European equities: Regained momentum amid a structural theme reshaping the landscape


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Key takeaways

  • European equities are attracting strong investor interest, supported by stabilising economic activity, attractive valuations and a more constructive policy backdrop.
  • Within this context, Europe’s pursuit of strategic autonomy is emerging as a significant structural theme shaping opportunities across defence, energy, technology and critical industries.
  • ETFs provide an efficient and transparent way to capture these opportunities.1

Europe regains attention

European equities have returned to focus this year as investors reassess the region’s fundamentals. After a prolonged period of external shocks and subdued activity, there are now clearer signs that activity in Europe is bottoming out. This shift reflects easing inflation, the normalisation of policy rates and early signs of improving momentum. At the same time, European equity valuations remain at a notable discount to those in the United States (see risk premium chart below), prompting investors to take a fresh look at the asset class.

European equity - graph

*This measure captures differential between current earning yield level and Treasury bond yield (in local currency and vs 12M German bund yield and 12M US treasury yield). Sources: Amundi, Bloomberg, data as at 29/10/2025. Past market trends are not a reliable indicator of future ones. For illustrative purposes only, may change without prior notice.

Flows data reflect the shift in sentiment. Demand for the asset class has strengthened (see chart below), indicating that investors are increasingly re-engaging with the region as valuations improve and the economic backdrop shows signs of stabilising. European equities have also been the most favoured asset class year-to-date in the UCITS ETF market, underscoring the renewed appetite for the region.2

European equity - graph

Policy developments have also played a role. Germany’s unprecedented commitment to increasing investment and defence spending earlier this year has been a significant turning point, and could help to offset some of the negative effects associated with tariff uncertainty. 

More broadly, fiscal spending across Europe, if efficiently deployed, could offer further support to EU GDP growth, reinforcing the region’s improving macroeconomic backdrop. Alongside this, markets are anticipating stronger earnings per share (EPS) growth in Europe,reflecting the combined impact of firmer economic indicators, easing inflation and a more stable policy environment.

While uncertainties remain, valuations across many parts of the European equity market continue to imply a subdued economic scenario. Any sustained improvement in domestic demand, lower trade uncertainty or recovery in investment trends could support companies with greater exposure to intra-European activity. Against this backdrop, investors have been exploring opportunities across the region, particularly through broad exposures, with renewed interest.

Strategic autonomy: a powerful structural theme

Within the broader case for European equities, Europe’s pursuit of strategic autonomy has emerged as a defining structural theme. The concept first took shape in the European Union’s 2016 Global Strategy,4 initially centred on defence and security. Since then, it has broadened significantly to encompass energy, technology, semiconductors, healthcare and other essential sectors. What began as a political ambition is now becoming an economic transformation, as Europe seeks to strengthen its long-term resilience and industrial capacity.

Recent years have exposed the extent of Europe’s dependence on external suppliers for energy, advanced technology and key manufacturing inputs. The war in Ukraine highlighted the risks of relying on imported fossil fuels and foreign defence equipment. At the same time, global supply chain disruptions, from semiconductors to medical supplies, revealed vulnerabilities across manufacturing and healthcare. These shocks have coincided with a wider trend towards global protectionism, prompting Europe to reassess how it safeguards its strategic and economic interests.

Strategic autonomy is not about withdrawing from global trade or collaboration. Rather, it reflects the need for Europe to ensure it can respond effectively to crises, support critical industries and sustain competitiveness in a more fragmented world. It is grounded in the principle of resilience: building the technological, industrial and energy capabilities required to act independently when circumstances demand it.

Europe’s policy response

To support this shift, the European Union and its member states have launched an ambitious policy framework aimed at strengthening resilience across multiple fronts. Among the most significant initiatives are those focused on defence, energy, technology and healthcare.

In defence, the ReArm Europe and Readiness 2030 initiatives mark a major reinvestment effort, with member states planning to mobilise around €800 billion to rebuild Europe’s defence and security capabilities.5

In energy, the REPowerEU plan, supported by €300 billion in funding, seeks to accelerate the clean energy transition and reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels.6 This builds on the broader Next Generation EU programme, which channels recovery funds into green and digital infrastructure.

The EU’s Chips Act, worth €43 billion, aims to double Europe’s share of global semiconductor production by 2030 and restore control over critical technology supply chains.7

In healthcare, the EU4Health programme is investing around €5 billion between 2021 and 2027 to strengthen Europe’s preparedness for future health emergencies.8

Together, these initiatives reflect a clear policy direction aimed at strengthening Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and strategic autonomy. They are helping to reshape capital flows and investment priorities across the region.

What this means for investors

For investors, the combination of an improving economic backdrop, Europe’s renewed policy momentum and the structural shift towards strategic autonomy is creating a broad set of potential opportunities. The drive to reinforce defence, energy transition, technology and healthcare capabilities has led to multi-year public and private investment commitments.

Fiscal expansion, particularly in Germany, could support economic activity and investment, with potential knock-on effects across the region. Current market expectations for stronger EPS growth in 20263 reflect this firmer macroeconomic environment.

Strategic autonomy represents a long-term reframing of Europe’s industrial and policy landscape, underpinned by structural demand for investment in essential capabilities.

Accessing the opportunity through ETFs

For investors seeking exposure to both the broader recovery in European equities and the theme of European strategic autonomy, ETFs provide an efficient and transparent route. They offer diversifiedaccess to companies aligned with Europe’s evolving industrial and policy priorities, whether through broad European equity indices such as the Stoxx Europe 600, or through targeted sector and thematic strategies linked to areas such as defence and European strategic autonomy. 

1. Investment involves risks. For more information, please refer to the Risk section at the end of the document.
2. Source: Amundi, Bloomberg as at 20 November 2025
3. 11.4% YoY – data based on Bloomberg estimates as at 31/10/2025 for the Stoxx Europe 600
4. European External Action Service, Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe — A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy, June 2016. Available at: https://eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/top_stories/pdf/eugs_review_web.pdf 
5. Source: European commission. https://commission.Europa.eu/topics/defence/future-European-defence_en. SAFE refers to Security Action for Europe 
6. Source: https://commission.europa.eu/topics/energy/repowereu_en 
7. Source: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/european-chips-act_en
8. Source: https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/eu4health_en 
9. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss.


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It is important for potential investors to evaluate the risks described below and in the fund’s Key Information Document (“KID”) and prospectus available on our websites www.amundietf.com.
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Amundi Asset Management
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