ICICI Pru US Bluechip Equity Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

ICICI Pru US Bluechip Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹93.32 as of 26 August 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹3,821 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 23.8487%, 18.1776% and 13.6598%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors who want overseas large-cap exposure and are comfortable with meaningful fluctuations in return pattern.

The fund has stayed ahead of its benchmark across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods, which supports a steady long-term compounding story. The portfolio is heavily tilted toward overseas equities, so the experience may differ from a domestic equity fund even when the benchmark is Indian large-cap oriented.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Ritesh Lunawat, Sharmila Dsilva, Nitya Mishra and Venus Ahuja.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Performance

The most recent numbers remain strong. The fund has outpaced the benchmark over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, which shows that the strategy has continued to generate positive momentum even while the benchmark has been weaker over the longer one-year window.

The 3-year and 5-year return pattern is still positive, but it is more measured than the sharp 1-year outcome. That usually tells us the fund has not relied on one very short burst alone; instead, it has produced a longer compounding profile that has held up across different market phases. The benchmark comparison is also useful here: the fund has stayed clearly ahead of Nifty 50 in every period shown.

The short-term shape of the return series is also important. The fund has seen periods of softer movement followed by recovery, which is what we would expect from an overseas equity exposure with a High Risk label. What matters for investors is that the recovery pattern has been strong enough to keep the multi-year returns ahead of the benchmark.

In our view, the main takeaway is consistency relative to the benchmark rather than smoothness. The fund has delivered higher returns than the index in both the recent and longer windows, but the path has not been linear. Investors should read that as an equity strategy that can move unevenly while still building a respectable long-term record.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Peer comparison

The current fund’s 1-year return is below several of the listed peers, even though it remains comfortably ahead of the benchmark. That matters because the peer set includes a few funds with far stronger one-year surges, especially the strategic metal and energy and automotive-focused funds.

The longer-horizon picture is more balanced. Where 3-year and 5-year figures are available, the current fund’s 18.18% and 13.66% returns sit behind Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund on both measures, but ahead of the benchmark and still in a workable range for a growth-oriented overseas equity allocation. The short-term peer gap is wider than the longer-term gap, so the comparison tells two different stories: recent momentum is not the strongest in the group, yet the broader compounding record remains credible.

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

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The portfolio is almost entirely in the “Other” bucket, which is consistent with its overseas equity structure rather than a domestic market-cap split. That means the usual large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap lens does not explain the fund well on its own.

OVERSEAS EQUITIES at 97.3% is materially larger than the cash and cash equivalent sleeve at 2.7%. Because of that, overseas stock selection is likely to have the greatest influence on how the fund behaves. BOEING CO at 10.08% is the single largest named holding, so it may also matter meaningfully for near-term movement.

We would read this as a concentrated thematic overseas equity portfolio with only a small liquidity buffer. That structure may support stronger participation when the underlying overseas names do well, but it could also mean the portfolio responds more sharply to movements in those individual holdings and in the broader foreign equity backdrop.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better suited to investors who can tolerate High Risk and are comfortable with an overseas equity allocation that can move unevenly. The return pattern across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year windows suggests a strategy that has rewarded patience, but not in a straight line.

A longer investment horizon is more appropriate here because the fund’s performance record has improved and stayed ahead of the benchmark over multiple periods. The main trade-off is accepting higher volatility and a portfolio that is heavily exposed to overseas equities rather than a diversified domestic market-cap mix.

Tax and exit load

Exit load

• 1% if units are sold within 1 month.
• No exit load after the holding period.

Source data date: as of 26 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of ICICI Pru US Bluechip Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its current NAV is ₹93.32 as of 26 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 23.8487% for 1 year, 18.1776% for 3 years and 13.6598% for 5 years.

How has the fund performed versus the benchmark?
It has outperformed the benchmark across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The benchmark return is 0.44% over 1 month, 2.31% over 3 months, -2.53% over 1 year, 6.72% over 3 years and 7.06% over 5 years.

How does the fund compare with the peer set on recent returns?
Its 1-year return is lower than several peers in the comparison set, including ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan, SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan and Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan. The longer-horizon comparison is more balanced because the fund still has usable 3-year and 5-year records.

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 Ritesh Lunawat, Sharmila Dsilva, Nitya Mishra and Venus Ahuja. The exit load is 1% if units are sold within 1 month, and there is no exit load after the holding period.

Bottom line

This fund has a stronger longer-term return profile than its benchmark, and its recent performance has also stayed ahead of the index. Against the peer set, the 1-year figure is less striking, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers remain workable for an overseas equity strategy. The High Risk label fits the concentrated overseas-equity structure, where one large sector and one prominent holding can shape outcomes. It may suit investors who want that style of exposure and can stay patient through uneven periods.

Published on 28 August 2026 at 10:24 AM IST