ICICI Pru Value Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 18, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
ICICI Pru Value Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹494.07 as of 17 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹60,074 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -6.13%, 10.66% and 13.83% respectively, and the fund carries a High Risk label. Our view is that it suits investors who can tolerate sharp short-term swings in pursuit of a value-oriented equity approach, while accepting that the recent year has been weaker than its longer-term record.
The fund’s large portfolio, diversified across 41 holdings, and its meaningful exposure to banks, insurance and select large-cap names suggest a portfolio that can participate in market rallies but may also feel volatile when value-heavy areas lag. The recent one-year weakness is a reminder that this is better viewed as a longer-horizon equity allocation than a short-term holding.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹494.07 as of 17 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹60,074 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 12M, Nil after 12M |
| Fund Managers | Sankaran Naren, Dharmesh Kakkad, Masoomi Jhurmarvala |
The fund is managed by Sankaran Naren, Dharmesh Kakkad and Masoomi Jhurmarvala.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -2.99% | -3.66% |
| 3M | -3.48% | -3.71% |
| 1Y | -6.13% | -7.13% |
| 3Y | 10.66% | 5.82% |
| 5Y | 13.83% | 5.72% |
The one-year result is negative, so the fund has not had an easy recent stretch. Even so, it has held up slightly better than the benchmark over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, which suggests the latest weakness has been milder than the index’s own decline.
The longer view is more encouraging. Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark by a wide margin, which tells us the strategy has added value through a full cycle even though the path has not been smooth. The 3-year and 5-year outcomes also fit the pattern seen in the shorter periods: performance has been choppy, but the fund has avoided a persistent break-down in compounding.
For investors, the key point is that the recent one-year loss does not line up with the stronger medium- and long-term record. That gap matters because it shows the fund can lag in some market phases while still preserving a better longer-run profile than the benchmark. In our view, that is typical of a value style that may take time to play out.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD ICICI Pru Value?
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 Value? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Pru Value Fund Direct Growth Plan | -6.13% | 10.66% | 13.83% |
| LIC MF Value Fund Direct Growth Plan | 17.5% | 15.81% | 13.33% |
| Quant Value Fund Direct Growth Plan | 14.59% | 19.39% | Data not available |
| Aditya Birla SL Value Fund Direct Growth Plan | 10.2% | 13.21% | 13.75% |
| Mahindra Manulife Value Fund Direct Growth Plan | 8.65% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Axis Value Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.14% | 17.07% | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The fund’s 1-year return is weaker than every peer shown here, so the recent stretch has clearly been difficult. At the same time, its 3-year return is below some peers but remains comfortably above the benchmark, and its 5-year return is also ahead of the benchmark while sitting close to several peer outcomes with available data.
That creates a mixed picture: the short term has been soft, yet the longer-term record is still credible relative to the benchmark and broadly competitive with parts of the peer set. For investors, the comparison suggests that the fund’s value style may need patience, because its recent lag does not fully reflect its longer-run compounding pattern.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | Bank | 9.4% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | Bank | 8.72% |
| Life Insurance Corporation of India | Insurance | 5.89% |
| Reliance Industries Ltd. | Crude Oil | 5.1% |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | Healthcare | 4.55% |
| Infosys Ltd. | IT | 4.51% |
| ITC Ltd. | FMCG | 4.18% |
| Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. | Automobile & Ancillaries | 3.41% |
| Axis Bank Ltd. | Bank | 2.96% |
| Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. | IT | 2.88% |
The largest holding is ICICI Bank Ltd. at 9.4%, which is large enough to matter but not so large that one position dominates the portfolio on its own. The weight then steps down fairly gradually through HDFC Bank, LIC and Reliance Industries, which suggests the fund is not relying on a single theme.
The top ten holdings together account for approximately 51.6% of the portfolio, so just over half of the disclosed portfolio sits in these names while the rest is spread across the remaining holdings. With 41 total holdings disclosed, the fund appears to balance a set of core positions with a longer tail of smaller exposures.
That structure may help the portfolio participate in broad market moves while reducing dependence on one stock, although the large positions in financials mean that banks are likely to have greater influence on returns than the smallest names. The mix also points to a portfolio that is still meaningfully concentrated at the top, even if it is diversified beyond the first few holdings.
To see all holdings, visit the ICICI Pru Value Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is better suited to investors who can tolerate High Risk volatility and who are comfortable holding through uneven phases. The one-year result has been weak, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers show that the strategy has still been able to compound ahead of the benchmark over time.
The trade-off is clear: investors get exposure to a value-oriented equity portfolio with a credible longer-run record, but they must accept that short-term returns can lag and that the portfolio’s large bank holdings may shape outcomes more than smaller positions. A longer investment horizon is more appropriate here than a short-term parking place.
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 12 months; nil after 12 months.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of ICICI Pru Value Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹494.07 as of 17 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is -6.13%, the 3-year return is 10.66% and the 5-year return is 13.83%.
How does the fund compare with the Nifty 50 benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark over 3 years and 5 years, while also holding up slightly better over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year.
How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?
Its recent 1-year return is below the peer funds shown here, while the 3-year and 5-year numbers are still broadly competitive with the better long-term outcomes in the group.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
What is the fund’s risk level and exit load?
The fund is tagged as High Risk. The exit load is 1% on or before 12 months and nil after 12 months.
Bottom line
ICICI Pru Value Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a clear split between short-term weakness and longer-term resilience. The recent year has been soft, yet the 3-year and 5-year records remain ahead of the benchmark, which keeps the strategy relevant for patient investors. Its portfolio is led by bank holdings and stays meaningfully concentrated in a few large names, so the fund is not built for very cautious investors. It may fit someone seeking an equity value style with a longer horizon and the willingness to absorb uneven periods along the way.
Published on 18 September 2026 at 3:15 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.