Quant ESG Integration Strategy Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 16, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Quant ESG Integration Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has an NAV of ₹41.9861 as of 15 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹336 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 18.51%, 16.18% and 17.92% respectively, and the scheme is tagged as High Risk. Our view is that the fund suits investors who can accept sharp swings in exchange for equity-style growth, especially because its longer-term return profile is stronger than the benchmark while the recent pattern has been more mixed.
The portfolio is meaningfully tilted toward a small set of holdings, so the outcome can be influenced by a few positions. That concentration can help when the identified ideas work, but it also means the ride may be uneven, which matters for investors who prefer a steadier Nifty 50-style path.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹41.9861 as of 15 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹336 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.92% |
| Launch Date | 05 Nov 2020 |
| Min SIP | ₹1,000 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 1% on or before 15D, Nil after 15D |
| Fund Managers | Sandeep Tandon, Ankit Pande, Varun Pattani, Ayusha Kumbhat |
The fund is managed by Sandeep Tandon, Ankit Pande, Varun Pattani and Ayusha Kumbhat.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -1.29% | -4.81% |
| 3M | 1.82% | -3.63% |
| 1Y | 18.51% | -8.27% |
| 3Y | 16.18% | 5.59% |
| 5Y | 17.92% | 5.58% |
The recent numbers show a fund that has stayed stronger than the benchmark over the last month, quarter and year, even though the one-month return is slightly negative. The three-month path is especially useful: the fund held positive ground while the benchmark stayed negative, which suggests the portfolio has not been tracking the broad market move in a simple one-for-one way.
The longer view is even more important here. The 3-year and 5-year returns remain well above the Nifty 50, which tells us that the strategy has compounded better than the index over medium and longer horizons. At the same time, the fund’s year-to-year journey has not been smooth. The pattern has included periods of pressure and recovery, so the return profile looks more uneven than a plain index-style exposure.
That mix matters for interpretation. The fund appears capable of adding value across longer holding periods, but the short-term swings mean the path can still be choppy. For investors, the main question is not just whether the return has been ahead of the benchmark, but whether they are comfortable holding through stretches where momentum is less tidy.
The latest trend does not fully change the longer-term picture, but it does show that the fund can move around more than a defensive equity allocation. In our view, that makes the strategy more suitable for investors who evaluate it over years rather than months.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Quant ESG Integration 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 Quant ESG Integration Strategy? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quant ESG Integration Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan | 18.51% | 16.18% | 17.92% |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 69.8% | 36.32% | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 26.51% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.46% | Data not available | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.31% | Data not available | Data not available |
| PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 23.52% | Data not available | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The fund’s 1-year return trails the strongest peer figures in this set, but it still sits in the same broad range as several specialist equity strategies. The more interesting comparison is over longer horizons: its 3-year and 5-year returns are solid, while most peers here do not have comparable longer-term figures available. That means the fund’s longer-run record is easier to assess than many of the peer entries shown here.
Short-term and longer-term comparisons tell different stories. On a recent one-year basis, the fund is below the more aggressive peers, but over 3 years and 5 years it has maintained a clear compounding edge over the benchmark and shows a steadier longer-run record than the peer set where longer data exists. For readers, that usually points to a strategy where the main debate is not whether it can participate in rallies, but how much short-term variation they are willing to tolerate.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Want to know more? Log in to Univest for more mutual fund insights.
Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Indus Towers Limited | Telecom | 9.18% |
| Info Edge (India) Ltd 29/09/2026 | IT | 9.07% |
| Reliance Industries Limited 29/09/2026 | Crude Oil | 8.71% |
| HFCL Limited | Telecom | 8.33% |
| Adani Enterprises Limited | Trading | 7.87% |
| Piramal Finance Ltd | Finance | 7.84% |
| Adani Green Energy Limited | Power | 6.97% |
| Capri Global Capital Limited | Finance | 6.03% |
| Aurobindo Pharma Limited | Healthcare | 5.64% |
| Blackbuck Limited | Logistics | 5.56% |
The top holding, Indus Towers Limited, carries a 9.18% weight, which is large enough to matter in monthly performance. The gap from the first holding to the tenth is not dramatic in absolute percentage points, but the list still shows that a small cluster of positions can shape the portfolio’s day-to-day behaviour.
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 75.2% of the portfolio. With 26 disclosed holdings in total, the fund still has a longer tail beyond the visible list, but the leading positions dominate enough that stock-specific developments could have greater influence than in a more diversified, broad-market fund.
That setup may suit investors who are comfortable with concentrated conviction in individual ideas. At the same time, the mix of telecom, IT, crude oil, trading, finance, power, healthcare and logistics suggests the fund is not narrowly tied to one theme alone, although the weights show that the outcome may still be driven by a handful of names more than by the full basket.
To see all holdings, visit the Quant ESG Integration Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund fits investors with a high tolerance for equity volatility and a willingness to hold for several years. Its 1-year result is positive, but the longer track record matters more here because the strategy has also shown uneven stretches along the way.
The main trade-off is clear: you get a fund that has beaten the benchmark over 3-year and 5-year periods, but you accept a High Risk profile and a portfolio that is relatively concentrated in a few holdings. That combination can work for investors who want active equity exposure and can stay patient through drawdowns.
If an investor is comparing this with a plain Nifty 50-style allocation, the extra return potential comes with a less predictable path. The fund is therefore better thought of as a long-horizon equity option than as a short-term parking place.
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% on or before 15 days, nil after 15 days.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Quant ESG Integration Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The NAV is ₹41.9861 as of 15 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 18.51% over 1 year, 16.18% over 3 years and 17.92% over 5 years.
How does the fund compare with the Nifty 50 benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The benchmark returns for those periods are -8.27%, 5.59% and 5.58%.
How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?
Its 1-year return is below several specialist peers in the table, while its 3-year and 5-year figures remain stronger than the benchmark and easier to assess than many peers with limited longer-term figures.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP is ₹1,000.
What are the fund’s risk profile and exit load?
The fund is tagged High Risk. The exit load is 1% on or before 15 days and nil after 15 days; the scheme is managed by Sandeep Tandon, Ankit Pande, Varun Pattani and Ayusha Kumbhat.
Bottom line
Quant ESG Integration Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed but broadly constructive return profile: the recent period is uneven, yet the 3-year and 5-year numbers still stand well above the Nifty 50 benchmark. Compared with the peer set shown here, the one-year return is not the strongest, but the longer-term record is easier to read and remains credible. The fund’s High Risk label and concentrated top holdings mean it is best suited to investors who can tolerate volatility and think in multi-year terms rather than short cycles.
Published on 16 September 2026 at 4:41 PM IST
Explore mutual funds with Univest
Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.
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.