Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- August 25, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹324.4167 as of 09 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹35,557 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 17.86%, 17.5% and 20.1% respectively, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.
Our view is that this is a small-cap fund for investors who can stay invested through sharp swings and do not need the benchmark to be smooth in the short run. The portfolio has a meaningful cash-and-cash-equivalent allocation and a spread across financials, trading, power, telecom and industrial names, which can support flexibility but also keeps the fund tied to a volatile segment of the market.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹324.4167 as of 09 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹35,557 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.71% |
| Launch Date | 07 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹1,000 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty Small Cap |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 1% on or before 1Y, Nil after 1Y |
| Fund Managers | Sandeep Tandon, Ankit Pande, Varun Pattani, Ayusha Kumbhat |
The fund is managed by Sandeep Tandon, Ankit Pande, Varun Pattani and Ayusha Kumbhat.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 2.59% | 0.47% |
| 3M | 11.96% | 9.83% |
| 1Y | 17.86% | 6.04% |
| 3Y | 17.5% | 15.26% |
| 5Y | 20.1% | 14.5% |
The recent pattern is stronger than the benchmark across every period in the table. The fund has held up well over 1 month and 3 months, and that short-run strength has carried through into the 1-year figure, where it is comfortably ahead of the benchmark.
What matters more for long-term investors is that the 3-year and 5-year returns remain solid rather than merely noisy. The fund has not depended only on one strong stretch; instead, the longer-horizon figures suggest that the compounding profile has stayed constructive even after periods of drawdown and recovery. That is a useful sign for a small-cap strategy, where consistency is often harder to maintain than in broader equity categories.
The path has still been uneven, which is visible in the intermediate swings around the stronger upward trend. That is normal for the segment, but it also means the fund can look much better or worse over shorter windows than over a full cycle. For investors, the key takeaway is that recent resilience has not come at the expense of the longer-term profile.
Against the benchmark, the fund is ahead in all five periods. The excess return is most noticeable in the 1-year and 5-year figures, which suggests that active selection has added value over both the recent cycle and the longer holding period.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Quant Small Cap?
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 Quant Small Cap? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 17.86% | 17.5% | 20.1% |
| TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 34.15% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 28.12% | 21.92% | 20.56% |
| Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.85% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.03% | 17.56% | 17.97% |
| ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan | 24.29% | 25.19% | 19.53% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On 1-year returns, the fund trails the strongest peer figures in this set, but its 3-year and 5-year returns are still competitive against several peers with available data. That creates a split picture: the recent run has been less powerful than the fastest peers, yet the longer-horizon numbers remain firmly constructive.
Compared with peers that disclose both 3-year and 5-year returns, this fund is ahead of Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan on both measures, behind Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan on both, and slightly above ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan on 5-year return while trailing it on 3-year return. So the peer set points to a fund that is not the most aggressive recent climber, but one that still keeps pace reasonably well over longer periods.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| TREPS 01-Sep-2026 Depo 10 | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 9.14% |
| HFCL Limited | Telecom | 6.7% |
| RBL Bank Limited | Bank | 4.51% |
| Adani Enterprises Limited | Trading | 4.3% |
| Adani Power Limited | Power | 3.34% |
| Aegis Logistics Limited | Trading | 3.21% |
| Welspun Corp Limited | Iron & Steel | 2.98% |
| Anand Rathi Wealth Limited | Finance | 2.94% |
| Piramal Finance Ltd | Finance | 2.8% |
| Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited | Automobile & Ancillaries | 2.62% |
The largest disclosed holding is TREPS 01-Sep-2026 Depo 10 at 9.14%, which is large enough to matter but not so dominant that it overwhelms the rest of the portfolio. The next few positions are meaningfully smaller, and the tenth holding is down to 2.62%, so the weight drops fairly steadily rather than staying clustered near the top.
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 42.54% of the portfolio, and the fund discloses 45 holdings in total. That mix suggests the portfolio may still be fairly active and spread across a long tail of smaller positions, even though the first few names can have greater influence on short-term outcomes. The presence of cash-like instruments at the top also gives the fund some room to manage exposure, which may help in choppier markets.
Several of the larger positions sit in cyclical or market-sensitive areas such as telecom, trading, power and finance. That does not by itself predict future returns, but it does mean the portfolio can move quickly when sentiment changes. For investors, the key point is that this is not a narrow one-stock fund; instead, it combines a visible core with a broader supporting set of holdings.
To see all holdings, visit the Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk exposure and can accept a bumpy ride in exchange for long-term equity growth potential. The 1-year result is strong, but the 3-year and 5-year figures matter more here because small-cap strategies can swing sharply before the longer trend becomes visible.
It is better aligned with a longer horizon rather than a short holding period. The benchmark comparison is favorable across the board, while peer returns show that the fund can compete well over longer periods even if some peers have been faster over the most recent year.
The main trade-off is volatility. Investors may get meaningful upside participation, but they should also expect stretches where returns lag the sharpest recent movers and where stock selection matters a great deal.
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% if units are sold on or before 1 year; nil after 1 year.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹324.4167 as of 09 Sep 2026.
How has Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan performed over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years?
Its 1-year return is 17.86%, its 3-year return is 17.5%, and its 5-year return is 20.1%.
How does the fund compare with its benchmark?
It has outpaced the Nifty Small Cap benchmark across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The margin is especially clear over 1 year and 5 years.
How does it compare with peer funds on returns?
Some peers have stronger 1-year numbers, but the fund remains competitive on longer horizons where several peer figures are lower or unavailable. That makes the comparison mixed rather than one-sided.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹1,000.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Sandeep Tandon, Ankit Pande, Varun Pattani and Ayusha Kumbhat. The exit load is 1% if units are sold on or before 1 year, and nil after 1 year.
Bottom line
Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan looks like a fund whose recent run has been constructive, while its longer-term numbers remain strong enough to support the story. It stays ahead of the benchmark across the periods shown, but peer comparisons are mixed because some rivals have been faster over the latest year. The portfolio is not overly concentrated in one holding, yet it still has enough top-weighted positions to matter. That combination makes it more suitable for patient investors who can tolerate High Risk exposure and want a small-cap fund with a credible longer-term track record.
Published on 10 September 2026 at 2:46 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.