Been noticing something interesting about international markets lately. While U.S. stocks have crushed it over the past decade, there's been a real shift happening this year that's worth paying attention to.

Here's the thing - the S&P 500 has delivered solid returns, averaging around 15.3% annually over the last 10 years. But international developed markets? They've been quietly building momentum. Early this year, the broader international index actually outpaced U.S. stocks by a decent margin, which is pretty rare. This got me thinking about whether 2025 might be a turning point for diversifying beyond domestic equities.

I'm not saying U.S. stocks are done or anything. But there's a real case to be made for spreading your risk globally. The simplest way most people overlook is using ETFs - they're basically the best foreign etfs for getting exposure without having to pick individual stocks.

So if you're looking at this seriously, there are three that stand out to me. The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF gives you broad exposure across 8,700 stocks spread across Europe, the Pacific region, and emerging markets. Top holdings like Taiwan Semiconductor and Tencent keep the concentration risk low. What's nice is the expense ratio sits at just 0.05% - that's basically nothing compared to what you'd pay elsewhere.

Then there's the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF if you want to focus specifically on European companies. Over 1,200 stocks across major European markets, with solid exposure to the UK, France, and Germany. The best international etfs for Europe exposure honestly come down to this one for most people.

The third option is the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF. This one's got more than 2,600 holdings and tilts more toward Japan and developed Asia. Good sector diversification across financials, industrials, and healthcare.

All three have been performing well, and the expense ratios are incredibly low - we're talking 0.05% to 0.07%. That matters more than people realize because it compounds over time.

Look, I'm not saying you should dump everything into international stocks. But if your portfolio is 100% U.S.-focused, you might be leaving money on the table. Even just allocating a meaningful chunk to foreign equities through one of these best foreign etfs could smooth out your returns over the long haul. Worth thinking about if you haven't already.