Axis Services Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 17, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Axis Services Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has an NAV of ₹9.78 as of 16 Sep 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹1,487 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -3.46%, 0% and 0%, and the scheme is in the High Risk category. In our view, this is a specialised equity fund that may suit investors who can accept sharp swings and are comfortable with a portfolio that leans toward financials, healthcare, telecom and consumer-facing names.
The short history means the return record is still limited, but the recent 1-year number is weaker than the benchmark and the longer-horizon figures do not yet offer a mature track record. The portfolio is fairly focused, with the top holdings carrying meaningful weight, so the fund may behave differently from a broad market equity fund.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹9.78 as of 16 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹1,487 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.67% |
| Launch Date | 24 Jul 2025 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | NIL for 10% of investments and 1% for remaining investments on or before 12M, Nil after 12M |
| Fund Managers | Sachin Relekar, Krishnaa N |
The fund is managed by Sachin Relekar and Krishnaa N.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -2.88% | -4.41% |
| 3M | 1.24% | -3.6% |
| 1Y | -3.46% | -7.76% |
| 3Y | Data not available | Data not available |
| 5Y | Data not available | Data not available |
Over the last month, the fund fell less than the benchmark, which points to some relative resilience even in a weak stretch. The 3-month figure is better than the benchmark by a clear margin, so the recent run has been stronger than the index even though the path has not been smooth.
The 1-year number remains negative, but it is still ahead of the benchmark by a wide gap. That gap matters because it shows the fund has managed to limit losses better than the broader market during a difficult period, although it is still not delivering positive one-year growth.
The pattern over the displayed periods is uneven rather than steadily compounding. We see a short-lived recovery in the middle of the 3-month window, followed by renewed softness, which suggests the fund can move sharply in both directions. Because the scheme launched only in July 2025, the 3-year and 5-year fields are not available, so there is not yet enough history to judge long-cycle consistency.
Against NIFTY 50, the fund has generally held up better in the shorter windows. That does not make the return profile strong in absolute terms, but it does indicate that the strategy has not simply mirrored the benchmark’s weakness. For investors, the key question is whether they want a new, high-risk equity approach that may recover unevenly rather than a smooth market-style path.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Axis Services Opportunities?
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 Axis Services Opportunities? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Services Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan | -3.46% | Data not available | Data not available |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 69.8% | 36.32% | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.31% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.27% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 24.51% | Data not available | Data not available |
| PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 22.75% | 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 one-year return is negative while all five peer funds shown have positive one-year returns, so the short-term picture is clearly softer. Even so, the benchmark comparison shows the fund has lost less than NIFTY 50 over the same horizon, which is a more favourable relative sign than the peer table alone suggests.
For longer horizons, the comparison is limited because the fund does not yet have 3-year or 5-year figures. One peer shows a 3-year return, while the others do not, so the available longer-term peer evidence is too uneven for a firm style judgment. The short-term and longer-term peer stories therefore diverge: the recent period looks weak in absolute terms, but the benchmark-relative numbers have been better than the index.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Limited | Bank | 8.72% |
| Eternal Limited | Retailing | 8.36% |
| PB Fintech Limited | IT | 5.05% |
| Bajaj Finance Limited | Finance | 4.93% |
| Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited | Healthcare | 4.82% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 4.61% |
| Fortis Healthcare Limited | Healthcare | 4.57% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | Telecom | 4.26% |
| The Indian Hotels Company Limited | Hospitality | 4.22% |
| Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd | Finance | 3.97% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 53.51% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the Axis Services Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The largest holding, ICICI Bank Limited, stands at 8.72%, which is a meaningful single-position weight for a scheme that is still building its track record. The next few positions also stay above 4%, so the portfolio may give those companies a noticeable influence on short-term outcomes.
The drop from the largest holding to the tenth holding is not extreme, but it is still visible, moving from 8.72% to 3.97%. That spread suggests the fund is not relying on one or two oversized bets, yet it also is not evenly dispersed across many tiny positions.
With 53.51% of the portfolio in the top 10 and 34 holdings disclosed in total, the allocation appears moderately concentrated. In our view, that setup may support differentiated returns, but it could also make the fund more sensitive to the performance of a relatively small cluster of companies.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who can accept High Risk and who are comfortable with a newer equity strategy that may not yet have a full market cycle behind it. The recent return pattern has been uneven, but it has still compared better than the benchmark in the shorter windows, which may appeal to investors who care about relative resilience as much as headline returns.
The natural fit is a medium- to long-term horizon, because shorter holding periods may leave investors exposed to swings without giving the strategy enough time to play out. The main trade-off is between the possibility of differentiated upside and the reality of a still-developing record with a concentrated set of larger holdings.
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: NIL for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments on or before 12 months, and nil after 12 months.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Axis Services Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹9.78 as of 16 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is -3.46%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are Data not available.
How has the fund performed against NIFTY 50?
It has done better than NIFTY 50 in the 1-month, 3-month and 1-year periods shown. The benchmark remains weaker over those windows, but the fund’s own absolute return profile is still negative over 1 year.
How does the fund compare with the peer funds shown?
The fund’s 1-year return is below the peer funds shown, all of which have positive one-year figures. The comparison is limited for longer periods because the current fund does not yet have 3-year or 5-year return data.
What is the exit load and tax treatment?
The exit load is NIL for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments on or before 12 months, and nil after 12 months. Units held for less than 1 year attract 20% short-term capital gains tax, while units held for more than 1 year attract 12.5% long-term capital gains tax.
Who manages the fund?
The fund is managed by Sachin Relekar and Krishnaa N.
Bottom line
Axis Services Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed early record: the shorter windows are better than the benchmark, but the 1-year return is still negative and the longer-horizon figures are not yet available. Compared with the peer set shown, its recent return is weaker, though the benchmark-relative pattern is less poor than the headline number suggests. The fund is High Risk and its top holdings take a meaningful share of assets, so it may suit investors who want a differentiated equity approach and can tolerate volatility while the track record develops.
Published on 17 September 2026 at 9:49 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.