Arudha Equity Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- August 31, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Arudha Equity Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Plan has an NAV of ₹10.35 as of 17 Sep 2026, with scheme AUM at ₹127 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 0%, 0% and 0%, and the fund sits in the High Risk bucket.
Our view is that this is a relatively early-stage fund with a short live track record, so the numbers available so far matter more for context than for a full-cycle verdict. The current portfolio mix, benchmark behaviour and the absence of a long return history point to a fund that may suit investors who can accept higher uncertainty in exchange for a differentiated equity approach.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹10.35 as of 17 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹127 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.0% |
| Launch Date | 24 Mar 2026 |
| Min SIP | ₹10,000 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 0.50% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D |
| Fund Managers | Nilesh Saha, Brijesh Shah |
The fund is managed by Nilesh Saha and Brijesh Shah.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -2.22% | -3.66% |
| 3M | 0.54% | -3.71% |
| 1Y | Data not available | Data not available |
| 3Y | Data not available | Data not available |
| 5Y | Data not available | Data not available |
The short-term pattern is mixed, but it is still better than the benchmark over both visible windows. Over 1 month, the fund fell less than the Nifty 50, and over 3 months it turned slightly positive while the benchmark stayed negative. That suggests the portfolio has been able to absorb some of the recent market stress more effectively than a plain equity index.
The path has not been smooth, though. The one-month series shows a drop after an initially flat stretch, followed by a small rebound. The three-month series also alternates between brief advances and pullbacks, which is consistent with a strategy that can move differently from the market rather than tracking it closely.
Because the fund launched only in March 2026, there is no meaningful 1-year, 3-year or 5-year return history to judge its compounding profile. That limits how confidently we can describe its cycle behaviour. For now, the available evidence points to a fund that has held up better than the benchmark recently, but without enough history to call the pattern stable.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Arudha Equity Long-Short?
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 Arudha Equity Long-Short? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arudha Equity Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Plan | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available |
| Magnum Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Plan | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available |
| iSIF Active Asset Allocator Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Plan | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available |
| Arthaya Equity Long Short Fund Direct Growth Plan | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available |
| iSIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Plan | Data not available | 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 visible short-term returns are at least better than the benchmark’s recent figures, but the peer set does not provide a longer return history that would let us separate this fund on a multi-year compounding basis. That means the short-term evidence is encouraging relative to the market backdrop, while the longer-term peer comparison remains inconclusive.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing Corporation of India Ltd | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 11.14% |
| ICICI Bank Ltd | Bank | 5.07% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.17% |
| 182 Days T-Bill – 17/12/2026 | Treasury Bills | 3.85% |
| Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd | Automobile & Ancillaries | 3.55% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | Telecom | 3.02% |
| TVS Holdings Ltd. | Finance | 2.93% |
| Net Receivables / (Payables) | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 2.45% |
| Cipla Ltd. | Healthcare | 2.31% |
| Ipca Laboratories Limited | Healthcare | 2.16% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 40.65% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the Arudha Equity Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The largest single holding is Clearing Corporation of India Ltd at 11.14%, which is meaningful but not dominant on its own. The next few positions step down gradually into the 5% to 3% range, so influence is not concentrated in just one security.
By the tenth holding, the weight has fallen to 2.16%, which shows a fairly quick decline from the top position but not a cliff-edge drop. That shape suggests a portfolio with several mid-sized positions rather than one very large anchor.
Because the displayed top 10 account for 40.65% of the portfolio and the fund discloses 52 holdings overall, the remainder likely sits in a longer tail of smaller positions. That mix may help spread exposure across more names, while the largest holdings could still have greater influence on short-run outcomes.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk outcomes and can tolerate a short-term return pattern that is still being established. The visible benchmark comparison is better than the Nifty 50 over the recent one-month and three-month windows, but the fund does not yet have a long record to judge how consistent that edge may be.
That makes it more suitable for a longer horizon than a quick tactical allocation. The main trade-off is between the possibility of differentiated equity exposure and the uncertainty that comes with limited history, a relatively concentrated top set of holdings, and a portfolio that can behave differently from the benchmark.
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% if units are sold on or before 30 days; nil after 30 days.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Arudha Equity Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹10.35 as of 17 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are not available in a usable historical sense because the fund is too new for those periods.
How has the fund compared with the benchmark recently?
It has done better than the Nifty 50 over the recent 1-month and 3-month windows. The fund returned -2.22% over 1 month and 0.54% over 3 months, while the benchmark returned -3.66% and -3.71%.
How does it compare with peer funds on return data?
The peer set does not provide a usable 1-year, 3-year or 5-year comparison here, so there is no reliable longer-term separation among these funds on the available figures. The current fund’s short-term numbers are still useful for judging recent behaviour against the benchmark.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹10,000.
Who manages the fund and what is its exit load?
The fund is managed by Nilesh Saha and Brijesh Shah. The exit load is 0.50% if units are sold on or before 30 days, and nil after 30 days.
Bottom line
Arudha Equity Long-Short Fund Direct Growth Plan looks better on recent behaviour than on long-history evidence, because the fund is too new for multi-year return assessment. It has held up better than the Nifty 50 in the visible short windows, while the peer set offers no usable multi-year edge on the figures available here. The High Risk label, the 40.65% weight in the top 10 holdings, and the broad 52-holding roster together suggest a fund that may suit investors who want differentiated equity exposure and can accept limited track record and higher uncertainty.
Published on 18 September 2026 at 9:03 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.