Sundaram Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 10, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Sundaram Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹336.0332 as of 09 Sep 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹3,899 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 17.73%, 16.99% and 17.5%, and the fund sits in the High Risk bucket.
Our view is that this is a small-cap fund for investors who can tolerate sharp swings but still want a portfolio that has compounded steadily over longer periods. The returns are strong enough to show resilience, while the portfolio’s broad spread across 68 holdings suggests that no single stock is likely to dominate the outcome.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹336.0332 as of 09 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹3,899 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% |
| Launch Date | 02 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty Small Cap |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | Nil upto 25% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 365D, Nil after 365D |
| Fund Managers | Rohit Seksaria |
The fund is managed by Rohit Seksaria.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 1.01% | 0.47% |
| 3M | 10.50% | 9.83% |
| 1Y | 17.73% | 6.04% |
| 3Y | 16.99% | 15.26% |
| 5Y | 17.5% | 14.5% |
The recent numbers are supportive rather than spectacular. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund has held up slightly better than the benchmark, which tells us the portfolio has not been under unusual near-term strain.
The 1-year return stands out more clearly. It is well ahead of the benchmark and points to a stronger recent phase than the index has delivered. That gap matters because small-cap portfolios usually reveal their character quickly when sentiment turns; here, the fund has stayed ahead on the shorter horizon without showing a blow-up pattern.
Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund still stays ahead of the benchmark, but the margin is smaller than in the 1-year period. That suggests the longer compounding story is solid, yet the latest stretch has been better than the broad multi-year average rather than wildly different from it. The return path also looks uneven, which is normal for small-cap exposure, but the overall direction has remained positive.
For investors, the key point is that this is not a smooth-return fund. It has rewarded patience over 3-year and 5-year windows, while the most recent 1-year run has been especially strong relative to the benchmark. The trade-off is that the same small-cap setting can move sharply in both directions, so the near-term pattern should not be confused with a straight-line trend.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Sundaram Small Cap?
A fund’s past returns alone don’t tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.
The right decision depends on factors such as your current allocation, purchase price, risk profile, investment horizon and the role this fund plays in your overall portfolio.
Already holding Sundaram Small Cap? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundaram Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 17.73% | 16.99% | 17.5% |
| TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 34.15% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.12% | 21.92% | 20.56% |
| Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.85% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.03% | 17.56% | 17.97% |
| ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 24.29% | 25.19% | 19.53% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. The fund’s 1-year return trails several peers in this peer set, even though its own 3-year and 5-year figures remain respectable. That makes the recent comparison less flattering than the longer-term one.
Where the picture improves is in the multi-year context. The fund’s 3-year and 5-year returns are still ahead of the benchmark and sit in the same broad range as some peers with available longer-horizon figures, even if a few peers have stronger numbers on those periods. So the short-term comparison suggests pressure, while the longer-term view still supports the case for disciplined small-cap exposure.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MTAR TECHNOLOGIES LTD | Capital Goods | 3.87% |
| TREPS | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 3.80% |
| RATE GAIN TRAVEL TECHNOLOGIES LTD | IT | 3.59% |
| ASTER DM HEALTHCARE LTD | Healthcare | 3.52% |
| S.J.S. ENTERPRISES LTD | Automobile & Ancillaries | 3.52% |
| ETERNAL LTD (PREVIOUSLY ZOMATO LTD) | Retailing | 3.13% |
| AFFLE (INDIA) LTD | IT | 2.88% |
| PNB HOUSING FINANCE LTD | Finance | 2.57% |
| CRAFTSMAN AUTOMATION LTD | Automobile & Ancillaries | 2.45% |
| CHOLAMANDALAM FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LTD | Finance | 2.23% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 31.56% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the Sundaram Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The largest holding is MTAR Technologies Ltd at 3.87%, which is meaningful but not dominant. The gap from the first holding to the tenth is modest, and the weights stay fairly close through the top part of the portfolio.
That pattern suggests the fund is not relying on one or two outsized positions to drive outcomes. With the top 10 making up 31.56% of the portfolio and 68 holdings disclosed in total, the portfolio looks spread across a long tail of positions, which may reduce the impact of any single stock while still keeping small-cap sensitivity intact.
Because the top names are clustered within a relatively narrow weight band, changes in just one position may not overwhelm the fund. At the same time, the broad holding count means the rest of the portfolio could still matter materially, so the overall behaviour is likely to reflect both the leading positions and the longer tail.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who can handle High Risk small-cap exposure and stay invested through uneven periods. Its 1-year return is stronger than the benchmark, while the 3-year and 5-year figures show that the longer compounding story has also remained positive.
The main trade-off is volatility. The fund has delivered better recent and longer-term returns than the benchmark, but small-cap portfolios can move sharply, so the better fit is a patient investor with a multi-year horizon who can accept drawdowns in exchange for growth potential. The 68-stock portfolio also suggests diversification, but it does not remove the inherent small-cap risk.
Tax and exit load
| Holding period | Tax rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Units held less than 1 year | 20% | Short-term capital gains tax |
| Units held more than 1 year | 12.5% | Long-term capital gains tax |
Exit load
Nil up to 25% of units and 1% for the remaining units if sold on or before 365 days. No exit load after 365 days.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Sundaram Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹336.0332 as of 09 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 17.73%, 16.99% and 17.5%.
How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has outperformed the Nifty Small Cap benchmark across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods. The strongest gap appears in the 1-year figure, where the fund is well ahead of the benchmark.
How does it compare with peer small-cap funds?
The fund’s 1-year return is below several peers in the comparison set, while its 3-year and 5-year numbers remain solid. The short-term and longer-term peer views are therefore not the same.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Rohit Seksaria. The exit load is nil up to 25% of units and 1% for the remaining units if sold on or before 365 days, and there is no exit load after 365 days.
Bottom line
Sundaram Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has delivered a stronger recent run than its benchmark, while its 3-year and 5-year returns still show a workable longer-term compounding record. Against peers, the 1-year picture is less strong, but the multi-year view remains more balanced. The portfolio is spread across 68 holdings, with the top positions not overly concentrated. Overall, this is best suited to investors who accept High Risk volatility and want small-cap exposure with a diversified stock basket.
Published on 10 September 2026 at 1:50 PM IST
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RIA disclosure
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. This review is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. (earlier known as Uniapps Global Research Pvt. Ltd.) under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639 for general informational purposes and is not personalized investment advice.