratio (0.38% and below), sorted by net assets, as of February 26, 2026:
- Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (
) - JPMorgan Betabuilders Japan ETF (
) - Vanguard FTSE Pacific Index Fund ETF Shares (
) - iShares Edge MSCI International Value Factor ETF (
) - Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (
)
When evaluating ETFs with a particular exposure, it’s important to look at just how much exposure you are getting. For example, in this screen, AVDV offers 32% exposure to Japan, while BBJP offers 100% exposure. This is an important reminder to do additional research so that you know what you are buying and are getting the type of exposure that you may be looking for.
Dancing with Latin America
A major growth story supporting international investments in Latin America is the commodity boom, among other factors. Several of the world’s largest miners are based in South America, given vast reserves for a number of commodities, including gold, silver, copper, lithium, and other minerals. Fidelity’s Capital Markets Strategy Group noted that this commodity leverage, plus easing cycles and improving macro stability, have supported earnings growth and attracted incremental global capital to the region.
Here are the top 5 results for an ETF screen with at least 50% exposure to Latin American stocks and a low net expense ratio (0.81% and below), sorted by net assets, as of February 26, 2026:
- iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (
) - iShares Latin America 40 ETF (
) - iShares MSCI Mexico ETF (
) - iShares MSCI Chile ETF (
) - Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF (
)
One way to evaluate your screen filters is to look at the results that are generated and ask yourself if they match your search criteria. This list features ETFs with components from different parts of Latin America. Depending on what you are looking for, you may want to tinker with the screening criteria to help generate results that align with your objectives.
ETF screen tips
If you think one or more of the ETFs identified by a screen merits deeper consideration, your next step should be to research it further. And always remember to evaluate a fund's costs, including:
- Expense ratio: The total annual fund operating expense ratio from the fund's most recent prospectus. Look for low expense ratios to help reduce your overall costs.
- Bid-ask spread: The amount by which the ask price exceeds the bid price for an asset. Look for small bid-ask spreads to help reduce the costs of investing.
- Tracking error: Look for a low tracking error to find ETFs that indicate a better job of replicating their benchmark indexes.
If you find ETFs with similar objectives, you could compare their expense ratios, bid-ask spreads, and/or tracking error to find the better deal. You can filter for all of these factors using the ETF Screener.