8 countries with better investment returns than US stock market right now
Wondering whether you can find better investment returns than the US stock market without turning your portfolio into a guessing game?
Right now, you can.
Using the latest justETF country rankings from 3 May 2026, we found a clear group of overseas markets beating the S&P 500 on the 2026 return table. We have centred this page on eight that are practical for US readers who use country ETFs and broader international ETFs.
We will show you where the returns are, what is driving them, and how to think about the risk before you buy.
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Which countries currently outperform US stock market?
If you want the short answer, several countries are ahead of the US stock market right now. On justETF's country table updated on 3 May 2026, the S&P 500 shows a 2026 return of 6.14% in euro terms, and each market below sits above that line.
That gives you a clean scoreboard, but it does not equal your exact dollar return in a US brokerage account. Currency moves, local market hours and the specific ETF you choose can all shift the result.
- Use the 2026 column for the clearest "right now" comparison.
- Use the 1-year figure to see whether the move has depth.
- Check the ETF structure because an 81-stock fund behaves very differently from a 178-stock fund.
|
Market |
2026 return |
1-year return |
Popular US-listed ETF |
Quick read |
|
United States |
6.14% |
25.41% |
SPY |
Your benchmark |
|
South Korea |
62.04% |
65.39% |
EWY |
Huge momentum, heavy AI and semiconductor exposure |
|
Taiwan |
41.27% |
38.78% |
EWT |
Strong chip-cycle exposure, higher valuation |
|
Turkey |
26.36% |
24.53% |
TUR |
Strong gains, very uneven ride |
|
Brazil |
22.30% |
27.98% |
EWZ |
Cheaper market, income support, cyclical risk |
|
Mexico |
10.46% |
35.84% |
EWW |
Concentrated market tied closely to North America |
|
Japan |
9.56% |
26.50% |
EWJ |
Broader market, lower volatility than most on this list |
|
Poland |
9.15% |
33.26% |
EPOL |
Value and yield, but very concentrated |
|
Canada |
8.49% |
34.80% |
EWC |
Familiar market structure, moderate risk |
Quick takeaway: You do not need to chase only the hottest emerging markets. This list includes both high-octane moves, such as South Korea, and steadier developed markets, such as Japan and Canada, which gives you more than one way to diversify a global portfolio.
Why is South Korea a strong investment choice right now?
South Korea is the clear leader. It is up 62.04% for 2026 and 65.39% over one year on the justETF table, which is far ahead of the United States and even ahead of most other emerging markets.
In a March 2026 market note, iShares highlighted South Korea's role in AI infrastructure and semiconductor manufacturing, and its EWY fund gives you exposure to names such as Samsung, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor and KB Financial.\
That is powerful if you want direct access to the hardware side of the AI revolution, but EWY held only 81 stocks on 1 May 2026 and showed a three-year standard deviation of 34.38%, so this is better used as a tactical position than as the centre of your portfolio.
- Best fit: investors who want direct exposure to the AI supply chain.
- Main risk: big swings, because this market can move much faster than the S&P 500.
What makes Taiwan's market returns attractive?
Taiwan sits in second place, with a 2026 return of 41.27% and a one-year return of 38.78%. If you want a market that benefits when global demand for advanced chips stays strong, Taiwan is one of the cleanest country ETF ideas you can buy.
The US-listed EWT fund held 85 stocks on 1 May 2026 and carried a five-star Morningstar rating as of 30 April 2026, which tells you the recent risk-adjusted record has been strong. The trade-off is price: its portfolio P/E stood at 26.52, so you are paying up for quality and momentum.
How is Turkey delivering better investment returns?
Turkey is up 26.36% for 2026 on the justETF ranking, which keeps it comfortably ahead of the US. That makes it one of the strongest momentum markets on this page.
The diversification case is real, too. TUR showed a three-year beta of 0.30, so it has not simply copied the path of US stocks, yet its three-year standard deviation was still 26.90%, which tells you the ride can be rough.
- Why it can help: it can add a return stream that behaves differently from a US-heavy portfolio.
- Why it can hurt: local volatility and currency risk can wipe out gains very quickly.
Why consider investing in Brazil at present?
Brazil's 2026 return stands at 22.30%, with a 27.98% one-year gain and a 46.41% three-year return. For readers who want emerging markets exposure without paying growth-stock multiples, Brazil deserves a serious look.
EWZ held 46 stocks on 1 May 2026, carried a portfolio P/E of 11.43 and had a trailing yield of 4.32%. In simple terms, you are buying a cheaper market with meaningful income, but you are also taking on heavy exposure to banks, commodities and the domestic cycle.
Why does Mexico belong on this list?
Mexico is not in the top four, yet it still beats the US stock market with a 10.46% gain on the justETF table. I like it for readers who want foreign exposure that still feels closely linked to North American manufacturing and consumer demand.
EWW had 40 holdings on 1 May 2026, a 0.50% expense ratio and a four-star Morningstar rating, while its one-year total return was 53.20% as of 31 March 2026. That is appealing if you want a tighter, more focused country fund and you can handle the concentration.
- Best fit: investors who want international exposure without moving too far from the US economic orbit.
- Watch out for: a narrow stock base, because 40 holdings can magnify sector moves.
What factors make Japan a calmer winner?
Japan offers a different kind of outperformance. The 2026 return is 9.56%, which is far less dramatic than South Korea, but it still tops the US and does so with a broader market base.
EWJ held 178 stocks on 1 May 2026, its three-year standard deviation was 13.13%, and its expense ratio was 0.49%. If you want developed markets exposure that does not lean so hard on one story, Japan is one of the steadier country ETFs on this list. If currency swings worry you, HEWJ is the hedged version, though the fee is higher.
Why is Poland worth a closer look?
Poland has a 2026 return of 9.15% and a one-year return of 33.26%, so it clearly earns a place here. It can suit investors who want European exposure without defaulting to larger benchmarks such as Germany, France or the United Kingdom.
EPOL is a focused fund, with just 33 holdings, a portfolio P/E of 12.10 and a trailing yield of 4.67% on 1 May 2026. That combination can look attractive if you like value and income, but each major holding has a lot of influence over your result.
- What stands out: one of the stronger yields in this group.
- Main risk: concentration, because 33 holdings leave little room to hide.
How does Canada round out the list?
Canada closes the eight-country shortlist with an 8.49% 2026 return and a 34.80% one-year gain. For many US investors, it is the easiest international market to hold because the market structure feels familiar and the risk is easier to read.
EWC held 84 stocks on 1 May 2026, had a three-year standard deviation of 14.20% and charged 0.50%. That makes Canada a useful middle ground: more diversified than Brazil or Poland, less volatile than South Korea or Turkey, and still ahead of the US stock market in 2026.
How should you use these markets in a portfolio?
You do not need eight country ETFs in one account. In a March 2026 update, iShares said flows into single-country ETFs had already exceeded the total for all of 2025, led by South Korea and Brazil, which shows real investor interest, but interest and good portfolio design are not the same thing.
A simpler investment strategy usually works better. Use broad international ETFs for the core of your global portfolio, then add a country ETF only when you have a clear reason for it.
- Use VXUS or IXUS as a base if you want broad developed markets and emerging markets exposure outside the United States.
- Add one country ETF for a clear theme, such as South Korea for AI hardware or Japan for a steadier developed-market tilt.
- Keep currency in mind, because the justETF scoreboard is in euros while your brokerage account is in dollars.
- Check concentration before you buy, because a 33-stock fund is a very different risk from a 178-stock fund.
Final words
The US stock market still deserves a core place in most portfolios, but it is not leading every race right now. On the latest justETF ranking, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Poland and Canada all offer better investment returns than the US stock market on the 2026 table.
If you want to act on that, keep it simple: use international ETFs for your base, add country ETFs only when the case is clear, and respect currency and concentration risk. That is how you stay diversified without turning your global portfolio into a pile of hot trades.
FAQs
1. Which countries beat the US stock market right now?
Poland, Canada, Greece, South Africa, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are showing higher returns than the US market at the moment.
2. Why are these places doing well now?
Some have cheap stocks, some have strong exports, and some ride a rebound in demand, for example Spain and New Zealand have tourism gains, Peru sees commodity lifts, and Israel shows tech strength.
3. Are emerging markets like Colombia, Chile, Indonesia, or Pakistan worth the risk?
They can pay off, but they move fast, and volatility is high, so only add them if you can take sharp swings; Norway also pops up for its oil and safe balance sheet.
4. Who has pointed this out, and is this a deep crash like the great depression?
Analysts such as Steven Cress have flagged the trend, and no, this is not a new great depression, it is a market shift, short of a long, deep slump in broad economies; Sweden and Switzerland show calm in parts of Europe.
5. How should I act on this news?
Think funds or ETFs that cover Poland, Canada or the others, spread risk, set a time plan, and check local rules; if you want safety, mix in blue chips from Italy or Austria, and keep an eye on news.
