Nippon India Quant Fund(B)-Direct Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 11, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Nippon India Quant Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹78.4248 as of 10 Sep 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹116 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 1.96%, 13.6% and 13.29% respectively, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.
Our view is that this is a portfolio-driven equity fund for investors who can tolerate sharp swings and are comfortable with a strategy that has not matched the benchmark in the latest year but has held up better over longer periods. The mix of large financial, infrastructure, technology and consumer names suggests a diversified but still equity-heavy approach.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹78.4248 as of 10 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹116 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.53% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 0.25% on or before 1M, Nil after 1M |
| Fund Managers | Shirish Guthe, Kinjal Desai |
The fund is managed by Shirish Guthe and Kinjal Desai.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -3.82% | -4.06% |
| 3M | 4.62% | 1.37% |
| 1Y | 1.96% | -7.31% |
| 3Y | 13.6% | 6.07% |
| 5Y | 13.29% | 5.91% |
Recent performance has been uneven, but the fund has still beaten the benchmark over the latest 3-month, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods. The 1-month move is negative, which tells us the latest stretch has been soft even though it stayed slightly ahead of the benchmark over the same window.
The bigger picture is stronger. The 3-year and 5-year returns are both comfortably above the Nifty 50, which points to better medium- and longer-term compounding than the benchmark. That said, the 1-year return is only modest in absolute terms, so the recent year has not translated into strong near-term gains.
The pattern in the return path suggests a fund that can recover after weak spells, but not in a straight line. We also see periods of drawdown and rebound in the longer history, so investors should expect meaningful variation rather than smooth monthly progression. For a theme-led or factor-based equity approach, that kind of behaviour is not unusual, but it does mean patience matters.
In our view, the key comparison is that the fund has outpaced the benchmark over 3 years and 5 years, while the latest 12 months have been much less impressive in absolute terms. That split matters for investors who are trying to separate short-term noise from longer-term delivery.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Nippon India Quant Fund(B)-Direct Plan?
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 Nippon India Quant Fund(B)-Direct Plan? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon India Quant Fund Direct Growth Plan | 1.96% | 13.6% | 13.29% |
| 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.
The current fund trails the strongest peer 1-year figures by a wide margin, and several peer funds in the list have far higher recent returns. Even so, the fund’s 3-year and 5-year returns are stronger than the peers in this shortlist where those longer figures are available, which gives a different picture from the short-term comparison.
That split is important. The peer set suggests the fund has been comparatively subdued in the latest year, while the longer record still looks more resilient versus the available peer history. So the short-term story is weak, but the multi-year story is more constructive.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Limited | Bank | 7.49% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 6.69% |
| Larsen & Toubro Limited | Infrastructure | 4.12% |
| Dixon Technologies (India) Limited | Consumer Durables | 3.63% |
| Reliance Industries Limited | Crude Oil | 3.62% |
| Divi’S Laboratories Limited | Healthcare | 3.61% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | Telecom | 3.42% |
| Eternal Limited | Retailing | 3.29% |
| Bajaj Finance Limited | Finance | 3.17% |
| Infosys Limited | IT | 3.12% |
The largest holding, ICICI Bank Limited, carries a 7.49% weight, which is meaningful but not extreme for an equity portfolio. The next few positions remain close behind, so the fund does not depend on a single outsized bet.
Weight then steps down in a fairly orderly way from the top position to the tenth holding, where Infosys Limited is 3.12%. That spread suggests the visible sleeve is balanced across several large holdings rather than dominated by just one or two names, although the highest weights still have greater influence than the tail.
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 42.16% of the portfolio. With 35 disclosed holdings in total, our view is that the fund likely combines a visible core with a longer tail of smaller positions, which may temper single-stock dependence but still leaves the portfolio meaningfully equity-driven. To see all holdings, visit the Nippon India Quant Fund(B)-Direct Plan page
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who can handle High Risk equity exposure and are willing to stay invested long enough for the longer-term return pattern to matter. The 3-year and 5-year numbers are much more supportive than the 1-year figure, so a medium-to-long horizon looks more appropriate than a short holding period.
The main trade-off is clear: you get a diversified equity portfolio with a history of beating the benchmark over longer stretches, but you also accept bouts of weak short-term performance and a return path that can move around sharply. That makes it more suitable for investors who are comfortable with volatility and are not relying on the fund for stable near-term outcomes.
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 |
The exit load is 0.25% if units are sold within 1 month, and nil after 1 month.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Nippon India Quant Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹78.4248 as of 10 Sep 2026.
How has the fund performed over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years?
Its 1-year return is 1.96%, the 3-year return is 13.6% and the 5-year return is 13.29%.
How does the fund compare with the Nifty 50 benchmark?
It has outperformed the Nifty 50 over 3 years and 5 years, while the latest 1-year figure is also above the benchmark’s negative return.
How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
The fund’s 1-year return is below the strongest peers in this list, but its 3-year and 5-year returns are stronger than the peers with available longer-term figures.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is not provided here.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Shirish Guthe and Kinjal Desai. The exit load is 0.25% if units are sold within 1 month, and nil after 1 month.
Bottom line
This fund shows a clear difference between short-term and longer-term performance: the latest year has been modest, while the 3-year and 5-year records are stronger and ahead of the benchmark. Against the peer list, the recent 1-year figure is subdued, but the longer-term numbers look more competitive. The High Risk label fits the fund’s equity nature and its uneven return path. The portfolio is led by a 7.49% holding in ICICI Bank and a fairly broad spread across 35 disclosed names, which may help avoid overdependence on any single stock.
Published on 11 September 2026 at 10:20 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.