Romania leads global stock markets with impressive 758% return over the past decade
Romania has achieved the best stock market performance among major global exchanges over the last ten years, with the BET-TR index generating a remarkable total return of 758%. This means that an investment of 1,000 euros made ten years ago would now be valued at approximately 8,580 euros, showcasing the country's strong economic growth.
In comparison, Slovenia and Taiwan recorded returns of +662% and +640%, respectively. The NASDAQ 100 also demonstrated impressive growth with a +628% return. This highlights Romania's standout position in a competitive global financial landscape.
The Romanian banking sector has been experiencing increased revenues, fueled by expanding credit and enhanced financial services. Concurrently, the energy sector is benefiting from one of the largest natural gas exploitation projects in Europe, which is expected to significantly impact the market in the coming years.
Over the past decade, Romania has successfully listed a growing number of entrepreneurial companies, contributing to a vibrant and diverse market. Among these is Biofarm, which recently reported a net profit of 32.5 million lei for the first quarter of 2026 and plans to distribute a special gross dividend of 0.1402 lei per share, amounting to over 138 million lei in total.
The BET index is heavily weighted towards the energy sector, with approximately 60% of its allocation dedicated to this area. Banks make up 26% of the index, while about 35% is directly linked to the Neptun Deep gas project, which is anticipated to accelerate development starting in 2027, benefitting companies like OMV Petrom, Romgaz, and Transgaz.
Nuclearelectrica stands out with the highest total return over the last decade at over 3,200%, while Romgaz and OMV Petrom also performed well, with returns of +1,233% and +901%, respectively. These companies, alongside others like Hidroelectrica and Digi Communications, have contributed significantly to the BET index's performance in 2026.
Notably, markets in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, and Greece continue to outperform many Western European markets, emphasizing the potential of smaller regional markets like Romania. With structural growth factors that differ from those dominating global indices, Romania offers valuable diversification opportunities for global portfolios heavily exposed to the technology sector.
As of June 30, 2026, these calculations reflect a robust and optimistic economic landscape for Romania, showcasing its ability to generate substantial returns that rival those of larger economies.