WOC ESG Best-In-Class Strategy Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 15, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
WOC ESG Best-In-Class Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹10.28 as of 11 September 2026 and an AUM of ₹51 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -3.8%, 0% and 0% respectively, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors who can tolerate sharp swings and want an equity fund with a selective, stock-specific portfolio rather than a broadly defensive profile.
The recent return pattern has been weak, but the portfolio’s concentration in a handful of large positions means individual stock selection is likely to matter more than broad market comfort. Against that backdrop, this fund is better suited to investors who understand the trade-off between ESG-led stock selection and uneven near-term outcomes.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹10.28 as of 11 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹51 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% |
| Launch Date | 30 Oct 2024 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 1% on or before 1M, Nil after 1M |
| Fund Managers | Ramesh Mantri, Trupti Agrawal, Dheeresh Pathak, Piyush Baranwal |
The fund is managed by Ramesh Mantri, Trupti Agrawal, Dheeresh Pathak and Piyush Baranwal.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -3.33% | -3.66% |
| 3M | 2.56% | -1.91% |
| 1Y | -3.8% | -7.62% |
| 3Y | Data not available | Data not available |
| 5Y | Data not available | Data not available |
The fund has been uneven in the near term. The one-month return is still negative, but it is slightly less weak than the benchmark over the same stretch. The three-month figure is more constructive, with the fund positive while the benchmark stayed negative, which suggests a short recovery phase after a difficult start to the period.
Over one year, the fund remains negative, but it has held up better than the benchmark. That matters because it shows relative resilience even when absolute returns are still below zero. For investors, this is a more cautious signal than a strong growth trend: the fund has protected better than the index in the latest 12 months, but it has not yet converted that advantage into a positive long-term return profile.
The time pattern is important here. The fund’s path over the last year looks choppy rather than smooth, with gains and setbacks offsetting each other. Our reading is that this is consistent with a high-risk equity strategy that can improve quickly in supportive markets, but can also lose momentum just as fast.
Longer-term figures are not available yet because the scheme was launched only in October 2024. That means the fund still needs a longer record before investors can judge whether the recent relative stability can persist beyond a short cycle.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD WOC ESG Best-In-Class Strategy?
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 WOC ESG Best-In-Class Strategy? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| WOC ESG Best-In-Class Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan | -3.8% | Data not available | Data not available |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 69.16% | 37.12% | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 30.67% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.09% | Data not available | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 27.47% | Data not available | Data not available |
| SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan | 27.05% | Data not available | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. The current fund’s 1-year return is negative, while the listed peer funds show materially stronger 1-year outcomes on the available figures. That gap is especially clear in the short-term comparison. The longer-term comparison is less informative because the current fund does not yet have 3-year or 5-year records, while only one peer in the list has a 3-year figure. So the peer picture points to weaker recent momentum for the current fund, but it does not yet offer a full longer-horizon comparison.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Limited | Bank | 9.94% |
| Nestle India Limited | FMCG | 6.42% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 5.97% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | Telecom | 5.62% |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Limited | Automobile & Ancillaries | 4.78% |
| Clearing Corporation of India Ltd | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 4.62% |
| Titan Company Limited | Diamond & Jewellery | 3.62% |
| Coforge Limited | IT | 3.18% |
| Eternal Limited | Retailing | 3.13% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | Bank | 3% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 50.28% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the WOC ESG Best-In-Class Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The largest holding, ICICI Bank Limited, carries a 9.94% weight, so it is large enough to matter on its own. After that, the weights step down steadily rather than collapsing sharply, which suggests the fund is not dependent on a single position alone. Even so, the tenth holding is only 3%, so the top slice still shows a clear tilt toward a few higher-conviction ideas.
That concentration may make returns more sensitive to how the biggest names perform. At the same time, the fact that the displayed holdings are spread across bank, FMCG, telecom, auto, cash equivalents, jewellery, IT and retailing suggests the portfolio is not confined to one narrow pocket of the market.
With 47 disclosed holdings and just over half the portfolio sitting in the top 10, our view is that the fund has a meaningfully concentrated core with a longer tail beneath it. That mix can work well when the leading holdings are moving in the right direction, but it can also leave the fund more exposed if a few large positions weaken at the same time.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund fits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and who can wait through uneven short-term performance. The one-year record is still negative, while the shorter three-month stretch is better than the benchmark, so the path has been inconsistent rather than smooth.
It is better suited to a longer horizon, because the scheme is still relatively young and does not yet have a 3-year or 5-year return history. Investors who want a steadier return pattern or a clearer long-term track record may find the current profile harder to assess.
The main trade-off is between the possibility of recovery in stronger market conditions and the risk of continued volatility from a concentrated, stock-led portfolio. The fund may appeal to investors who are comfortable with that uncertainty and who want an equity allocation that is not simply tied to broad index movement.
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 within 1 month; nil after 1 month.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of WOC ESG Best-In-Class Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹10.28 as of 11 September 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is -3.8%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are both 0% in the available record.
How has the fund performed against Nifty 50?
The fund has done better than Nifty 50 over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year on the figures available here. It is still negative over 1 year, so the edge is relative rather than an outright positive absolute return.
How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
The current fund’s 1-year return is weaker than the peer funds shown here on the available figures. Only one peer in the list has a 3-year return, and that figure is positive, while the current fund does not yet have a 3-year record.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
What is the risk profile and exit load?
The fund is tagged as High Risk. The exit load is 1% if units are sold within 1 month, and nil after 1 month. The fund is managed by Ramesh Mantri, Trupti Agrawal, Dheeresh Pathak and Piyush Baranwal.
Bottom line
WOC ESG Best-In-Class Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a mixed pattern: a negative 1-year return, a better short-term stretch than the benchmark, and no 3-year or 5-year history yet. Compared with the peer funds listed here, its recent return profile is clearly weaker on the available figures. The fund also carries a High Risk label and a concentrated top-holdings profile, which means a small group of positions is likely to have a meaningful influence on outcomes. It suits investors who can tolerate uncertainty and who are comfortable waiting for a longer record to develop.
Published on 15 September 2026 at 3:33 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.