Before You Start
- Basic understanding of ETFs, asset allocation, and risk/return concepts
- Access to a computer (desktop or laptop preferred for best experience)
- List of your current or planned portfolio holdings (ISINs, ticker symbols)
- Accounts with your broker(s) (e.g., Trade Republic, DEGIRO) for reference
- Comfort navigating web platforms and uploading CSV files if needed
Time needed: 30–45 minutes (first time)
What you'll need: Free account on at least one portfolio visualizer tool (e.g., PortfolioVisualizer.com, justETF, or Portfolio Performance)
As European investors, we want to understand how our portfolios might perform—across time, asset classes, and market cycles. Portfolio visualization and backtesting tools make this possible. But which tools work well for European ETFs, and how do you use them with EUR-based portfolios?
In this guide, you’ll learn to evaluate and backtest your investment ideas using tools accessible here in Europe, with step-by-step EUR examples and practical advice. For a broader look at choosing investing apps and platforms, see our Ultimate Guide to European Investing Apps.
Popular Portfolio Visualizer Tools for European Investors
Let’s quickly review the main tools accessible to European investors for portfolio visualization, performance tracking, and backtesting:
- PortfolioVisualizer.com: Excellent for backtesting, asset allocation, and Monte Carlo simulations. Free tier available. Data is USD-centric, but can be adapted for EUR and UCITS ETFs with some work.
- justETF: Designed specifically for European investors. Supports EUR, UCITS ETFs, and most major European brokers. Portfolio tracking, backtesting with historical data, and easy ETF lookup.
- Portfolio Performance: Free open-source desktop app. Powerful for portfolio tracking, performance attribution, and custom reporting in EUR. Manual data entry or import from brokers.
For this walkthrough, we’ll use justETF, as it’s tailored for European users and supports EUR, UCITS ETFs, and local tax rules. The principles, however, apply across most visualizer tools.
Pro Tip
If you want to automate ETF price alerts or track your portfolio hands-free, check out our guide: How to Set Up Price Alerts and Track Your European ETF Portfolio Automatically.
Step 1: Choose Your Tool and Create a Free Account
What to do: Go to justETF and sign up for a free account. This enables you to save portfolios, use historical backtesting, and export reports.
Why it matters: justETF supports EUR, all major UCITS ETFs, and integrates with European brokers—so you get realistic results for your region.
What can go wrong: Some features (like extended backtesting) require a Premium account, but all key steps work for free. If you use another tool, verify that it supports EUR and your ETF tickers.
Expected outcome: You should see your justETF dashboard with an option to create a new portfolio.
Step 2: Build Your Portfolio with EUR-based UCITS ETFs
What to do:
- Click "Portfolio" → "Create new portfolio".
- Set your base currency to EUR.
- Add ETFs by ISIN or name. Example:
- iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (Acc) – ISIN: IE00B4L5Y983 – 70% allocation
- Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF (Acc) – ISIN: IE00BTJRMP35 – 20% allocation
- Xtrackers Eurozone Government Bond UCITS ETF – ISIN: LU0290355717 – 10% allocation
Enter the percentage allocation for each ETF. Save your portfolio.
Why it matters: Using UCITS ETFs ensures your portfolio is compliant with EU regulations and available on European brokers (like Trade Republic or DEGIRO).
What can go wrong: Accidentally selecting US-domiciled ETFs (non-UCITS) can lead to tax and access issues. Always double-check the ISIN and ensure the ETF is EUR-denominated or hedged if required.
Expected outcome: You should see your portfolio summary with allocations and current market values in EUR.
Pro Tip
If you're using a broker like Trade Republic, you can copy your exact ETF holdings and allocations directly from their app: Tap "Portfolio" → "Holdings", then manually enter these into justETF for tracking.
Step 3: Run Portfolio Backtests and Analyze Performance
What to do:
- In your justETF portfolio, click "Performance" → "Backtest".
- Select your preferred backtest period (e.g., 5 years, 10 years).
- Review key metrics: annualized return, volatility, max drawdown, and portfolio growth chart.
Why it matters: Backtesting shows how your chosen mix of assets would have performed historically—helping you set realistic expectations and spot potential risks.
What can go wrong: Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Data for some ETFs (especially newer ones) may be limited, reducing backtest accuracy.
Expected outcome: You should see a graph of your portfolio value in EUR over time, with summary stats like "annualized return: 7.4%", "max drawdown: -18.2%", etc.
Pro Tip
Compare your results with a simple benchmark, such as a single MSCI World UCITS ETF, to determine if your diversification is adding value or unnecessary complexity.
Step 4: Interpret Risk, Drawdown, and Diversification Insights
What to do: Study the risk metrics and asset allocation breakdown.
- Volatility: Indicates how much your portfolio's value swings. Lower volatility means smoother returns.
- Max drawdown: The largest peak-to-trough drop. Helps you understand the worst-case scenario.
- Correlation matrix: (Available in Premium) Shows how your assets move together. Lower correlation between assets means better diversification.
Why it matters: Risk metrics help you set expectations and avoid panic selling during downturns.
What can go wrong: Ignoring drawdowns or overestimating your risk tolerance can lead to poor decisions, like selling at the bottom.
Expected outcome: You’ll understand whether your portfolio is well-diversified and matches your risk profile.
Pro Tip
For more on risk management—including currency risk—see our guide: What European Investors Should Know About Currency Risk in Their Portfolios.
Step 5: Export, Track, and Update Your Portfolio Regularly
What to do:
- Export your portfolio to PDF or Excel for record-keeping.
- Set calendar reminders to update your portfolio after new purchases or rebalancing.
- Optionally, connect your broker account (justETF Premium) for automatic updates.
Why it matters: Regular tracking keeps you disciplined and helps you spot drift from your target allocation.
What can go wrong: Failing to update after trades means your analysis will be inaccurate. Manual entry errors can also skew results.
Expected outcome: Your portfolio dashboard will always reflect your real holdings and performance in EUR.
Common Mistakes
- Using non-UCITS or USD-based ETFs: These may not be available on European brokers and can cause tax issues.
- Ignoring fees: Backtesting often ignores broker and ETF fees. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
- Overcomplicating portfolios: Too many ETFs can make rebalancing and tracking difficult. Simpler is often better.
- Not matching your risk tolerance: High volatility portfolios can be stressful. Always check drawdown history.
- Forgetting to update: Outdated portfolios give misleading results—update after every trade.
Next Steps
- Try building multiple portfolios (e.g., a “core” global ETF, a “satellite” ESG allocation) and compare their results.
- Explore related guides, such as How European Investors Can Build a Diversified ESG Portfolio in 2026, for thematic and sustainable investing insights.
- Consider automating your investments. Our article on Automating Your Investments in Europe covers the pros, cons, and best apps for 2026.
- Review your broker’s features—see our Trade Republic vs. Interactive Brokers vs. Scalable Capital comparison—to ensure your platform fits your visualization and tracking needs.
Mastering portfolio visualizer tools gives you data-driven confidence and helps avoid emotional investing mistakes. With justETF, Portfolio Performance, and other platforms, European investors can finally make informed, EUR-based decisions.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consider consulting a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.