ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹205.3 as of 26 August 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹13,540 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -7.28%, 8.27% and 5.09%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a concentrated technology-led equity fund that can behave very differently from the broader market. The return pattern is mixed across time frames, so it suits investors who can tolerate sharp swings and want sector-specific exposure rather than a steadier, diversified equity allocation.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Vaibhav Dusad.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Performance

Recent performance has been stronger over shorter windows than over the one-year stretch. The 1-month and 3-month numbers point to a recovery phase, but the 1-year figure is still negative, which tells us the fund has had a rougher intermediate run than the benchmark.

Over longer periods, the picture improves but remains uneven. The 3-year return is ahead of the benchmark, while the 5-year return trails it, so the fund has not delivered a steady advantage across full market cycles.

The return path suggests a volatile style rather than a smooth compounding profile. The pattern through the 1-year and 3-year series shows meaningful drawdowns and rebounds, which is consistent with a sector fund that can swing sharply with sentiment toward technology and related holdings.

Against NIFTY 50, the fund is ahead in 1 month, 3 months and 3 years, but behind on 1 year and 5 years. That mix matters because it shows the fund can outperform in some windows without yet establishing a durable lead over the benchmark across the full period set.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Peer comparison

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

On recent performance, the fund trails several peer returns by a wide margin, especially on the 1-year measure. The gap narrows on longer periods where the fund still remains positive and shows a workable 3-year outcome, but peers with fuller histories have delivered materially stronger numbers on the available comparisons.

The 3-year and 5-year figures also tell a less convincing story than the stronger peer set. Some peers with available longer-term data have outpaced it meaningfully, so the fund’s own longer-run record looks more modest even after the recent recovery in shorter windows.

That makes the comparison split: short-term momentum has improved, but the broader peer table still shows a weaker return profile for this fund on the periods where data is available. For investors, the key takeaway is that this is not a steady relative performer across all time frames.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap mix is 45.57% large cap, 22.29% mid cap, 23.32% small cap and 8.82% other cap. That spread shows a meaningful tilt toward larger companies, but it still leaves a sizeable allocation to mid and small caps, which can increase movement in both directions.

The IT sector dominates the portfolio by a very large margin at 74.54%, so it is likely to have the greatest influence on the fund’s behaviour. The next-largest sector, telecom, is far smaller at 6.09%, which means sector diversification is limited even though the fund does hold positions outside core technology.

Within IT, the largest holdings carry substantial standalone weights, with ECLERX SERVICES LTD. at 31.11% and INFOSYS LTD. at 10.12%. That concentration may amplify both upside and downside when technology sentiment changes, while the smaller allocations to retailing, overseas equities and business services may add some diversification without materially changing the fund’s overall direction.

In our view, the mix of a large IT core with a noticeable mid- and small-cap presence makes this a more active equity allocation than a broad market fund. It can behave differently from standard diversified portfolios, especially when technology names move sharply.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with High Risk exposure and can hold through uneven periods. The one-year decline, combined with stronger three-month momentum and a mixed longer-term record, suggests that the fund can recover but may also swing sharply before it does.

The benchmark comparison also matters: the fund has not consistently stayed ahead of NIFTY 50 across every period, so it works better as a higher-volatility satellite holding than as a core conservative equity option. The main trade-off is accepting concentrated sector risk in exchange for the possibility of stronger technology-led phases.

Investors with a medium- to long-term horizon are a better match here than those who need a smoother path. The portfolio mix, especially the heavy IT weight and meaningful small-cap exposure, supports an investor profile that can tolerate fluctuations and does not depend on stable near-term outcomes.

Tax and exit load

Exit load: 1% on or before 15D, NIL after 15D.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The NAV is ₹205.3 as of 26 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The returns are -7.28% for 1 year, 8.27% for 3 years and 5.09% for 5 years.

How does the fund compare with NIFTY 50?
It is ahead of NIFTY 50 over 1 month, 3 months and 3 years, but behind over 1 year and 5 years.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP is ₹100.

What is the fund’s risk profile?
The fund is tagged High Risk. That fits its concentrated IT exposure and its mixed return path across short and long periods.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Vaibhav Dusad. The exit load is 1% on or before 15D, and NIL after 15D.

Bottom line

ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed performance record: shorter windows look better than the one-year figure, while the longer-term numbers are uneven against the benchmark and peers. The fund’s portfolio is heavily tilted toward IT, so the outcome is likely to depend more on technology-led moves than on broad market diversification. For investors who can accept High Risk and a concentrated sector profile, it offers a clearly defined but volatile equity exposure.

Published on 28 August 2026 at 10:28 AM IST