Helios Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 11, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Helios Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹11.94 as of 10 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹210 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 2.67%, 0% and 0% respectively, and it sits in the High Risk category.
Our view is that this is a focused financial-services strategy that has shown only modest recent progress so far, with limited longer-term return history because it was launched on 24 Jun 2024. The portfolio is concentrated in banks and financial names, so the fund may suit investors who can accept sharper swings and want sector-specific exposure rather than a broad market style.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹11.94 as of 10 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹210 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% |
| Launch Date | 24 Jun 2024 |
| Min SIP | ₹1,000 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | Nil upto 10% of units and 1% for remaining units or before 3M, Nil after 3M |
| Fund Managers | Alok Bahl, Pratik Singh |
The fund is managed by Alok Bahl and Pratik Singh.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -0.83% | -4.06% |
| 3M | 8.55% | 1.37% |
| 1Y | 2.67% | -7.31% |
| 3Y | Data not available | Data not available |
| 5Y | Data not available | Data not available |
Short-term behaviour has been mixed but better than the benchmark in the latest slices. Over 1 month the fund was still negative, yet it held up better than Nifty 50, and over 3 months it moved ahead of the benchmark by a wide margin. That is useful because it shows the fund has been able to recover faster than the index in the most recent stretch, even if the month-to-month path is uneven.
The 1-year return is positive at 2.67%, while the benchmark is still negative at -7.31%. That gap suggests the fund has been more resilient than the broad market over the trailing year. At the same time, the absence of 3-year and 5-year figures means there is not yet a long record here to confirm how stable that edge is through a full cycle.
The underlying pattern in the recent path looks choppy rather than smooth. The fund had a weaker spell before recovering, and that makes sense for a sector-focused equity portfolio that can move quickly in both directions. Our read is that the latest improvement is encouraging, but it should be weighed against the short operating history and the fact that recent strength has not yet been tested over longer periods.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Helios Financial Services?
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 Helios Financial Services? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helios Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan | 2.67% | Data not available | Data not available |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 73.94% | 37.12% | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 29.94% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 29.26% | Data not available | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.3% | Data not available | Data not available |
| SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan | 27.13% | Data not available | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The recent 1-year return is far below the strongest peer figures shown here, but the fund has still done better than the benchmark over the same period. Where the picture becomes more difficult is in the absence of longer return histories for this scheme, while some peers do have 3-year data that is substantially stronger. That means the short-term comparison is encouraging versus the index, but not yet persuasive when set beside peers with deeper track records.
Because several peers also lack 3-year and 5-year data, the comparison is not entirely one-sided. Even so, the current fund’s available history is thinner and its 1-year result is modest relative to the displayed peer set. Our interpretation is that the short-term story is improving, but the longer-term comparison remains open until the scheme builds a fuller record.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | Bank | 13.4% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | Bank | 11.07% |
| One 97 Communications Ltd. | IT | 8.38% |
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | Finance | 7.35% |
| State Bank of India | Bank | 6.34% |
| Shriram Finance Ltd. | Finance | 4.88% |
| SBI Funds Management Ltd. | Domestic Equities | 4.77% |
| Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. | Finance | 4.2% |
| Axis Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.05% |
| Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Co. Ltd. | Finance | 3.46% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 67.9% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the Helios Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The largest holding, ICICI Bank Ltd., is 13.4%, which is sizeable for a single stock in an actively managed equity portfolio. The weight then steps down to 11.07% in HDFC Bank Ltd. and falls further through a mix of banking and finance names, with the tenth holding at 3.46%. That spread suggests the portfolio may be meaningfully influenced by a few large positions rather than being evenly distributed across the top end.
The top 10 names together account for 67.9% of the portfolio, and there are 29 disclosed holdings in total. That combination points to a fairly focused structure with a long tail outside the largest positions. In our view, the fund may move more with developments in its key banking and financial holdings than a broader diversified equity fund would.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is best viewed by investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and can tolerate a sector-focused path. The 1-year return has been positive while the benchmark has been negative, but the lack of longer track record means the recent recovery is still young.
The fund may suit a longer horizon investor who can wait through uneven periods and accepts that financial-services positioning can add sharper swings. The main trade-off is clear: the portfolio is concentrated enough to offer stronger upside if the sector stays supportive, but that same focus can also lead to bigger moves than a broader equity fund.
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 |
The exit load is nil up to 10% of units, while 1% applies on the remaining units if holdings are sold before 3 months. There is no exit load after the holding period.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Helios Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹11.94 as of 10 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is 2.67%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are Data not available in the displayed history.
How has the fund performed against Nifty 50 recently?
It has beaten Nifty 50 over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year. The gap is especially clear over 3 months and 1 year.
How does the fund compare with the displayed peer funds on 1-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is much lower than the strongest displayed peer figures, but it is still ahead of the benchmark over the same period. The comparison is less complete on 3-year and 5-year numbers because several peers also show missing values.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹1,000.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Alok Bahl and Pratik Singh. The exit load is nil up to 10% of units, while 1% applies on the remaining units if holdings are sold before 3 months; there is no exit load after the holding period.
Bottom line
Helios Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a better recent path than its benchmark, but the return record is still short and the longer-horizon figures are not yet available. The displayed peer set includes much stronger 1-year outcomes, so the fund’s appeal rests more on its focused financial-services positioning and recent resilience than on a deep performance history. With High Risk tagging and a concentrated top holding list, it is a more specialised equity option for investors who can handle volatility.
Published on 11 September 2026 at 3:12 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.