LIC MF Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 16, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
LIC MF Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹15.5662 as of 15 September 2026 and an AUM of ₹310 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.56%, 7.1% and 6.54%, respectively, and it sits in the Low Risk bucket. Our view is that this is a steadier return profile rather than a fast-growth one, which can suit conservative investors who want market-linked exposure with a muted volatility profile.
The fund’s returns have stayed in a narrow band across 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, while the benchmark has been much weaker over the same horizons. That gap matters more for investors looking for consistency than for those chasing sharp upside. The portfolio also leans meaningfully toward debt-style liquid exposures and large financials, which supports the low-risk character.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹15.5662 as of 15 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹310 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.3% |
| Launch Date | 25 Jan 2019 |
| Min SIP | ₹200 |
| Risk Category | Low Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Hybrid |
| Exit Load | 0.25% on or before 1M, Nil after 1M |
| Fund Managers | Sumit Bhatnagar, Pratik Shroff, Sasikant Aravamuthan |
The fund is managed by Sumit Bhatnagar, Pratik Shroff and Sasikant Aravamuthan.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 0.52% | -4.81% |
| 3M | 1.49% | -3.63% |
| 1Y | 6.56% | -8.27% |
| 3Y | 7.1% | 5.59% |
| 5Y | 6.54% | 5.58% |
Short-term behaviour has been resilient. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund stayed slightly positive while the benchmark remained negative, which points to a calmer return path than the broad market proxy over that window.
The 1-year figure is also constructive, with the fund posting 6.56% against a benchmark decline of 8.27%. That is a clear separation, but it also reflects a benchmark that has been under pressure rather than only a sudden jump in the fund’s own pace.
The longer picture is more balanced. The 3-year and 5-year returns are close to each other at 7.1% and 6.54%, which suggests the fund has compounded in a fairly stable range rather than through a single strong stretch. The benchmark has improved over longer horizons, but it still trails the fund at both 3 years and 5 years. On that basis, the fund looks more like a consistency-led arbitrage product than a vehicle for aggressive upside.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD LIC MF Arbitrage?
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 LIC MF Arbitrage? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIC MF Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.56% | 7.1% | 6.54% |
| Quant Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.6% | Data not available | Data not available |
| WOC Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.08% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Franklin India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.99% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Invesco India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.85% | 7.5% | 7.04% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The fund holds up reasonably well versus the listed peers on 1-year numbers, though a few peers are ahead on that shorter window. In the available multi-year data, Invesco India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan is ahead of LIC MF Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan on both 3-year and 5-year returns, so the longer-term comparison is less flattering than the recent one. The short-term and longer-term views are therefore mixed: the fund looks competitive on recent return stability, but the few peers with multi-year figures available can show stronger compounding.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| LIC MF Ultra SHRT Dur FD -Direct Plan | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 15.27% |
| LIC MF Money Market Fund-Direct Plan-Gr | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 12.94% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | Bank | 8.65% |
| Hindalco Industries Ltd. | Non – Ferrous Metals | 7.06% |
| State Bank of India | Bank | 6.87% |
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | Bank | 6.14% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | Telecom | 5.02% |
| Reliance Industries Ltd. | Crude Oil | 5% |
| Tata Steel Ltd. | Iron & Steel | 4.86% |
| TREPS | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 3.63% |
The largest holding is LIC MF Ultra SHRT Dur FD -Direct Plan at 15.27%, followed by LIC MF Money Market Fund-Direct Plan-Gr at 12.94%. That starting point is important because the top two positions are both liquid, debt-oriented exposures, which can help explain the fund’s steadier return pattern.
From the largest holding to the tenth holding, weights step down from 15.27% to 3.63%, so influence is spread across several positions rather than resting on a single dominant line item. The top 10 holdings account for approximately 75.44% of the portfolio, and the fund discloses 21 holdings in total, so the visible book still leaves a meaningful tail beyond the largest names. That structure may reduce reliance on any one security, while still keeping the portfolio fairly concentrated in the listed core positions.
To see all holdings, visit the LIC MF Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund fits investors who are comfortable with a Low Risk profile and want a return pattern that has been relatively steady across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods. The benchmark comparison also points to a more defensive experience than the broad market in weaker phases, while peer comparisons show that the fund can remain competitive without chasing aggressive upside.
The main trade-off is that the portfolio and return profile may appeal more to stability seekers than to return maximisers. Investors with a shorter-to-medium horizon and a need for lower volatility may find the pattern useful, but they should accept that upside is likely to be modest compared with more growth-oriented options.
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 applies at 0.25% if units are sold within 1 month, and there is no exit load after 1 month.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of LIC MF Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The NAV is ₹15.5662 as of 15 September 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The returns are 6.56% for 1 year, 7.1% for 3 years and 6.54% for 5 years.
How has the fund performed versus its benchmark?
It has stayed ahead of the benchmark across the displayed horizons. The gap is especially wide over 1 year, where the benchmark return is -8.27% versus the fund’s 6.56%.
How does it compare with the listed peer funds on 1-year return?
Its 1-year return of 6.56% sits below a few of the listed peers, but it remains close to several others. The longer-term comparison is mixed because only one peer in the list has 3-year and 5-year numbers available.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹200.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Sumit Bhatnagar, Pratik Shroff and Sasikant Aravamuthan. Exit load is 0.25% if units are sold within 1 month, and nil after 1 month.
Bottom line
LIC MF Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steadier short-term and long-term return pattern than its benchmark, with especially clear strength over the most recent 1-year period. Peer comparisons are mixed: the fund holds up well on recent numbers, but one peer with available longer-term data is ahead on 3-year and 5-year returns. The Low Risk label, the liquid-heavy top holdings and the fairly broad 21-holding book make it more suitable for conservative investors who value consistency over aggressive upside.
Published on 16 September 2026 at 10:04 AM 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.