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The Iceland Advantage

Economic Independence

Iceland’s nimble, independent economy is outpacing larger, slower economies in the EU, offering flexible monetary policies, strategic trade access, and a high GDP per capita. With a 10% U.S. tariff compared to the EU’s 20%, Iceland’s economic agility proves that size isn’t everything.

MIT Future Index

Energy Advantage

Powered entirely by renewable energy, Iceland offers the cheapest electricity in Europe. Iceland’s energy independence keeps costs low, attracts foreign investment, and supports industrial growth, all while remaining green, unlike the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Renewable energy

Speed and Adaptability

While the EU struggles with layers of  bureaucracy and slow decision-making, Iceland benefits from a flexible regulatory environment, close connections between businesses and policymakers, and an international, growth-driven mindset. This agility, combined with strong resilience, allows Iceland to adapt quickly and recover faster than larger economies.

Financial Stability

Iceland’s economy, driven by dynamic sectors like tourism, fisheries, and renewable energy, offers a stable and transparent financial environment for investors. With a resilient banking sector, low national debt, and strong credit ratings, the country presents growing opportunities for long-term investment as foreign interest continues to rise.

Central Bank of Iceland

Strategic Location

Situated between North America and Europe, Iceland acts as a key transatlantic hub for trade, logistics, and Arctic business initiatives, offering strategic access to both the EU and the U.S. while remaining free from eurozone regulations.

Strategic Iceland

Skilled & Stable

Ranked among the safest and most politically stable nations worldwide, Iceland offers a secure, low-risk environment supported by a highly educated, tech-savvy, and English-speaking population, creating an ideal foundation for innovation, R&D, and global business.

Global Peace Index

iceland in one trade

Nasdaq: GLCR

Articles

Iceland in One Trade: Explained for U.S. Investors

 The Nasdaq Iceland ETF offers U.S. investors an opportunity to interact with the Icelandic economy while bypassing obstacles that make foreign investment difficult. Through diversified exposure and simplified access to foreign markets, GLCR offers a straightforward way for investors to "buy Iceland in one trade." 


Diverse Sector Exposure


Through the GlacierShares Nasdaq Iceland ETF, investors get a broad exposure to Iceland’s economy in a single trade. Across a range of industries, GLCR helps investors avoid the concentrated risk tied to owning a single stock. This ETF is particularly valuable in today's global landscape, where diversifying beyond the U.S. can hedge against sector-specific risks. At the same time, investors capture the growth in resilient, innovation-driven economies like Iceland’s.


Window into the Iceland Ecosystem


One of GLCR's key appeals for U.S. investors is its ability to deliver diverse exposure to the Icelandic ecosystem. As a world leader in renewable energy, Iceland obtains all of its electricity from geothermal and hydroelectric power. This causes Iceland to stand out among Nordic markets and the rest of the world in terms of power, attracting ESG-focused investors. Iceland’s renewable green economy is represented in the GlacierShares Iceland ETF and provides U.S. investors with a unique opportunity to invest in Iceland’s sustainable growth through a single Nasdaq trade. Iceland’s sustainable infrastructure fuels innovative sectors like biotechnology and sustainable health care, which form key components of GLCR’s portfolio. Iceland’s renewable model positions it as a standout in Nordic markets, attracting ESG-focused capital and enhancing the Iceland economy’s resilience to global energy shocks.


Additionally, Iceland’s robust financial sector offers a blend of stability and defensive strength for U.S. investors. This resilient sector acts as a cornerstone in the Icelandic economy and represents about one-third of the Iceland ETF. Rebuilt from the ashes of the 2008 global financial crisis, Iceland’s financial sector is now governed by strict post-crisis reforms, including high capital requirements and liquidity buffers. By holding GLCR, investors are provided a glimpse of Iceland’s resilient financial sector through the Iceland ETF. This window into the Iceland ecosystem through the GlacierShares Nasdaq Iceland ETF empowers U.S. investors to invest in Iceland’s diverse sectors, from resilient financials to sustainable innovation. With the simplicity of the one trade, investors capture Iceland’s stability and innovation within Nordic markets. 


Sectors Within the Nasdaq Iceland ETF

  • · Financials: Arion Bank, Islandsbanki, Kvika, Sjóvá-Almennar, Skagi,
  • · Health Care: Aker Biomarine, Alvotech, Embla Medical, Oculis
  • · Consumer Discretionary: Festi, Hampidjan
  • · Materials: Amaroq Minerals
  • · Real Estate: Eik fasteignafélag, Heimar, Kaldalon, Skel Fjarfestingafelag, Reitir fasteignafélag
  • · Industrials: Eimskip, Icelandair Group, JBT Marel
  • · Communications: Nova Klubburinn, Síminn


Simplified Access to Foreign Markets


For U.S. investors seeking to invest in Iceland, the GlacierShares Nasdaq Iceland ETF offers a straightforward way to an Iceland investment. GLCR simplifies access to the Iceland economy, allowing foreign investors to tap into this unique Nordic market while bypassing the complexities of foreign markets. Without the hassle of opening a foreign brokerage account, navigating currency conversions, or dealing with individual stock selections, the process is significantly streamlined so investors can gain exposure to this green, progressive economy in a single trade. 


Accessing Iceland in a Single Investment


The GlacierShares Nasdaq Iceland ETF allows U.S. investors to invest in Iceland with simplicity, delivering diversified exposure to Iceland economy's sustainable and innovative strengths in a single Nasdaq trade. By capturing a broad spectrum of sectors, from resilient financials to innovative renewables, GLCR mitigates single-stock risks while tapping into the growth of Nordic markets.  Its streamlined structure bypasses the complexities of foreign investing, making it an accessible way for U.S. investors to invest in Iceland. 

Guide to Nordic ETFs vs. Iceland ETF: What’s the Difference?

 The Nordic region, encompassing Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, boast high GDP per capita, robust social safety nets, and leadership in sectors like renewable energy, technology, and finance. In a world full of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), investors often to invest in Nordic ETFs due to factors like these. While Nordic ETFs provide broad regional diversification to U.S. investors’ portfolios, the Iceland ETF offers more targeted exposure to one of the world’s most unique economies and allows investors to invest in Iceland through a single trade. The GlacierShares Iceland ETF is a leader in sustainability and renewable energy, and it provides U.S. investors simplified access to invest in Iceland’s rich economy. 

  

What are Nordic ETFs?


Nordic ETFs are investment vehicles that track indices comprising stocks from the Nordic countries. These funds aim to capture the collective growth of the region and are known for their innovation-driven economies. Nasdaq Nordic ETFs are comprised of many different sectors, including renewables, technology, healthcare, industrials, and finance. This wide range allows investors to invest in the region’s global leadership in clean energy, digital innovation, and sustainable finance. Additionally, Nordic countries are often praised for strong corporate governance and long-term sustainability practices, making them particularly attractive to investors with an ESG-focused strategy. Overall, Nordic ETFs combine the advantages of regional growth exposure, sector diversification, and alignment with global trends in sustainability and innovation. As a result, they appeal to investors seeking to invest in avenues that provide both financial returns and long-term sustainability.


Iceland vs. Nordic ETFs


While Nordic ETFs share many similar sectors and strengths with the Iceland ETF, size remains a large distinction. While the Nordic markets are larger, the agility of Iceland’s economy should not be understated. This agility allows the Nasdaq Iceland ETF to move faster than Nordic markets. Additionally, the GlacierShares Iceland ETF provides investors with exclusive access to Iceland’s economy, unlike many traditional Nordic ETFs that give investors exposure to the Nordic economy as a whole. A country-specific focus may provide diversification by moving differently from wider Nordic markets. Lastly, Iceland’s renewables-driven economy provides a natural ESG and sustainability focus, without exposure to fossil fuels. While the Nordic countries also prioritize renewable resources, these Nordic markets also include exposure to fossil fuels, specifically in Norway. With more and more people looking to renewable resources and ESG aligned strategies, the investing in the Iceland ETF offers unique access to a country powered almost entirely by sustainable energy.


What sets the GlacierShares Iceland ETF apart?


GLCR offers investors a streamlined avenue to invest in the Icelandic stock market. Iceland’s economic independence, renewable energy leadership, financial stability, and strategic location set Iceland apart from other Nordic ETFs. Comprised of finance, healthcare, consumer sectors, industrials, energy, and real estate, the Iceland ETF offer a diverse range of stocks, giving U.S. investors a glimpse of why they should invest in Iceland. This shows the Iceland economy in a single trade, while still avoiding the risks associated with a single stock. Additionally, Iceland’s economy is naturally driven by renewables, offering alignment with ESG-focused and sustainability-driven investors. Iceland’s economy, while represented by a diverse range of industries, is captured through the GlacierShares Iceland ETF, provides investors an avenue to invest in Iceland, and offers U.S. investors exposure to a stable Nordic economy that priorities sustainability.

Glacier Shares NASDAQ Iceland ETF

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