How to invest in the S&P 500 in the UK

Find out how to invest in the S&P 500 from the UK and take a look at some of the best S&P 500 index funds and ETFs.

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The S&P 500 is the most famous stock index in the world. So much so that when people refer to the US stock market, they’re usually talking about this index. It’s a mammoth collection of some of the best companies in the world and it’s now easier than ever to invest in the S&P 500 from the UK.

Key takeaways

  • The S&P 500 index is made up of just over 500 of the biggest and best US companies.
  • You can invest in individual companies or a “fund” that tracks the S&P (see best performers).
  • Watch out for any ongoing fees, usually referred to as “TER” – aim for as little as possible.

S&P 500 ETFs

One of the best ways to invest in the S&P 500 index from the UK is with an exchange-traded fund (ETF). These let you invest in all 500 stocks in a single investment. Here are the best-performing ETFs.

Note: We’ve added a link next to each of these funds, which takes you to a share trading app where you can sign up to invest in that S&P 500 fund.

ETF 5-year performance (to May. '25) Link
Invesco S&P 500 ETF (SPXP) Invesco S&P 500 ETF icon 103.96% Invest Capital at risk
Xtrackers S&P 500 Swap ETF 1C (XSPX) Xtrackers S&P 500 Swap ETF 1C icon 103.42% Invest Capital at risk
HSBC S&P 500 ETF (HSPX) HSBC S&P 500 ETF icon 90.28% Invest Capital at risk
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF USD (Acc) (CSP1) iShares Core S&P 500 ETF USD (Acc) icon 102.05% Invest Capital at risk
SPDR® S&P 500 ETF (SPX5) SPDR® S&P 500 ETF icon 89.49% Invest Capital at risk
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VUSA) Vanguard S&P 500 ETF icon 89.64% Invest Capital at risk

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.


The table above shows the best-performing S&P 500 ETFs available right now. There’s only slight changes in performance which largely comes down to when each ETF updates the stocks. All S&P 500 ETFs should contain an almost identical selection of stocks.

Which S&P 500 fund is best?

S&P 500 funds tend to be some of the most popular options for UK and investors, and also some of the best-performing ETFs over long periods of time. Rather than looking at slight discrepancies in performance, you’re better off looking for the cheapest S&P 500 index fund or ETF available on your chosen trading platform.

Because these funds are all copying the same index, there’s no reason you should pay higher fees. Cheap is often best when it comes to investing in passive S&P 500 tracker-funds. S&P 500 funds are passively managed (rather than actively managed), so you don’t get any added benefit by using a specific brand or fund.

It’s also going to be worthwhile ensuring your share dealing account charges low (or no) commission for investing in the S&P 500 through a fund.

How to invest in the S&P 500 from the UK

If you want to invest in the S&P 500 index, the best option is to use an index fund or an ETF that mirrors the index, here are some simple steps to follow to get started:

  1. Find an S&P 500 index fund or ETF. We have some examples of S&P 500 funds at the top of this page as well as information on how to choose an S&P 500 index fund.
  2. Open a share dealing account. In order to invest in an S&P 500 fund, you’ll need to open an investment account that offers index funds. Keep in mind that some index funds may only be available on certain brokerages or platforms – we’ve listed some S&P 500 index funds and platforms that offer them above.
  3. Top up your account. You’ll need to deposit funds into your account to invest. Some platforms charge you deposit fees and you may need to pay a foreign exchange fee in order for your pounds to be converted into US dollars.
  4. Buy the S&P 500 fund. Once your money has been deposited, you can then buy your chosen S&P 500 index fund. You’ll generally pay a small annual fee to invest in an ETF or index fund.

The whole process can take as little as 15 minutes. You’ll need a smartphone or computer, an internet connection, your passport or driving licence and a means of payment.

Platforms where you can invest in the S&P 500

These trading apps allow you to invest in S&P 500 stocks directly, companies or invest in and S&P 500 funds (like an ETF).

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What is the S&P 500?

The S&P 500 (Standard and Poor’s 500) is an index made up of 500 leading public companies in the US. The name comes from the merger of 2 financial data companies: Poor’s Publishing and the Standard Statistics Company.

The index contains some of the most recognisable companies in the world and when people talk about the “US stock market” they’re often referring to the S&P 500 because this has become a key measure of the US economy and gives a snapshot into its overall health.

The S&P 500 includes the “Magnificent Seven”, which is a group of seven gargantuan tech companies like Apple, which on their own make up of the S&P 500 (by market cap).

S&P 500 performance chart

Can I invest in the S&P 500 from the UK?

Yes! There are several ways you can invest in the S&P 500 from the UK. You can buy stocks in the companies that make up the S&P 500 or buy an index fund, mutual fund or ETF that tracks the overall performance of the S&P 500 index.

What S&P 500 funds can I buy in the UK?

There are more than 100 S&P 500 index funds and ETFs listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) that you can invest in from the UK, and you’ll have access to even more if you have an account with a trading platform or broker that offers direct access to the US stock market.

How to choose an S&P 500 index fund

Some S&P 500 index funds and ETFs track the performance of all 500 S&P stocks, whereas others only track a certain number of stocks, or are weighted more towards specific stocks.

When you choose to invest in an S&P 500 fund, you’re not necessarily looking for the one that performs best. Each one aims to match the performance of the S&P 500 index, so they should all mirror the performance of the index pretty closely.

It’s usually best to compare funds based on the ongoing fees, which is measured by Total Expense Ratio (TER). The cheapest S&P 500 fund is the Invesco S&P 500 UCITS ETF, which has a 0.05% total expense ratio (TER). This means if you invested £1,000, you’d be charged 50p in annual fees each year.

While the performance of S&P 500 funds shouldn’t diverge too much, there are some that have performed slightly better than others over time. Also, investment companies need to pay royalties to have “S&P” in the title of its fund, some will avoid this by calling it something like the “US 500” fund.

What is the UK equivalent of the S&P 500?

The S&P 500 tracks the performance of 500 leading companies on US stock exchanges, and it’s the most popular US stock index. The equivalent of the S&P 500 in the UK is the FTSE 100, which tracks the performance of the 100 largest companies on the London Stock Exchange.

Like the S&P 500, the FTSE 100 is also used as a general yardstick to measure the relative health and performance of the UK stock market and wider economy.

How do companies make it onto the index?

The companies in the index are hand-picked by the US Index Committee. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just the 500 biggest US stocks.

There’s some basic criteria to allow a company to be eligible to be part of the S&P 500:

  • Must be a US company
  • Market capitalisation of at least $14.5 billion
  • Highly liquid shares mostly owned by the public
  • At least a quarter of a million of its shares traded in the last 6 months
  • Needs to be at least 1 year since its intial public offering (IPO)
  • The sum of its trailing 4 consecutive quarterly earnings must be positive

Search the full S&P 500

Stock Industry Proportion
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Software 6.69%
Apple Inc (AAPL) Consumer electronics 6.41%
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) Semiconductors 6.38%
Amazon.com Inc (AMZN) Internet retail 4%
Meta Platforms Inc. (META) Internet content & information 2.88%
Broadcom Inc (AVGO) Semiconductors 2.18%
Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B) Insurance 1.88%
Tesla Inc (TSLA) Auto manufacturers 1.87%
Alphabet Inc Class A (GOOGL) Internet content & information 1.86%
Alphabet Inc Class C (GOOG) Internet content & information 1.52%
JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM) Banks 1.47%
Visa Inc. Class A (V) Credit services 1.23%
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) Drug manufacturers 1.18%
Netflix Inc (NFLX) Entertainment 0.98%
Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM) Oil & gas 0.95%
Mastercard Inc (MA) Credit services 0.94%
Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) Discount stores 0.89%
Walmart Inc (WMT) Discount stores 0.83%
Procter & Gamble Company (PG) Household & personal products 0.75%
Home Depot Inc (HD) Home improvement retail 0.74%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Drug manufacturers 0.72%
AbbVie Inc (ABBV) Drug manufacturers 0.67%
Bank of America Corp (BAC) Banks 0.59%
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) Healthcare plans 0.57%
Salesforce.com Inc (CRM) Software 0.55%
The Coca-Cola Company (KO) Beverages - non-alcoholic 0.54%
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) Software 0.53%
Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock (PLTR) Software 0.53%
Philip Morris International Inc (PM) Tobacco 0.51%
Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) Banks 0.5%
Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) Communication equipment 0.49%
Chevron Corp (CVX) Oil & gas 0.48%
International Business Machines (IBM) Information technology services 0.48%
GE Aerospace (GE) Aerospace & defense 0.48%
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Medical devices 0.45%
McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Restaurants 0.44%
ServiceNow Inc (NOW) Software 0.43%
Linde plc Ordinary Shares (LIN) Specialty chemicals 0.43%
Accenture plc (ACN) Information technology services 0.4%
Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG) Medical instruments & supplies 0.4%
Walt Disney Company (DIS) Entertainment 0.4%
Merck & Company Inc (MRK) Drug manufacturers 0.39%
Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS) Capital markets 0.38%
AT&T Inc (T) Telecom services 0.38%
Uber Technologies Inc (UBER) Software 0.38%
Intuit Inc (INTU) Software 0.37%
Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) Semiconductors 0.37%
PepsiCo Inc (PEP) Beverages - non-alcoholic 0.36%
Verizon Communications Inc (VZ) Telecom services 0.36%
Adobe Systems Incorporated (ADBE) Software 0.35%
Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG) Travel services 0.35%
Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX) Aerospace & defense 0.35%
Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) Semiconductors 0.34%
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TXN) Semiconductors 0.34%
Caterpillar Inc (CAT) Farm & heavy construction machinery 0.34%
American Express Company (AXP) Credit services 0.34%
Progressive Corp (PGR) Insurance 0.33%
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (TMO) Diagnostics & research 0.33%
S&P Global Inc (SPGI) Financial data & stock exchanges 0.33%
Morgan Stanley (MS) Capital markets 0.32%
The Boeing Company (BA) Aerospace & defense 0.31%
Boston Scientific Corp (BSX) Medical devices 0.3%
Nextera Energy Inc (NEE) Utilities 0.3%
The TJX Companies Inc (TJX) Apparel retail 0.29%
Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW) Capital markets 0.29%
Amgen Inc (AMGN) Drug manufacturers 0.29%
Honeywell International Inc (HON) Conglomerates 0.28%
Applied Materials Inc (AMAT) Semiconductor equipment & materials 0.28%
Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) Railroads 0.28%
Citigroup Inc (C) Banks 0.28%
BlackRock Inc (BLK) Asset management 0.28%
Stryker Corporation (SYK) Medical devices 0.27%
Eaton Corporation PLC (ETN) Specialty industrial machinery 0.26%
Lowe's Companies Inc (LOW) Home improvement retail 0.26%
Comcast Corp (CMCSA) Telecom services 0.26%
Pfizer Inc (PFE) Drug manufacturers 0.26%
Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP) Software 0.25%
Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW) Software 0.25%
Deere & Company (DE) Farm & heavy construction machinery 0.25%
Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD) Drug manufacturers 0.25%
Danaher Corporation (DHR) Diagnostics & research 0.25%
ConocoPhillips (COP) Oil & gas 0.24%
GE Vernova LLC (GEV) Specialty industrial machinery 0.24%
Analog Devices Inc (ADI) Semiconductors 0.23%
T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS) Telecom services 0.23%
Medtronic PLC (MDT) Medical devices 0.22%
Lam Research Corp (LRCX) Semiconductor equipment & materials 0.22%
Fiserv, Inc. (FI) Information technology services 0.22%
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX) Biotechnology 0.22%
Micron Technology Inc (MU) Semiconductors 0.22%
Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc (MMC) Insurance 0.22%
Blackstone Group Inc (BX) Asset management 0.22%
Crowdstrike Holdings Inc (CRWD) Software 0.22%
Chubb Ltd (CB) Insurance 0.21%
KLA-Tencor Corporation (KLAC) Semiconductor equipment & materials 0.21%
Amphenol Corporation (APH) Electronic components 0.21%
Intel Corporation (INTC) Semiconductors 0.2%
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) Restaurants 0.2%
Prologis Inc (PLD) Reit - industrial 0.2%
Intercontinental Exchange Inc (ICE) Financial data & stock exchanges 0.2%
Arista Networks (ANET) Computer hardware 0.2%
Southern Company (SO) Utilities 0.19%
Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) Aerospace & defense 0.19%
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) Drug manufacturers 0.19%
American Tower Corp (AMT) Reit - specialty 0.19%
CME Group Inc (CME) Financial data & stock exchanges 0.19%
Altria Group (MO) Tobacco 0.19%
Trane Technologies plc (TT) Building products & equipment 0.19%
Cadence Design Systems Inc (CDNS) Software 0.18%
Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) Utilities 0.18%
Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH) Specialty industrial machinery 0.18%
Welltower Inc (WELL) Reit - healthcare facilities 0.18%
Constellation Energy Corp (CEG) Utilities 0.18%
Arthur J Gallagher & Co (AJG) Insurance 0.17%
Equinix Inc (EQIX) Reit - specialty 0.17%
Sherwin-Williams Co (SHW) Specialty chemicals 0.17%
Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ) Confectioners 0.17%
McKesson Corporation (MCK) Medical distribution 0.17%
Cigna Corp (CI) Healthcare plans 0.17%
KKR & Co LP (KKR) Asset management 0.17%
Elevance Health Inc (ELV) Healthcare plans 0.17%
Synopsys Inc (SNPS) Software 0.16%
3M Company (MMM) Conglomerates 0.16%
Transdigm Group Incorporated (TDG) Aerospace & defense 0.16%
Waste Management Inc (WM) Waste management 0.16%
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) Specialty business services 0.15%
Nike Inc (NKE) Footwear & accessories 0.15%
Aon PLC (AON) Insurance 0.15%
Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) Credit services 0.15%
O'Reilly Automotive Inc (ORLY) Auto parts 0.15%
United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) Logistics 0.15%
CVS Health Corp (CVS) Healthcare plans 0.15%
Moodys Corporation (MCO) Financial data & stock exchanges 0.15%
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG) Restaurants 0.14%
General Dynamics Corporation (GD) Aerospace & defense 0.14%
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) Household & personal products 0.14%
Motorola Solutions Inc (MSI) Communication equipment 0.14%
Zoetis Inc (ZTS) Drug manufacturers 0.14%
Williams Companies Inc (WMB) Oil & gas midstream 0.14%
Emerson Electric Company (EMR) Specialty industrial machinery 0.14%
PNC Financial Services Group Inc (PNC) Banks 0.14%
U.S. Bancorp (USB) Banks 0.14%
PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL) Credit services 0.14%
EOG Resources Inc (EOG) Oil & gas 0.13%
HCA Holdings Inc (HCA) Medical care facilities 0.13%
Autodesk Inc (ADSK) Software 0.13%
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) Aerospace & defense 0.13%
Ecolab Inc (ECL) Specialty chemicals 0.13%
Fortinet Inc (FTNT) Software 0.13%
Marriott International Inc (MAR) Lodging 0.13%
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK) Banks 0.13%
Johnson Controls International PLC (JCI) Building products & equipment 0.13%
Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW) Specialty industrial machinery 0.13%
Apollo Global Management LLC Class A (APO) Asset management 0.13%
Howmet Aerospace Inc (HWM) Aerospace & defense 0.13%
DoorDash, Inc. Class A Common Stock (DASH) Internet content & information 0.13%
CSX Corporation (CSX) Railroads 0.12%
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) Travel services 0.12%
Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD) Specialty chemicals 0.12%
Workday Inc (WDAY) Software 0.12%
The Travelers Companies Inc (TRV) Insurance 0.12%
AutoZone Inc (AZO) Auto parts 0.12%
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (HLT) Lodging 0.12%
Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP) Software 0.12%
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN) Biotechnology 0.12%
Carrier Global Corp (CARR) Building products & equipment 0.12%
Airbnb Inc (ABNB) Travel services 0.12%
Newmont Goldcorp Corp (NEM) Gold 0.11%
The Allstate Corporation (ALL) Insurance 0.11%
Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc (FCX) Copper 0.11%
American Electric Power Co Inc (AEP) Utilities 0.11%
Kinder Morgan Inc (KMI) Oil & gas midstream 0.11%
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) Railroads 0.11%
NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) Semiconductors 0.11%
Copart Inc (CPRT) Specialty business services 0.11%
Digital Realty Trust Inc (DLR) Reit - specialty 0.11%
ONEOK Inc (OKE) Oil & gas midstream 0.11%
Axon Enterprise Inc. (AXON) Aerospace & defense 0.11%
Vistra Energy Corp (VST) Utilities 0.11%
Truist Financial Corp (TFC) Banks 0.11%
Aflac Incorporated (AFL) Insurance 0.1%
TE Connectivity Ltd (TEL) Electronic components 0.1%
Phillips 66 (PSX) Oil & gas refining & marketing 0.1%
Ross Stores Inc (ROST) Apparel retail 0.1%
Simon Property Group Inc (SPG) Reit - retail 0.1%
Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) Software 0.1%
PACCAR Inc (PCAR) Farm & heavy construction machinery 0.1%
Becton Dickinson and Company (BDX) Medical instruments & supplies 0.1%
Paychex Inc (PAYX) Software 0.1%
Discover Financial Services (DFS) Credit services 0.1%
Republic Services Inc (RSG) Waste management 0.1%
Quanta Services Inc (PWR) Engineering & construction 0.1%
American International Group Inc (AIG) Insurance 0.1%
Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC) Oil & gas refining & marketing 0.1%
General Motors Company (GM) Auto manufacturers 0.1%
Realty Income Corporation (O) Reit - retail 0.1%
Public Storage (PSA) Reit - industrial 0.1%
Ameriprise Financial Inc (AMP) Asset management 0.1%
FedEx Corporation (FDX) Logistics 0.1%
Sempra Energy (SRE) Utilities 0.1%
Schlumberger NV (SLB) Oil & gas equipment & services 0.1%
Cencora Inc. (COR) Medical distribution 0.1%
WW Grainger Inc (GWW) Industrial distribution 0.09%
Fastenal Company (FAST) Industrial distribution 0.09%
Edwards Lifesciences Corp (EW) Medical devices 0.09%
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) Household & personal products 0.09%
MSCI Inc (MSCI) Financial data & stock exchanges 0.09%
Target Corporation (TGT) Discount stores 0.09%
Crown Castle (CCI) Reit - specialty 0.09%
United Rentals Inc (URI) Rental & leasing services 0.09%
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) Oil & gas refining & marketing 0.09%
Verisk Analytics Inc (VRSK) Consulting services 0.09%
MetLife Inc (MET) Insurance 0.09%
Dominion Energy Inc (D) Utilities 0.09%
Kroger Company (KR) Grocery stores 0.09%
Cummins Inc (CMI) Specialty industrial machinery 0.09%
Exelon Corporation (EXC) Utilities 0.09%
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (KDP) Beverages - non-alcoholic 0.09%
Corteva Inc (CTVA) Agriculture 0.09%
Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) Household & personal products 0.09%
Monster Beverage Corp (MNST) Beverages - non-alcoholic 0.08%
Hess Corporation (HES) Oil & gas 0.08%
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp Class A (CTSH) Information technology services 0.08%
Ametek Inc (AME) Specialty industrial machinery 0.08%
Prudential Financial Inc (PRU) Insurance 0.08%
Fidelity National Information Services Inc (FIS) Information technology services 0.08%
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc (PEG) Utilities 0.08%
IDEXX Laboratories Inc (IDXX) Diagnostics & research 0.08%
Ford Motor Company (F) Auto manufacturers 0.08%
Charter Communications Inc (CHTR) Telecom services 0.08%
Xcel Energy Inc (XEL) Utilities 0.08%
Yum! Brands Inc (YUM) Restaurants 0.08%
CBRE Group Inc Class A (CBRE) Real estate services 0.08%
Baker Hughes Co (BKR) Oil & gas equipment & services 0.08%
L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX) Aerospace & defense 0.08%
Otis Worldwide Corp (OTIS) Specialty industrial machinery 0.08%
Nasdaq Inc (NDAQ) Financial data & stock exchanges 0.07%
Martin Marietta Materials Inc (MLM) Building materials 0.07%
Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) Building materials 0.07%
DexCom Inc (DXCM) Medical devices 0.07%
Gartner Inc (IT) Information technology services 0.07%
WEC Energy Group Inc (WEC) Utilities 0.07%
Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) Apparel retail 0.07%
Agilent Technologies Inc (A) Diagnostics & research 0.07%
Corning Incorporated (GLW) Electronic components 0.07%
Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG) Insurance 0.07%
Cardinal Health Inc (CAH) Medical distribution 0.07%
eBay Inc (EBAY) Internet retail 0.07%
Monolithic Power Systems Inc (MPWR) Semiconductors 0.07%
Electronic Arts Inc (EA) Electronic gaming & multimedia 0.07%
Equifax Inc (EFX) Consulting services 0.07%
EQT Corporation (EQT) Oil & gas 0.07%
Targa Resources Inc (TRGP) Oil & gas midstream 0.07%
Rockwell Automation Inc (ROK) Specialty industrial machinery 0.07%
Consolidated Edison Inc (ED) Utilities 0.07%
Entergy Corporation (ETR) Utilities 0.07%
DR Horton Inc (DHI) Residential construction 0.07%
Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL) Airlines 0.07%
Arch Capital Group Ltd (ACGL) Insurance 0.07%
ResMed Inc (RMD) Medical instruments & supplies 0.07%
Ingersoll Rand Inc (IR) Specialty industrial machinery 0.07%
PG&E Corp (PCG) Utilities 0.07%
Sysco Corporation (SYY) Food distribution 0.07%
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp (WAB) Railroads 0.07%
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (TTWO) Electronic gaming & multimedia 0.07%
Microchip Technology Inc (MCHP) Semiconductors 0.07%
Dell Technologies Inc (DELL) Computer hardware 0.07%
VICI Properties Inc (VICI) Reit 0.07%
GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. (GEHC) Health information services 0.07%
ANSYS Inc (ANSS) Software 0.06%
NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) Utilities 0.06%
CoStar Group Inc (CSGP) Real estate services 0.06%
General Mills Inc (GIS) Packaged foods 0.06%
Centene Corp (CNC) Healthcare plans 0.06%
Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) Reit - specialty 0.06%
Raymond James Financial Inc. (RJF) Asset management 0.06%
Ventas Inc (VTR) Reit - healthcare facilities 0.06%
Old Dominion Freight Line Inc (ODFL) Trucking 0.06%
Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) Specialty retail 0.06%
Extra Space Storage Inc (EXR) Reit - industrial 0.06%
Humana Inc (HUM) Healthcare plans 0.06%
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) Oil & gas 0.06%
AvalonBay Communities Inc (AVB) Reit - residential 0.06%
Garmin Ltd (GRMN) Scientific & technical instruments 0.06%
Dupont De Nemours Inc (DD) Specialty chemicals 0.06%
Constellation Brands Inc Class A (STZ) Beverages - brewers 0.06%
DTE Energy Company (DTE) Utilities 0.06%
M&T Bank Corporation (MTB) Banks 0.06%
Xylem Inc (XYL) Specialty industrial machinery 0.06%
Nucor Corp (NUE) Steel 0.06%
State Street Corp (STT) Asset management 0.06%
Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc (BR) Information technology services 0.06%
Keysight Technologies Inc (KEYS) Scientific & technical instruments 0.06%
Willis Towers Watson PLC (WTW) Insurance 0.06%
Cboe Global Markets Inc (CBOE) Financial data & stock exchanges 0.05%
PPL Corporation (PPL) Utilities 0.05%
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) Banks 0.05%
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY) Scientific & technical instruments 0.05%
Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI) Restaurants 0.05%
Equity Residential (EQR) Reit - residential 0.05%
PPG Industries Inc (PPG) Specialty chemicals 0.05%
CenterPoint Energy Inc (CNP) Utilities 0.05%
STERIS plc (STE) Medical devices 0.05%
Ameren Corp (AEE) Utilities 0.05%
Brown & Brown Inc (BRO) Insurance 0.05%
International Paper (IP) Packaging & containers 0.05%
Church & Dwight Company Inc (CHD) Household & personal products 0.05%
CDW Corp (CDW) Information technology services 0.05%
Lennar Corporation (LEN) Residential construction 0.05%
American Water Works (AWK) Utilities 0.05%
United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) Airlines 0.05%
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) Farm products 0.05%
Carnival Corporation (CCL) Travel services 0.05%
SBA Communications Corp (SBAC) Reit - specialty 0.05%
Hershey Co (HSY) Confectioners 0.05%
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) Banks 0.05%
Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) Oil & gas 0.05%
Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) Utilities - regulated gas 0.05%
Diamondback Energy Inc (FANG) Oil & gas 0.05%
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF) Insurance 0.05%
Dover Corporation (DOV) Specialty industrial machinery 0.05%
HP Inc (HPQ) Computer hardware 0.05%
Tyler Technologies Inc (TYL) Software 0.05%
Synchrony Financial (SYF) Credit services 0.05%
Texas Pacific Land Trust (TPL) Oil & gas 0.05%
Kraft Heinz Co (KHC) Packaged foods 0.05%
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE) Communication equipment 0.05%
Eversource Energy (ES) Utilities 0.05%
Fortive Corp (FTV) Scientific & technical instruments 0.05%
Godaddy Inc (GDDY) Software 0.05%
Mettler-Toledo International Inc (MTD) Diagnostics & research 0.05%
IQVIA Holdings Inc (IQV) Diagnostics & research 0.05%
Veralto Corporation (VLTO) Pollution & treatment controls 0.05%
Corpay Inc (CPAY) Software 0.05%
Smurfit WestRock plc (SW) Packaging & containers 0.05%
Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) Oil & gas 0.05%
Edison International (EIX) Utilities 0.04%
PulteGroup Inc (PHM) Residential construction 0.04%
Waters Corporation (WAT) Diagnostics & research 0.04%
NetApp Inc (NTAP) Computer hardware 0.04%
Global Payments Inc (GPN) Specialty business services 0.04%
W. R. Berkley Corp (WRB) Insurance 0.04%
Regions Financial Corporation (RF) Banks 0.04%
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (IFF) Specialty chemicals 0.04%
Insulet Corporation (PODD) Medical devices 0.04%
Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) Airlines 0.04%
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) Diagnostics & research 0.04%
Biogen Inc (BIIB) Drug manufacturers 0.04%
Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS) Reit - residential 0.04%
Kellanova (K) Packaged foods 0.04%
McCormick & Company Incorporated (MKC) Packaged foods 0.04%
Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) Footwear & accessories 0.04%
FirstEnergy Corporation (FE) Utilities 0.04%
Dollar General Corporation (DG) Discount stores 0.04%
Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA) Specialty retail 0.04%
Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) Asset management 0.04%
PTC Inc (PTC) Software 0.04%
Williams-Sonoma Inc (WSM) Specialty retail 0.04%
Halliburton Company (HAL) Oil & gas equipment & services 0.04%
T. Rowe Price Group Inc (TROW) Asset management 0.04%
NiSource Inc (NI) Utilities - regulated gas 0.04%
Steel Dynamics Inc (STLD) Steel 0.04%
Leidos Holdings Inc (LDOS) Information technology services 0.04%
CMS Energy Corporation (CMS) Utilities 0.04%
Trimble Inc (TRMB) Scientific & technical instruments 0.04%
Super Micro Computer Inc (SMCI) Computer hardware 0.04%
Live Nation Entertainment Inc (LYV) Entertainment 0.04%
VeriSign Inc (VRSN) Software 0.04%
Jabil Circuit Inc (JBL) Electronic components 0.04%
Expedia Group Inc. (EXPE) Travel services 0.04%
Weyerhaeuser Company (WY) Reit - specialty 0.04%
Lennox International Inc (LII) Building products & equipment 0.04%
Dow Inc (DOW) Chemicals 0.04%
Seagate Technology PLC (STX) Computer hardware 0.04%
NVR Inc (NVR) Residential construction 0.04%
First Solar Inc (FSLR) Solar 0.04%
Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc (MAA) Reit - residential 0.04%
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG) Banks 0.04%
Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc (ZBH) Medical devices 0.04%
Hubbell Inc (HUBB) Electrical equipment & parts 0.04%
ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) Semiconductors 0.04%
Invitation Homes Inc (INVH) Reit - residential 0.04%
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LH) Diagnostics & research 0.04%
Amcor PLC (AMCR) Packaging & containers 0.04%
Coterra Energy Inc (CTRA) Oil & gas 0.04%
Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD) Entertainment 0.04%
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) Packaging & containers 0.03%
Rollins Inc (ROL) Personal services 0.03%
Snap-On Inc (SNA) Tools & accessories 0.03%
FactSet Research Systems Inc (FDS) Financial data & stock exchanges 0.03%
CF Industries Holdings Inc (CF) Agriculture 0.03%
Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) Discount stores 0.03%
KeyCorp (KEY) Banks 0.03%
Builders FirstSource Inc (BLDR) Building products & equipment 0.03%
Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL) Household & personal products 0.03%
Avery Dennison Corp (AVY) Packaging & containers 0.03%
Masco Corporation (MAS) Building products & equipment 0.03%
The Clorox Company (CLX) Household & personal products 0.03%
Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) Communication equipment 0.03%
F5 Networks Inc (FFIV) Software 0.03%
Best Buy Co. Inc (BBY) Specialty retail 0.03%
Pentair PLC (PNR) Specialty industrial machinery 0.03%
UDR Inc (UDR) Reit - residential 0.03%
Hologic Inc (HOLX) Medical instruments & supplies 0.03%
Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) Resorts & casinos 0.03%
Molina Healthcare Inc (MOH) Healthcare plans 0.03%
Align Technology Inc (ALGN) Medical instruments & supplies 0.03%
LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB) Specialty chemicals 0.03%
The Cooper Companies, Inc (COO) Medical instruments & supplies 0.03%
Teradyne Inc (TER) Semiconductor equipment & materials 0.03%
Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) Reit - retail 0.03%
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD) Logistics 0.03%
Tyson Foods Inc (TSN) Farm products 0.03%
IDEX Corporation (IEX) Specialty industrial machinery 0.03%
Principal Financial Group Inc (PFG) Asset management 0.03%
Western Digital Corporation (WDC) Computer hardware 0.03%
Loews Corp (L) Insurance 0.03%
Baxter International Inc (BAX) Medical instruments & supplies 0.03%
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc (WST) Medical instruments & supplies 0.03%
Alliant Energy Corp (LNT) Utilities 0.03%
Omnicom Group Inc (OMC) Advertising agencies 0.03%
Genuine Parts Co (GPC) Auto parts 0.03%
Camden Property Trust (CPT) Reit - residential 0.03%
Domino's Pizza Inc Common Stock (DPZ) Restaurants 0.03%
Textron Inc (TXT) Aerospace & defense 0.03%
Jack Henry & Associates Inc (JKHY) Information technology services 0.03%
Everest Group Ltd (EG) Insurance 0.03%
Tapestry Inc (TPR) Luxury goods 0.03%
Aptiv PLC (APTV) Auto parts 0.03%
Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) Utilities 0.03%
Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J) Engineering & construction 0.03%
Ball Corporation (BALL) Packaging & containers 0.03%
Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) Software 0.03%
Assurant Inc (AIZ) Insurance 0.02%
Regency Centers Corporation (REG) Reit - retail 0.02%
CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW) Logistics 0.02%
Skyworks Solutions Inc (SWKS) Semiconductors 0.02%
Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE) Insurance 0.02%
Interpublic Group of Companies Inc (IPG) Advertising agencies 0.02%
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) Travel services 0.02%
ConAgra Foods Inc (CAG) Packaged foods 0.02%
Universal Health Services Inc (UHS) Medical care facilities 0.02%
Pool Corporation (POOL) Industrial distribution 0.02%
Moderna Inc (MRNA) Biotechnology 0.02%
Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) Packaged foods 0.02%
Smith AO Corporation (AOS) Specialty industrial machinery 0.02%
Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) Specialty chemicals 0.02%
Pinnacle West Capital Corp (PNW) Utilities 0.02%
Ralph Lauren Corp Class A (RL) Apparel manufacturing 0.02%
EPAM Systems Inc (EPAM) Information technology services 0.02%
Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc (HII) Aerospace & defense 0.02%
CarMax Inc (KMX) Auto & truck dealerships 0.02%
Paycom Soft (PAYC) Software 0.02%
Bio-Techne Corp (TECH) Biotechnology 0.02%
Molson Coors Brewing Co Class B (TAP) Beverages - brewers 0.02%
Nordson Corporation (NDSN) Specialty industrial machinery 0.02%
News Corp A (NWSA) Entertainment 0.02%
LKQ Corporation (LKQ) Auto parts 0.02%
Akamai Technologies Inc (AKAM) Software 0.02%
Juniper Networks Inc (JNPR) Communication equipment 0.02%
Fox Corp Class A (FOXA) Entertainment 0.02%
Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST) Reit - hotel & motel 0.02%
The AES Corporation (AES) Utilities 0.02%
Bunge Limited (BG) Farm products 0.02%
Henry Schein Inc (HSIC) Medical distribution 0.02%
Wynn Resorts Limited (WYNN) Resorts & casinos 0.02%
Incyte Corporation (INCY) Biotechnology 0.02%
Generac Holdings Inc (GNRC) Specialty industrial machinery 0.02%
The Mosaic Company (MOS) Agriculture 0.02%
Stanley Black & Decker Inc (SWK) Tools & accessories 0.02%
JB Hunt Transport Services Inc (JBHT) Logistics 0.02%
MarketAxess Holdings Inc (MKTX) Capital markets 0.02%
JM Smucker Company (SJM) Packaged foods 0.02%
Hasbro Inc (HAS) Leisure 0.02%
Allegion PLC (ALLE) Security & protection services 0.02%
Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc (ARE) Reit - office 0.02%
MGM Resorts International (MGM) Resorts & casinos 0.02%
Boston Properties Inc (BXP) Reit - office 0.02%
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA) Pharmaceutical retailers 0.02%
Dayforce Inc. (DAY) Software 0.02%
Globe Life Inc (GL) Insurance 0.02%
Healthpeak Properties Inc (DOC) Reit - healthcare facilities 0.02%
Viatris Inc (VTRS) Drug manufacturers 0.02%
Revvity Inc. (RVTY) Diagnostics & research 0.02%
TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO) Entertainment 0.02%
Solventum Corp. (SOLV) Medical instruments & supplies 0.02%
Match Group Inc (MTCH) Internet content & information 0.01%
Campbell Soup Company Common Stock (CPB) Packaged foods 0.01%
Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT) Reit - retail 0.01%
Enphase Energy Inc (ENPH) Solar 0.01%
News Corp B (NWS) Entertainment 0.01%
Fox Corp Class B (FOX) Entertainment 0.01%
Albemarle Corp (ALB) Specialty chemicals 0.01%
Mohawk Industries Inc (MHK) Furnishings, fixtures & appliances 0.01%
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) Diagnostics & research 0.01%
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc (DVA) Medical care facilities 0.01%
Invesco Plc (IVZ) Asset management 0.01%
APA Corporation (APA) Oil & gas 0.01%
Franklin Resources Inc (BEN) Asset management 0.01%
Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CZR) Resorts & casinos 0.01%
Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) Beverages - wineries & distilleries 0.01%
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc (LW) Packaged foods 0.01%
Paramount Global Class B (PARA) Entertainment 0.01%

How to invest in S&P 500 stocks

There are 2 main ways to invest in the S&P 500 – the first is to buy shares in all 500 companies at the same weightings as they have in the index, then constantly keep up to date with changes to the index and rebalance your portfolio. This can be very time consuming and expensive.

The preferable option, which saves you time and money, is to invest in an S&P 500 fund (like an ETF). Essentially, someone else does the above for you and all you have to do is choose one to invest in. But, if you don’t want to invest in a fund then you can buy individual S&P 500 stocks, here’s how:

  1. Find an investing platform. You’ll need one that lets you invest in US stocks – the providers in our picks above let you buy US shares.
  2. Sign up and fund your account. You’ll need to provide some personal details and information about how you’ll fund your account. If you’re buying US stocks you may also need to fill out a W-8BEN form.
  3. Find a stock you want to invest in. Research some of the shares you’re interested in and find it on your chosen platform. We’ve listed some of the largest stocks on the index below.
  4. Choose how much you want to invest or how many shares you want. The platform should tell you how much this will cost you.
  5. Hit buy. It’s as easy as that!

If you choose to invest in all 500 stocks, you’ll find that it’s a very expensive method of investing as you may need to pay trading fees on every single share purchase. Some of the stocks in the S&P 500 are also valued in the hundreds of dollars, so you’d need to invest thousands of pounds in order to get exposure to all companies in the index.

If you’re looking to diversify your portfolio by investing in the companies in the S&P 500, it’s likely going to be a lot cheaper and more efficient to use an index fund or invest in an ETF that tracks the performance of the S&P 500.

What are the main sectors covered by the S&P 500?

Here are the top sectors that currently make up the bulk of the S&P 500 in terms of weighted exposure:

  • Information technology
  • Healthcare
  • Financials
  • Consumer discretionary
  • Communication services
  • Industrials
  • Consumer staples
  • Energy
  • Utilities
  • Real estate
  • Materials

Why should I invest in the S&P 500?

The S&P 500 features some of the largest and most successful companies in the world and has historically given investors a decent return on their investment. It’s one of the best (and simplest) ways to get exposure to the US economy as an investor.

If you only invest in stocks on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), you’ll be limiting your options. Investing in an S&P 500 index fund or accessing the US stock market to invest in stocks listed on the S&P 500 will help to diversify your portfolio internationally.

How much does it cost to invest in the S&P 500?

There are a couple of fees to keep in mind if you plan to invest in US stocks – the commission fee (the cost of carrying out the trade), and the foreign exchange or FX fee (which is the cost of changing your money over to US dollar). If you buy an S&P 500 fund that’s denominated in pounds, you won’t have to pay an FX fee. And if you use a 0% commission platform, you won’t have to pay a trading costs either.

But if you want to buy indiviual stocks in the S&P 500, here are some of the costs of buying US stocks with major brokers:

PlatformFee for a US tradeForeign exchange fee
eToro£00.75%
Freetrade£00.99%
Hargreaves Lansdown£11.951%
XTB£00.5%
IG£100.5%
Saxo$10.25%
Trading 212£00.15%

The most expensive part of buying US stocks is the foreign exchange fees. Compare the fees for the providers that have the lowest foreign exchange fee, even if they’re not commission free, to work out whether it might work out cheaper to go with another provider.

George Sweeney, DipFA's headshot
Our expert says: Expert comment: Is the S&P 500 index overpriced?

"The S&P 500 contains plenty of growth-oriented companies that tend to trade at higher multiples than other stocks. So many analysts who compare the S&P 500 to something like the FTSE 100 will tell you that the S&P 500 index is overvalued and will likely fall to a more reasonable level. This makes sense. The problem is that analysts have been saying this for years.

Although the flagship index from the US tends to see greater volatility and bigger falls when things turn sour, it’s also proven over long periods that it can make back lost ground (and then some), leaving other international markets in its dust. Unless the US becomes less important to the global economy, paying a premium to invest in many of its best stocks sounds reasonable. "

Deputy editor

Pros and cons of investing in the S&P 500

Pros

  • Access some of the largest US stocks
  • Investing in the index provides a degree of automatic diversification
  • You can invest with ETFs and funds
  • By tracking an index rather than actively picking stocks, you can invest passively which is often cheaper

Cons

  • Not completely diversified — it only includes US stocks
  • Foreign exchange (FX) fees might apply if you buy individual S&P 500 stocks
  • Market cap weighting means most of your investment goes to the top stocks
  • You get no control over the investments in an S&P 500 fund

Bottom line

Home to Nvidia, Amazon, Apple, Tesla, and much more – the S&P 500 is made up of top US companies. It’s understandable why investors want to get a piece of the action. Take some time to consider how you want to invest – are there specific S&P 500 stocks you want to buy, or are you looking to diversify with an S&P 500 index fund or ETF?

Make sure you consider the costs of investing in US stocks, as there will likely be a foreign exchange (FX) fee on top of any commission. If you buy an S&P 500 fund or ETF in GBP denomination, you can avoid this. Investing in the S&P 500 is a decenture to the US stock market with a single investment, but remember to think about how this fits in with the rest of your portfolio.

Liz Edwards's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Liz Edwards as part of our fact-checking process.
George Sweeney, DipFA's headshot
Deputy editor

George is a deputy editor at Finder. He has previously written for The Motley Fool UK, Nasdaq, Freetrade, Investing in the Web, MoneyMagpie, Online Mortgage Advisor, Wealth, and Compare Forex Brokers. He's focused on making personal finance and investing engaging for everyone. To do this he draws from previous work and his Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA), sharing what he’s learnt. When he’s not geeking out about money, you’ll find him playing sports and staying active. See full bio

George's expertise
George has written 243 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Investing
  • Personal finance
  • Tax
  • Pensions
  • Mortgages

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