ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- August 28, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹201.64 as of 08 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹13,660 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -6.38%, 6.05% and 4.08% respectively, and the scheme is tagged as High Risk. Our view is that this is a technology-focused equity fund that has struggled over the last year but has been steadier over longer periods, so it fits investors who can accept sharp swings and are comfortable with a sector-heavy growth profile.
The fund is not a smooth compounder, but its 3-year and 5-year figures show that its longer-run path is better than the recent one-year print suggests. The portfolio is concentrated in a handful of large positions, which can add to return swings. That makes the fund more suitable for a long horizon and a higher risk tolerance than for investors looking for consistency.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹201.64 as of 08 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹13,660 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.97% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 1% on or before 15D, NIL after 15D |
| Fund Managers | Vaibhav Dusad |
The fund is managed by Vaibhav Dusad.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -2.87% | -4.69% |
| 3M | 7.81% | 0.93% |
| 1Y | -6.38% | -7.16% |
| 3Y | 6.05% | 6% |
| 5Y | 4.08% | 5.87% |
The short-term pattern has been uneven, but the last three months were notably better than the one-year picture. The fund gained 7.81% over 3 months, while the benchmark rose only 0.93% over the same period. That tells us the recent rebound has been stronger in the fund than in the benchmark, even though the one-year return remains negative.
The one-year comparison is still weak in absolute terms, but the fund did slightly better than the benchmark at -6.38% versus -7.16%. That is a narrow gap, so the longer message is not outperformance but relative resilience. The daily path over the past year also looks choppy, which is consistent with a sector fund that can move around sharply when technology sentiment changes.
Over three years, the fund and benchmark are close at 6.05% and 6% respectively. Over five years, the benchmark has moved ahead with 5.87% against the fund’s 4.08%. Our read is that the fund has not consistently beaten the broad market over full cycles, even though parts of the recent path have improved. That makes the longer-run case depend more on sector conviction than on steady index-beating behaviour.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD ICICI Pru Technology?
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 ICICI Pru Technology? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Plan | -6.38% | 6.05% | 4.08% |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 71.49% | 36.55% | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 30.08% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.85% | Data not available | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.6% | Data not available | Data not available |
| PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 27.47% | 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 trails the strongest peer figures by a wide margin, although those peers sit in different strategies and should not be read as direct substitutes. On the longer side, the fund’s 3-year return is close to the benchmark and its 5-year return is below it, so the longer-run picture is more moderate than the standout one-year numbers seen elsewhere in the list.
The peer set also tells two different stories. The short-term numbers for several peers are much stronger than the fund’s -6.38% one-year figure, but most of those peers have no 3-year or 5-year history in this comparison. That means the recent gap is clear, while the longer-term comparison is only partly available. On the available longer-horizon figures, this fund looks steadier than its one-year result implies, but not especially strong versus the benchmark.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Infosys Ltd. | IT | 12.34% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | Telecom | 11.44% |
| Tech Mahindra Ltd. | IT | 7.61% |
| Mphasis Ltd. | IT | 4.53% |
| Coforge Ltd. | IT | 4.3% |
| Cognizant Tech Solutions | Overseas Equities | 3.48% |
| LTIMINDTREE Ltd. | IT | 2.71% |
| Sagility India Ltd | Business Services | 2.57% |
| Wipro Ltd. | IT | 2.56% |
| Eternal Ltd. | Retailing | 2.35% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 53.89% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Infosys Ltd. is the largest holding at 12.34%, so it is likely to have greater influence on the fund than any other single position. Bharti Airtel Ltd. is also a meaningful allocation at 11.44%, which shows that the fund is not relying on just one stock to drive outcomes, but it still places a lot of weight in a few large names.
The drop from the first holding to the tenth is sharp, from 12.34% to 2.35%. That kind of spread suggests the fund is tilted toward a core group of positions rather than an evenly balanced basket. The fifth through tenth holdings are individually much smaller, so the portfolio could be more sensitive to movements in the top end of the list.
With 53.89% of the portfolio in the top 10 holdings and 45 disclosed holdings in total, the structure looks concentrated at the top and more diversified further down the list. Our view is that this mix may allow the fund to capture conviction in leading ideas while still keeping a longer tail of smaller positions in place.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is better suited to investors with a high risk tolerance and a long investment horizon. The High Risk label, the negative one-year return and the uneven recent path all point to a strategy that can move sharply over shorter periods, even though the 3-year and 5-year figures are less severe than the one-year result.
It may appeal to investors who want technology exposure and are comfortable with returns that can differ from the benchmark over different cycles. The main trade-off is between potential sector-led upside and the possibility of noticeable drawdowns when sentiment weakens. A portfolio like this can be useful as a satellite allocation, but it is not built for stability-first investors.
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: 1% on or before 15 days; no exit load after the holding period.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹201.64 as of 08 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are -6.38% over 1 year, 6.05% over 3 years and 4.08% over 5 years.
How has it done versus the benchmark?
Against Nifty 50, it is slightly ahead over 1 year, nearly matched over 3 years and behind over 5 years.
How does it compare with the listed peer funds?
The peer set shows much stronger 1-year numbers in several cases, but most of those peers do not have comparable 3-year or 5-year figures here.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
Who manages the fund and what kind of portfolio does it hold?
Vaibhav Dusad manages the fund. The portfolio is led by Infosys Ltd. at 12.34%, and the top 10 holdings together account for 53.89% of the portfolio.
Bottom line
ICICI Pru Technology Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed profile: the latest one-year result is weak, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers are less strained and sit closer to the benchmark. Against peers with available recent data, its short-term return looks modest, while the longer-term read is more restrained than standout. The fund carries High Risk and is concentrated in a few large holdings, so it suits investors who can tolerate volatility and want a focused technology-oriented equity exposure rather than a steadier core holding.
Published on 10 September 2026 at 9:42 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.