Sundaram Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 16, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Sundaram Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹21.8479 as of 15 September 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹3,055 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -3.7%, 6.25% and 7.29% respectively, and the scheme carries a High Risk label.
Our view is that this is a large-cap fund with a mixed but not extreme return pattern: the longer horizon is positive, while the latest one-year result is weak. The portfolio leans meaningfully toward banks, with other sizeable positions in telecom, automobiles, IT and infrastructure, so the fund may suit investors who can accept volatility in search of steadier large-cap exposure over a longer holding period.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹21.8479 as of 15 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹3,055 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% |
| Launch Date | 08 Oct 2020 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | Nil upto 25% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 1Y, Nil after 1Y |
| Fund Managers | Ashwin Jain |
The fund is managed by Ashwin Jain.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -5.12% | -4.81% |
| 3M | -2.04% | -3.63% |
| 1Y | -3.7% | -8.27% |
| 3Y | 6.25% | 5.59% |
| 5Y | 7.29% | 5.58% |
The recent pattern is uneven. Over 1 month, the fund fell more than the benchmark, while over 3 months it held up better than the benchmark despite remaining negative. That tells us the short-term path has been choppy rather than smoothly directional.
At the 1-year mark, the fund’s return is still negative, but it is less weak than the benchmark’s decline. That relative cushion matters, yet it does not change the fact that the last 12 months were disappointing for both the fund and the index. Investors looking only at recent momentum would see a cautious picture.
The longer view is more constructive. The fund is ahead of the benchmark over both 3 years and 5 years, and the gap is not tiny. That suggests the strategy has added value over fuller market cycles even though the near-term tape has been softer. The time pattern also suggests the journey has not been linear, so patience has been important.
Overall, the performance profile points to a fund that can lag in weak stretches but has delivered better compounding than the benchmark over multi-year periods. For investors, that makes the consistency of the longer horizon more relevant than any single month or quarter.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Sundaram Large 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 Large Cap? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundaram Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | -3.7% | 6.25% | 7.29% |
| Taurus Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 4.56% | 11.39% | 9.71% |
| Quant Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 4.2% | 12.21% | Data not available |
| Bank of India Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 2.65% | 11.67% | 9.1% |
| Invesco India Largecap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 1.1% | 12.71% | 11.14% |
| ITI Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 0.16% | 10.02% | 9.02% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On the 1-year measure, the fund trails the peer group highlighted here because its recent return is negative while the others are positive. The picture changes over longer periods: the fund’s 3-year and 5-year figures are positive, but they remain below the stronger longer-horizon numbers shown by several peers. That makes the fund’s recent softness more noticeable, even though its longer-term record is still constructive.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Ltd | Bank | 7.98% |
| Axis Bank Ltd | Bank | 6.36% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd | Telecom | 5.79% |
| State Bank of India | Bank | 5.6% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd | Bank | 4.47% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd | Bank | 4.31% |
| Craftsman Automation Ltd | Automobile & Ancillaries | 4% |
| TVS Motor Company Ltd | Automobile & Ancillaries | 3.96% |
| Infosys Ltd | IT | 3.8% |
| Larsen & Toubro Ltd | Infrastructure | 3.68% |
The largest holding, ICICI Bank Ltd, carries a 7.98% weight, which is meaningful but not oversized for a large-cap fund. The next few positions are also material, especially Axis Bank Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd and State Bank of India, so the top of the portfolio is clearly anchored in a handful of sizeable names.
The weight then steps down gradually rather than dropping sharply after the first holding. By the tenth position, Larsen & Toubro Ltd still has a 3.68% weight, which tells us the portfolio remains spread across several important holdings instead of depending on one or two dominant bets. That can make short-term outcomes less one-dimensional.
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 49.95% of the portfolio, and the fund holds 37 stocks in total. That combination suggests a fairly active core with a meaningful longer tail beyond the largest positions. The concentration at the top may influence returns, but the rest of the portfolio could also matter over time because the disclosed holdings do not stop after the first few names.
To see all holdings, visit the Sundaram Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund fits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and who can stay invested long enough for the 3-year and 5-year pattern to matter more than the weak one-year outcome. The benchmark comparison and the peer set both show that short-term performance can lag even when longer-term numbers are positive.
The main trade-off is between near-term volatility and the chance of better multi-year compounding. The portfolio’s heavy bank exposure and the presence of other large positions in telecom, automobiles, IT and infrastructure mean the fund may move with market sentiment and sector cycles. It is more suited to investors who want large-cap equity participation and can tolerate uneven phases along the way.
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 as follows: Nil upto 25% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 1Y, Nil after 1Y.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Sundaram Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹21.8479 as of 15 September 2026.
How has Sundaram Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan performed over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years?
Its 1-year return is -3.7%, the 3-year return is 6.25% and the 5-year return is 7.29%.
How does the fund compare with the Nifty 50 benchmark?
It has done better than the Nifty 50 over 3 years and 5 years, and it has also held up less poorly over 1 year. Over 1 month and 3 months, the picture is mixed.
How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
The fund’s 1-year return is weaker than the peer funds shown here because it is negative while the peers are positive. Over 3 years and 5 years, several peers have stronger numbers, though this fund still shows positive longer-term returns.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
What are the risk category and main portfolio traits?
The fund is marked High Risk. Its portfolio is led by banks, with other notable exposures in telecom, automobiles, IT and infrastructure, and the top 10 holdings account for 49.95% of the portfolio.
Bottom line
Sundaram Large Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a clear split between a weak recent year and a better multi-year record. Against the benchmark, it has been stronger over 3 years and 5 years, while its one-year result has still been negative. The portfolio is anchored by banks and has a meaningful but not overly extreme top-holding concentration. For investors who can tolerate High Risk equity swings and who value longer-horizon large-cap exposure, the fund’s uneven path may be acceptable.
Published on 16 September 2026 at 4:25 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.