Sundaram Services Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 18, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Sundaram Services Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹39.6044 as of 17 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹5,262 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 2.69%, 13.09% and 13.03%, and the scheme sits in the High Risk category.
Our view is that the fund has shown a stronger multi-year pattern than its latest 1-year outcome, but the recent stretch is softer than the 3-year and 5-year pace. The portfolio tilts toward a selective mix of consumer internet, telecom, banking, travel, logistics and healthcare names, which can support upside when those themes work, but can also make the ride uneven.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹39.6044 as of 17 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹5,262 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.73% |
| Launch Date | 21 Sep 2018 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | Nil upto 25% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 365D, Nil after 365D |
| Fund Managers | Rohit Seksaria, Shalav Saket |
The fund is managed by Rohit Seksaria and Shalav Saket.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -2.29% | -3.66% |
| 3M | 3.01% | -3.71% |
| 1Y | 2.69% | -7.13% |
| 3Y | 13.09% | 5.82% |
| 5Y | 13.03% | 5.72% |
The latest 1-month reading shows a mild decline, but it is still less severe than the benchmark’s fall. Over 3 months, the fund has recovered while the benchmark stayed negative, which tells us the portfolio has handled the recent phase better than the index.
The 1-year return is modest, and that matters because it is well below the multi-year pattern. Even so, it remains ahead of the benchmark, which means the fund has protected relative ground despite a tougher year for the index. For investors, that is a more balanced signal than the headline number alone suggests.
The 3-year and 5-year returns are both above the benchmark by a wide margin, which points to a stronger longer-run compounding trend. The time pattern also matters: the fund has had stretches of volatility, but the overall trajectory across three and five years has been more resilient than the benchmark’s path.
Our read is that the fund’s short-term behaviour is weaker than its own longer-term run, but not weak in an absolute sense versus the benchmark. That combination suggests a portfolio that can move around in the near term while still creating a better multi-year outcome than the broad market reference.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Sundaram 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 Sundaram Services? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundaram Services Fund Direct Growth Plan | 2.69% | 13.09% | 13.03% |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 69.8% | 36.32% | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.31% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.27% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 24.51% | Data not available | Data not available |
| PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 22.75% | Data not available | 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 much lower than the strongest short-term peer figures shown here, so the recent pace looks subdued beside those thematic funds. At the same time, its 3-year result is stronger than the one available 3-year peer result, which tells us the fund’s longer-run path has been steadier than the most relevant longer-history comparison in this set.
The 5-year comparison is mixed because most peers do not have a usable figure, but the fund’s own 5-year return still remains well above the benchmark. Taken together, the table suggests a gap between short-term peer momentum and longer-term persistence rather than a simple one-direction story. For an investor, that means the fund’s appeal is more about patience through cycles than chasing the fastest recent burst.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Eternal Ltd (Previously Zomato Ltd) | Retailing | 5.94% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd | Telecom | 4.95% |
| Axis Bank Ltd | Bank | 4.61% |
| Reliance Industries Ltd | Crude Oil | 3.92% |
| Interglobe Aviation Ltd | Aviation | 3.79% |
| Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd | Logistics | 3.3% |
| Rate Gain Travel Technologies Ltd | IT | 3.03% |
| TREPS | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 2.94% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd | Bank | 2.84% |
| Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd | Healthcare | 2.78% |
The largest holding is Eternal Ltd (Previously Zomato Ltd) at 5.94%, which is meaningful but not extreme for an equity fund. The gap from the top position to the tenth holding, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd at 2.78%, is fairly measured, so influence is spread across several ideas rather than sitting on one dominant name.
The top 10 holdings together account for approximately 38.1% of the portfolio, which suggests a moderate concentration at the visible top end. At the same time, the fund has 51 disclosed holdings in total, so there is still a long tail beyond the leading positions. In our view, that mix may allow individual winners to matter without making the portfolio entirely dependent on only a few stocks.
Because the portfolio includes consumer internet, telecom, banking, travel, logistics and healthcare names, it may behave differently from a broad index-heavy style. That can be helpful when those businesses are strong, but it also means returns may depend on how these selected sectors and companies progress through time.
To see all holdings, visit the Sundaram Services Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is better suited to investors who are comfortable with High Risk exposure and who can stay invested for a longer horizon. The 1-year result is subdued, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers show that patience has mattered more than short-term timing here.
It may suit someone who wants equity exposure with a differentiated portfolio rather than a plain benchmark-style allocation. The trade-off is clear: the fund has done better over longer periods than the benchmark, but near-term performance can still swing enough that investors need room to absorb uneven phases.
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 upto 25% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 365D.
- Nil after 365D.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Sundaram Services Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹39.6044 as of 17 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
Its 1-year return is 2.69%, its 3-year return is 13.09%, and its 5-year return is 13.03%.
How does the fund compare with the NIFTY 50 benchmark?
The fund has stayed ahead of the NIFTY 50 across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods. The gap is especially visible over 3 years and 5 years, where the fund’s returns are well above the benchmark’s.
Which peer fund has the strongest recent 1-year return in the comparison set?
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan shows the strongest 1-year return in the comparison set at 69.8%. The other peer figures shown are much lower, but the comparison is only on the available return data.
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 Rohit Seksaria and Shalav Saket. The exit load is nil upto 25% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 365D, and nil after 365D.
Bottom line
Sundaram Services Fund Direct Growth Plan looks uneven in the short run but stronger over longer horizons, with 3-year and 5-year returns clearly ahead of the benchmark. Its High Risk tag matches a portfolio that leans into selected growth-oriented holdings across internet, telecom, banking and healthcare themes. The top positions are important, but the portfolio is not fully concentrated in one or two names. For investors who can accept volatility and wait through weaker phases, the fund may fit as a longer-horizon equity holding.
Published on 18 September 2026 at 4:09 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.