ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹101.2118 as of 04 Sep 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹832 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 3.57%, 6.67% and 5.49% respectively, and the fund sits in the Medium Risk category. Our view is that this is a relatively steady debt fund rather than a fast-growth option; the return pattern is better suited to investors who value consistency, though the recent stretch has been softer than the medium-term trend.

The fund’s portfolio is dominated by government securities, which can help keep the ride smoother than many more credit-sensitive debt strategies. That said, the benchmark has moved differently across the recent and longer windows, so the fund’s fit depends on whether an investor is looking for stability first and return consistency second.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Manish Banthia and Raunak Surana.

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Performance

The short-term picture is mixed. Over one month, the fund fell less than the benchmark, which still tells us that the portfolio has held up better than the index in a weak patch. Over three months, both moved in a similar direction, and the gap was small, so we do not see a large near-term break from the broader pattern.

The one-year number is more telling because the fund stayed in positive territory while the benchmark was negative. That suggests the fund has been more resilient through a difficult stretch for the benchmark, even if the absolute return is not high.

Medium-term performance is steadier than the one-year contrast alone might suggest. The 3-year return is stronger than the benchmark’s, while the 5-year return trails the benchmark. Our view is that this leaves the fund with a balanced but not dominant long-run record: it has shown resilience in some windows, but it has not consistently stayed ahead of the benchmark across every horizon.

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Peer comparison

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

On the one-year figure, the fund trails Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan and Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan, but it stays close to the rest of the set. That tells us the recent run has been respectable, though not the strongest among the funds with available short-term numbers.

The longer view is more mixed. Its 3-year return is slightly below Aditya Birla SL Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan but ahead of the benchmark in the performance section, while the 5-year figure is lower than the benchmark. So the short-term and longer-term comparisons do not tell the same story: the fund has been steadier in some shorter windows than in the full 5-year period, but it has not kept a consistent edge across all horizons.

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The largest holding is 7.34% Government Securities at 36.62%, which is large enough to have a clear influence on the portfolio. The weight then drops sharply to 13.56% for the second holding, and the tenth disclosed holding is down to 2.88%, so the concentration fades quickly after the top few positions.

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 90.63% of the portfolio. With 17 disclosed holdings overall, the fund still has a longer tail beyond the visible list, but the displayed positions are clearly concentrated in government and state government securities. That mix may support stability, and it could also mean that portfolio outcomes are likely to be shaped more by a few large rate-sensitive positions than by a broad spread of smaller bets.

Because the same issuer type appears repeatedly across the disclosed list, the fund may behave like a focused sovereign-bond portfolio rather than a diversified multi-sector debt book. For an investor, that usually means the composition is easier to understand, but it can also leave performance more dependent on interest-rate moves and the quality of government bond pricing.

To see all holdings, visit the ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can accept Medium Risk and want debt exposure that is anchored in government securities rather than in more aggressive credit positions. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year return pattern shows that it can stay positive through difficult stretches, but it has not outpaced the benchmark in every window.

A longer investment horizon makes more sense than a short holding period, because the performance record is uneven across time frames. The main trade-off is between relative steadiness and the possibility of lagging the benchmark in some periods, especially when rates and bond pricing move against the portfolio’s current mix.

Tax and exit load

Exit load: No exit load.

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹101.2118 as of 04 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 3.57%, 6.67% and 5.49% respectively.

How has it done against the benchmark?
It has beaten the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years, but it trails the benchmark over 5 years. The one-month and three-month numbers are close to the benchmark, which points to a mixed but not weak recent pattern.

How does it compare with peer funds on available return data?
Its 1-year return is below Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan and Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan, while its 3-year return is close to Aditya Birla SL Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan. The 5-year figure is available for this fund, but not for several peers in the comparison set.

Is there a minimum SIP requirement?
Yes. The minimum SIP amount is ₹1000.

Who manages the fund and what does its portfolio look like?
The fund is managed by Manish Banthia and Raunak Surana. Its disclosed holdings are heavily tilted toward government securities and state government securities, and the largest holding alone accounts for 36.62%.

Bottom line

ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed return profile: it has held up better than the benchmark in some recent windows, but its 5-year return still trails the benchmark. Compared with peers, the latest 1-year figure is solid but not the strongest, while the medium-term numbers are broadly competitive. The portfolio is heavily concentrated in government securities, which points to a more focused debt style. That makes it a sensible fit for investors who want a debt allocation with a steady, rate-sensitive profile rather than a high-octane return chase.

Published on 5 September 2026 at 4:18 PM IST