Bandhan Focused Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- August 31, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Bandhan Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan has a current NAV of ₹109.445 as of 09 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹2,086 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 7.66%, 16.01% and 12.99% respectively. The scheme sits in the High Risk category, so our view is that it suits investors who can tolerate sharp swings in pursuit of equity-style growth.
The fund has outpaced its benchmark over 3 years and 5 years, but the 1-year result is much closer to the benchmark than the longer-run numbers. The portfolio is fairly focused, with the top 10 holdings accounting for 55.75% of assets, so stock selection can matter meaningfully in the outcome.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹109.445 as of 09 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹2,086 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.76% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | Nil upto 10% of investment and 1% for remaining investment on or before 365D, Nil after 365D |
| Fund Managers | Manish Gunwani, Kirthi Jain, Rahul Agarwal |
The fund is managed by Manish Gunwani, Kirthi Jain and Rahul Agarwal.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 2.92% | -4.69% |
| 3M | 8.54% | 0.93% |
| 1Y | 7.66% | -7.16% |
| 3Y | 16.01% | 6.00% |
| 5Y | 12.99% | 5.87% |
The recent pattern is stronger than the benchmark across every period in the table, which tells us the fund has handled the latest market phase better than Nifty 50. The 1-month and 3-month numbers also show that it has stayed positive while the benchmark was either negative or only marginally positive. That kind of relative resilience is useful, but it should not be mistaken for a lower-risk profile, because the scheme remains a High Risk equity fund.
Over 3 years and 5 years, the gap versus the benchmark is wider than in the shorter windows. That suggests the fund has delivered a more convincing long-term compounding path than the index, even though the path has not been smooth. The trailing pattern in the series points to bouts of weakness followed by recovery, which is consistent with an actively managed focused portfolio rather than a steady, index-like return stream.
For investors, the key point is that the fund has been able to stay ahead of the benchmark in both the short and long run, but the magnitude of that outperformance has varied. The 1-year return is positive, yet it is far less striking than the 3-year and 5-year figures, so recent momentum is not as strong as the medium-term record. That makes the fund more suitable for investors who are comfortable with uneven returns and who care more about multi-year compounding than about smooth month-to-month performance.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan Focused?
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 Bandhan Focused? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.66% | 16.01% | 12.99% |
| Motilal Oswal Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.74% | 13.96% | 10.67% |
| Old Bridge Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan | 18.69% | Data not available | Data not available |
| ITI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan | 14.02% | 18.86% | Data not available |
| SBI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan | 14.00% | 15.94% | 12.38% |
| Quant Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan | 13.36% | 13.41% | 13.91% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
On 1-year performance, the fund trails Motilal Oswal Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan, Old Bridge Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan, ITI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan, SBI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan and Quant Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan. The picture is more balanced on longer horizons: the fund’s 3-year return is ahead of Motilal Oswal, SBI and Quant, while its 5-year return is ahead of Motilal Oswal and SBI and close to Quant. That mix suggests the fund has not led the short-term pack, but it has remained competitive where multi-year compounding matters more.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| LT Foods Limited | FMCG | 8.34% |
| Prestige Estates Projects Limited | Realty | 6.67% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 6.58% |
| Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited | Finance | 6.01% |
| Power Finance Corporation Limited | Finance | 5.57% |
| Jubilant Pharmova Limited | Healthcare | 5.36% |
| ICICI Bank Limited | Bank | 4.89% |
| Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited | Healthcare | 4.87% |
| Tilaknagar Industries Limited | Alcohol | 3.73% |
| Triparty Repo TRP_030826 | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 3.73% |
The largest holding, LT Foods Limited, carries an 8.34% weight, which is meaningful but not extreme for a focused equity scheme. The drop from the first holding to the tenth is moderate rather than dramatic: the tenth position still stands at 3.73%, so the portfolio does not depend on one or two outsized bets alone.
That said, the top 10 holdings together account for 55.75% of the portfolio, so the fund remains clearly concentrated. With 28 disclosed holdings overall, the portfolio may have a usable tail beyond the top names, but the biggest positions are still likely to have greater influence on short-term outcomes than the smaller ones. In our view, this concentration can help if the managers’ highest-conviction ideas work, but it can also amplify volatility when those positions move against the fund.
The current mix also shows exposure across consumer, financial, healthcare, real estate and cash-like holdings, which may reduce reliance on a single theme. Even so, the heavy weight in the top slice means investors should expect performance to be driven more by stock selection than by broad diversification.
To see all holdings, visit the Bandhan Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is better suited to investors who can accept high day-to-day volatility and who are comfortable with an equity-focused, concentrated approach. The 1-year return has been positive but modest compared with the 3-year and 5-year numbers, so the fund looks more appropriate for a longer holding period than for anyone looking for a smooth near-term outcome.
The main trade-off is straightforward: the portfolio has delivered better medium-term compounding than the benchmark, but that advantage comes with a High Risk profile and meaningful stock concentration. Investors who want a focused equity fund with a history of outperforming the index over multiple years may find the setup relevant, while those who need steadier short-term behaviour may find the swings harder to accept.
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 up to 10% of investment and 1% for the remaining investment on or before 365 days; no exit load after the holding period.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Bandhan Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹109.445 as of 09 Sep 2026.
What are the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is 7.66%, the 3-year return is 16.01% and the 5-year return is 12.99%.
How has the fund performed versus Nifty 50?
It has beaten Nifty 50 across the 1-month, 3-month, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods shown here. The longer-horizon gap is more convincing than the short-term one.
How does it compare with peer focused funds on 1-year return?
Its 1-year return of 7.66% is below the 1-year figures shown for Motilal Oswal Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan, Old Bridge Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan, ITI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan, SBI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan and Quant Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Manish Gunwani, Kirthi Jain and Rahul Agarwal. The exit load is nil up to 10% of investment and 1% for the remaining investment on or before 365 days, and there is no exit load after the holding period.
Bottom line
Bandhan Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a clearer long-term edge than a near-term one, with the 3-year and 5-year records looking stronger than the 1-year outcome. It also compares well with its benchmark over every period shown, which supports the case for a multi-year holding horizon. The trade-off is that this is still a High Risk focused fund with a concentrated portfolio, so results can depend heavily on a small set of holdings. That profile fits investors who are comfortable with volatility and want active equity compounding rather than index-like stability.
Published on 10 September 2026 at 9:50 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.