LIC MF Banking & Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 11, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
LIC MF Banking & Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹24.669 as of 10 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹274 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.73%, 8.28% and 10.67%, and it sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors who are comfortable with sharper swings and want focused exposure to financials, but the recent path has been uneven, so the fund looks more appropriate for a longer horizon than for short-term return expectations.
The fund has also stayed active enough in recent periods to show changes in momentum, while its 5-year record points to steady but not extraordinary compounding. That makes it a candidate for investors who can tolerate periodic drawdowns and who are comfortable with a benchmark-oriented comparison rather than a defensive profile.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹24.669 as of 10 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹274 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 1.18% |
| Launch Date | 27 Mar 2015 |
| Min SIP | ₹200 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | Nil upto 12% of units and 1% on remaining units on or before 90D, Nil after 90D |
| Fund Managers | Sudhanshu Asthana |
The fund is managed by Sudhanshu Asthana.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -0.99% | -4.06% |
| 3M | 7.37% | 1.37% |
| 1Y | 5.73% | -7.31% |
| 3Y | 8.28% | 6.07% |
| 5Y | 10.67% | 5.91% |
The short-term picture is better than the benchmark, but it has not been smooth. The 1-month return is mildly negative, even though it still outpaced the benchmark’s weaker 1-month fall. Over 3 months, the fund recovered sharply and moved well ahead of the benchmark, which suggests the portfolio can respond quickly when financial stocks regain momentum.
The 1-year return is also comfortably ahead of the benchmark’s negative reading. That gap matters because it shows the fund has done more than just avoid a down market; it has created positive return while the index struggled. For investors, that is useful evidence that the strategy is tied to a segment that can behave very differently from the broad market.
Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund remains ahead of the benchmark, but the margin is narrower than in the most recent periods. Our read is that the fund has delivered respectable long-term compounding, yet the path has involved enough volatility that investors should not expect a straight line. The more recent rebound looks stronger than the benchmark, while the longer trend still points to moderate, not explosive, growth.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD LIC MF Banking & 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 LIC MF Banking & Financial Services? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIC MF Banking & Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.73% | 8.28% | 10.67% |
| 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. On 1-year performance, the fund trails the most aggressive peer numbers by a wide margin, even though it has beaten the broad benchmark over the same period. The 3-year and 5-year readings are steadier than the peer group’s strongest recent 1-year outcomes, which tells us the fund’s return profile is more measured than the fastest-moving peers. In other words, the short-term peer comparison and the longer-term picture do not tell the same story.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | Bank | 13.98% |
| AU Small Finance Bank Ltd. | Bank | 7.36% |
| Axis Bank Ltd. | Bank | 5.27% |
| One 97 Communications Ltd. | IT | 5.01% |
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | Finance | 5% |
| PB Fintech Ltd. | IT | 4.92% |
| Indusind Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.87% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.75% |
| City Union Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.36% |
| Shriram Finance Ltd. | Finance | 4.22% |
The largest holding, ICICI Bank Ltd., stands at 13.98%, which is a meaningful single-stock weight for a sector-focused equity fund. The next holdings step down gradually, but the first position is still noticeably larger than the rest, so it could have a greater influence on month-to-month outcomes than any other individual holding.
The drop from the largest position to the tenth is not abrupt, because the remaining names mostly sit in the 4% to 7% range. That said, the top 10 holdings together account for approximately 59.74% of the portfolio, which indicates a clear concentration in a relatively short list of ideas. With 25 disclosed holdings, the fund does have a longer tail beyond the top names, but the visible list still suggests that the biggest positions may matter more than breadth alone.
From an investor’s point of view, this mix means the fund may be driven by a limited set of financial and adjacent business exposures rather than by a wide spread of small positions. That can help return outcomes when the leading holdings are in favour, but it can also make the fund more sensitive when those names are out of step with the market.
To see all holdings, visit the LIC MF Banking & Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who can accept High Risk and are comfortable with a portfolio that may move differently from the broad market. The return pattern suggests that it has handled both weak and stronger market phases, but the ride has not been smooth, so patience matters.
A longer investment horizon is more sensible here than a short one, because the 3-year and 5-year numbers show steadier compounding than the weaker stretches seen in the recent path. Compared with the benchmark and with faster-moving peers, the trade-off is clear: the fund offers focused financial-sector exposure and the possibility of market-beating phases, but that comes with sharper variation in returns.
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: Nil up to 12% of units and 1% on remaining units on or before 90 days. No exit load after the holding period.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of LIC MF Banking & Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹24.669 as of 10 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 5.73% over 1 year, 8.28% over 3 years and 10.67% over 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 strongest gap is in the 1-year period, where the benchmark is negative while the fund remains positive.
How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its 1-year return is lower than the fastest recent peer numbers shown, but its 3-year and 5-year returns are steadier than those peers whose longer-term figures are not available. The comparison points to a more measured return pattern than the most aggressive short-term performers.
Is there a minimum SIP for this fund?
The minimum SIP is ₹200.
What risk, holdings and exit-load profile does this fund have?
It is classified as High Risk and the portfolio’s top 10 holdings account for 59.74% of assets, with ICICI Bank Ltd. at 13.98% as the largest position. The exit load is nil up to 12% of units and 1% on remaining units on or before 90 days, and there is no exit load after the holding period.
Bottom line
LIC MF Banking & Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed but understandable profile: the recent return path has been choppier than the longer-term record, yet the 3-year and 5-year figures still show positive compounding. It looks less aggressive than the fastest-moving peer names on recent one-year performance, but more stable in its longer-view returns. The fund is high risk, and its concentrated top holdings mean a few positions may influence outcomes more than a broad spread would. That makes it more suitable for investors who can stay invested through fluctuations.
Published on 11 September 2026 at 5:34 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.