Kotak ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 16, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Kotak ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan is at ₹17.706 NAV as of 15 September 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹740 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -5.06%, 7.57% and 6.76%, and it carries a High Risk label. Our view is that the fund fits investors who can tolerate a bumpy equity path and want a portfolio that has stayed close to the benchmark over time, but recent weakness means it needs a patient horizon.
The fund has been around since 11 December 2020, charges 0.91% expense ratio, and allows SIP from ₹100. The portfolio is led by large financials, telecom, IT and industrial names, so the return pattern is likely to reflect mainstream equity market moves more than a narrow thematic bet.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹17.706 as of 15 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹740 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.91% |
| Launch Date | 11 Dec 2020 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 0.50% on or before 90D, Nil after 90D |
| Fund Managers | Mandar Pawar |
The fund is managed by Mandar Pawar.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -5.32% | -4.81% |
| 3M | -1.69% | -3.63% |
| 1Y | -5.06% | -8.27% |
| 3Y | 7.57% | 5.59% |
| 5Y | 6.76% | 5.58% |
Recent performance has been weak in absolute terms, with both 1-month and 1-year figures in negative territory. Even so, the fund has held up better than the benchmark over 3 months and 1 year, which tells us the portfolio has absorbed market stress somewhat better than the index in the latest stretch.
The longer view is more balanced. The 3-year and 5-year returns are positive, and both are ahead of the benchmark. That suggests the fund has still compounded, but only modestly, rather than building a strong long-term edge. The gap versus the benchmark is not large, so our view is that the strategy has been competitive without being meaningfully differentiated on a return basis.
The time pattern also matters. The fund’s path looks uneven, with a softer recent phase after a better 3-year run. That kind of swing is consistent with a high-risk equity fund that can lag in the short run even when its longer track record is acceptable. Investors should therefore judge it more on cycle coverage than on one quarter of weakness.
Against NIFTY 50, the fund has not shown a consistent outperformance pattern across every period, but it has been ahead on the 3-year and 5-year horizons. The main takeaway is that the fund has not broken away from the benchmark; instead, it has largely tracked a similar broad-equity journey with slightly better medium-term results.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Kotak ESG Exclusionary 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 Kotak ESG Exclusionary Strategy? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan | -5.06% | 7.57% | 6.76% |
| 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 is far below the better recent peer figures, but the comparison changes when we look further out. Its 3-year return is ahead of every peer in this set with available 3-year data, and its 5-year return is also positive, though not especially strong.
That split tells two different stories. On a short horizon, the fund has lagged the most vigorous peer results by a wide margin. On the medium horizon, however, it looks more resilient and more competitive than the short-term numbers suggest. For investors, the key question is whether they care more about current momentum or about a steadier multi-year track record.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | Telecom | 7.34% |
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | Bank | 7.07% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.88% |
| Axis Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.74% |
| Infosys Ltd. | IT | 4.59% |
| Larsen and Toubro Ltd. | Infrastructure | 4.42% |
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | Finance | 4.28% |
| Bosch Limited | Automobile & Ancillaries | 4.05% |
| Shriram Finance Limited | Finance | 4.05% |
| Eternal Limited | Retailing | 3.99% |
The largest holding, Bharti Airtel Ltd., is 7.34%, so no single stock dominates the fund on its own. The weight then steps down fairly gradually through the top ten, with several positions clustered in the 4% to 5% range. That pattern points to a portfolio where the biggest names are important, but not overpowering.
The top 10 holdings together account for approximately 49.41% of the portfolio, and there are 44 disclosed holdings in total. That mix suggests meaningful concentration at the top, but also a long tail of smaller positions that can dilute the impact of any one stock. In our view, the structure may make the fund easier to follow than a very narrow portfolio, while still leaving it sensitive to large-cap equity moves.
This is also consistent with the sector spread visible in the top holdings: banks, telecom, IT, infrastructure and finance all play a part. That broad mix may help reduce reliance on one single economic driver, but it also means the fund’s recent and long-run returns are likely to be tied closely to the broader equity cycle.
To see all holdings, visit the Kotak ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who can accept High Risk equity volatility and who are comfortable with short-run drawdowns as part of the journey. The recent 1-year weakness means it is not a good fit for anyone who needs stable near-term outcomes.
The better fit is a patient investor with a multi-year horizon who can wait for the longer-term equity pattern to matter more than the latest quarter. The main trade-off is that the fund has shown only modest long-run gains and a soft recent phase, so the reward comes with a meaningful chance of uneven interim performance. Its diversified large-cap-leaning mix may suit investors who want broad equity exposure rather than a narrow thematic punch.
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: 0.50% on units sold on or before 90 days. There is no exit load after that holding period.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Kotak ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹17.706 as of 15 September 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are -5.06% for 1 year, 7.57% for 3 years and 6.76% for 5 years.
How does it compare with NIFTY 50?
It has done better than NIFTY 50 over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is most visible over 3 years, where the fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark.
How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?
Its 1-year return is well below the strongest peer figures in this set, but its 3-year return is stronger than the peers with available 3-year data. The 5-year figure is positive, though the peer set does not provide enough 5-year data for a full like-for-like comparison.
Is there a minimum SIP amount?
Yes. The minimum SIP is ₹100.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Mandar Pawar. The exit load is 0.50% if units are sold on or before 90 days, and there is no exit load after that holding period.
Bottom line
Kotak ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed profile: the latest 1-year return is weak, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers are positive and ahead of the benchmark. Relative to the peer set, the short-term picture is soft, while the medium-term picture is more defensible. The High Risk tag, gradual top-holding concentration and broad large-cap-style portfolio mean it is best viewed as a patient equity allocation rather than a short-term return play.
Published on 16 September 2026 at 4:58 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.