UTI Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 10, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
UTI Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹392.6351 as of 09 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹1,443 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 18.1%, 24.56% and 16.41% respectively, and the fund carries a High Risk profile. Our view is that the fund has delivered strong longer-term compounding, but it can move sharply in shorter windows, so it fits investors who are comfortable with sector-driven swings and are looking at a multi-year horizon rather than a quick allocation.
The fund’s recent return profile has stayed positive, and that matters because it shows the portfolio has remained resilient even when its benchmark has been weak over the same periods. The healthcare focus and concentrated stock list can add conviction, but they also make the ride uneven. For investors who want pure defensive stability, this is not the right fit; for those who can accept volatility in exchange for sector-specific growth exposure, the pattern is more constructive.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹392.6351 as of 09 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹1,443 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 1.3% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹500 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D |
| Fund Managers | Kamal Gada |
The fund is managed by Kamal Gada.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 1.41% | -4.69% |
| 3M | 11.37% | 0.93% |
| 1Y | 18.1% | -7.16% |
| 3Y | 24.56% | 6% |
| 5Y | 16.41% | 5.87% |
The short-term picture is strong. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund stayed well ahead of the benchmark, and that tells us the portfolio has recently held up better than the broader market proxy it is measured against.
The 1-year return is also comfortably positive, while the benchmark is negative for the same period. That gap suggests the fund’s healthcare exposure has helped it behave differently from the wider market, which can be useful when broader equities are under pressure.
The 3-year number is the sharpest in the set, and it shows that the fund has been able to compound well through a longer stretch rather than only in a narrow rally. The 5-year return is still ahead of the benchmark, although the gap is smaller than at 1 year and 3 years, which points to a more moderate long-run advantage.
The recent pattern does not look disconnected from the longer trend. Instead, the fund has combined solid trailing numbers with periods of ups and downs, which is typical for a focused equity portfolio. For investors, that means the fund’s return profile has been rewarding, but not smooth.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD UTI Healthcare?
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 UTI Healthcare? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTI Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 18.1% | 24.56% | 16.41% |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 73.94% | 37.12% | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 30.08% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.98% | Data not available | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.21% | Data not available | Data not available |
| PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 26.31% | Data not available | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On the latest 1-year figure, the fund trails several peer healthcare and thematic offerings, but its 3-year and 5-year figures remain usable as a steady base for comparison because many peer entries do not have longer-period figures available. That makes the short-term comparison look less impressive, while the longer-term comparison is more balanced and still positive.
The key point is that the fund’s own 3-year and 5-year returns are respectable, but the peer set shows that some funds have much stronger recent one-year momentum. So the comparison tells two different stories: the fund has been a consistent longer-term compounder, yet its latest year has not kept pace with the fastest-moving peers.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Eq – Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries | Healthcare | 8.25% |
| Eq – Divis Laboratories Ltd. | Healthcare | 6.21% |
| Net Current Assets | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 5.71% |
| Eq – Ajanta Pharma Ltd. | Healthcare | 4.74% |
| Eq – Gland Pharma Ltd. | Healthcare | 3.7% |
| Eq – DR Reddys Laboratories Ltd. | Healthcare | 3.62% |
| Eq – Alkem Laboratories Ltd | Healthcare | 3.29% |
| Eq – Apollo Hospitals Enterprise LT | Healthcare | 3.27% |
| Eq – Max Healthcare Institute Ltd | Healthcare | 3.1% |
| Eq – Lupin Ltd. | Healthcare | 3.09% |
The largest disclosed holding is Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries at 8.25%, and that single position is large enough to matter, but not so large that it dominates the portfolio on its own. From the first holding to the tenth, the weights step down in a fairly measured way, with no extreme gap after the top name.
The top 10 holdings together account for approximately 44.98% of the portfolio, which suggests a meaningful core allocation but also leaves room for a wider tail. With 43 disclosed holdings overall, the portfolio is not a one- or two-stock story. The displayed positions show a healthcare-heavy list with a cash and net assets line among the largest entries, so the fund may use liquidity and sector concentration together rather than relying only on a few stocks.
That structure could make the fund more responsive to healthcare-specific developments, while the longer tail may help soften the effect of any single stock move. The overall shape looks moderately concentrated rather than fully spread out.
To see all holdings, visit the UTI Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who can tolerate High Risk and are willing to stay invested for several years. The return pattern shows that it has been able to outperform its benchmark across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods, but its healthcare focus means performance may not track the broader market closely.
The main trade-off is clear: you get a focused sector strategy with a history of positive compounding, but you also accept sharper swings than a diversified large-cap equity option. For investors with a long horizon and comfort with sector concentration, that mix can make sense. For investors who need smoother outcomes, the volatility profile is likely to feel uncomfortable.
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: 1% if units are sold on or before 30 days. No exit load applies after 30 days.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of UTI Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The NAV is ₹392.6351 as of 09 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The returns are 18.1% for 1 year, 24.56% for 3 years and 16.41% for 5 years.
How has the fund performed against the benchmark?
It has stayed ahead of the Nifty 50 across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The benchmark is negative over 1 year, while the fund remains positive.
How does it compare with peers on recent returns?
Its 1-year return is below several peer funds in the comparison set, but its 3-year and 5-year figures remain solid where available. The shorter-term comparison looks weaker than the longer-term picture.
Is there a minimum SIP amount?
Yes. The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.
What should investors know about the risk, portfolio and exit load?
The fund is tagged High Risk, and its portfolio is led by healthcare stocks such as Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, Divis Laboratories and Ajanta Pharma. The exit load is 1% on or before 30 days and nil after 30 days.
Bottom line
UTI Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan has combined a strong longer-term return record with a more mixed recent comparison versus peers. Its benchmark-beating history is clear, but the fund also carries High Risk and a healthcare-heavy portfolio, so it is not built for investors who want broad-market smoothness. The top holdings make the portfolio meaningfully focused, which can work in favour of conviction, but it also keeps sector risk visible. For a long-horizon investor who accepts volatility, the fund looks more like a focused satellite than a core defensive holding.
Published on 10 September 2026 at 4:31 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.