{"id":222009,"date":"2026-08-28T11:20:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T05:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/?p=222009"},"modified":"2026-08-28T11:20:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T05:50:56","slug":"bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio &#038; Should You Invest?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-g-direct-plan\">Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a> has a NAV of \u20b957.343 as of 27 August 2026 and scheme AUM of \u20b931,103 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 14.7507%, 26.4819% and 20.7354%, and the fund sits in the High Risk bucket. Our view is that the fund has rewarded patient investors over longer stretches, but its small-cap tilt means the ride can stay uneven even when the medium-term compounding remains strong.<\/p>\n<p>The portfolio is dominated by small-cap exposure and has meaningful finance and IT weight, so the fund can behave differently from broader equity funds. That mix makes it more suitable for investors who can stay invested through volatility and want a small-cap-led equity allocation rather than a steadier, lower-variability fund.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Quick_facts\" title=\"Quick facts\">Quick facts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Performance\" title=\"Performance\">Performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Should_you_BUY_or_HOLD_Bandhan_Small_Cap\" title=\"Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan Small Cap?\">Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan Small Cap?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Peer_comparison\" title=\"Peer comparison\">Peer comparison<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Portfolio_where_your_money_goes\" title=\"Portfolio: where your money goes\">Portfolio: where your money goes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Who_should_invest\" title=\"Who should invest\">Who should invest<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Tax_and_exit_load\" title=\"Tax and exit load\">Tax and exit load<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Frequently_asked_questions\" title=\"Frequently asked questions\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#What_is_the_current_NAV_of_Bandhan_Small_Cap_Fund_Direct_Growth_Plan\" title=\"What is the current NAV of Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?\">What is the current NAV of Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#What_are_the_funds_1-year_3-year_and_5-year_returns\" title=\"What are the fund\u2019s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?\">What are the fund\u2019s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#How_does_it_compare_with_the_benchmark\" title=\"How does it compare with the benchmark?\">How does it compare with the benchmark?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#What_is_the_minimum_SIP_amount\" title=\"What is the minimum SIP amount?\">What is the minimum SIP amount?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#What_is_the_risk_category_of_this_fund\" title=\"What is the risk category of this fund?\">What is the risk category of this fund?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Who_manages_the_fund_and_what_is_the_exit_load\" title=\"Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?\">Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Bottom_line\" title=\"Bottom line\">Bottom line<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Explore_mutual_funds_with_Univest\" title=\"Explore mutual funds with Univest\">Explore mutual funds with Univest<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#RIA_disclosure\" title=\"RIA disclosure\">RIA disclosure<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quick_facts\"><\/span>Quick facts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Item<\/th>\n<th>Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>NAV<\/td>\n<td>\u20b957.343<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>AUM<\/td>\n<td>\u20b931,103 Cr<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Expense Ratio<\/td>\n<td>0.4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Launch Date<\/td>\n<td>25 Feb 2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Min SIP<\/td>\n<td>\u20b9100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Risk Category<\/td>\n<td>High Risk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Benchmark<\/td>\n<td>Nifty Small Cap<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fund Category<\/td>\n<td>Equity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Exit Load<\/td>\n<td>1% on or before 1Y; no exit load after holding period<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fund Managers<\/td>\n<td>Manish Gunwani, Kirthi Jain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The fund is managed by Manish Gunwani and Kirthi Jain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Performance\"><\/span>Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Period<\/th>\n<th>Fund return<\/th>\n<th>Benchmark return<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1M<\/td>\n<td>3.60%<\/td>\n<td>3.90%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3M<\/td>\n<td>8.48%<\/td>\n<td>8.48%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1Y<\/td>\n<td>14.75%<\/td>\n<td>8.56%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3Y<\/td>\n<td>26.48%<\/td>\n<td>14.23%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5Y<\/td>\n<td>20.74%<\/td>\n<td>15.79%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The recent picture is mixed but still constructive. Over 1 month, the fund slightly trailed the benchmark, and over 3 months both were aligned at 8.48%, which suggests the recent move has been broad-based rather than fund-specific.<\/p>\n<p>The 1-year number is stronger than the benchmark by a clear margin, so the fund has recovered better than the benchmark over the last year. That matters because small-cap funds often look very different over shorter windows, and a lead over the index at this horizon indicates the portfolio has handled the recent phase better than the benchmark.<\/p>\n<p>The 3-year and 5-year figures are the more useful part of the story. The fund\u2019s 26.48% and 20.74% returns remain well ahead of the benchmark\u2019s 14.23% and 15.79%, which points to sustained compounding rather than a single short burst. The longer path has not been smooth, though: the return pattern shows noticeable swings before the stronger multi-year trend resumed.<\/p>\n<p>For investors, the main takeaway is that this is not a defensive small-cap fund. The longer-term edge versus the benchmark is real, but the ups and downs around that trend are equally visible, so the investment case depends on patience and comfort with sharp interim fluctuations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<section class=\"univest-mf-premium-cta\" style=\"margin:28px 0;padding:24px;border-radius:10px;border:1px solid #d8e3f0;background:#f7faff\">\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_you_BUY_or_HOLD_Bandhan_Small_Cap\"><\/span>Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan Small Cap?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A fund&#8217;s past returns alone don&#8217;t tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Already holding Bandhan Small Cap? Thinking of investing now?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\" style=\"font-weight:700;text-decoration:none\">Get your portfolio analysed for FREE by SEBI-registered Investment Adviser (RIA) through Univest MF Premium<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peer_comparison\"><\/span>Peer comparison<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Fund<\/th>\n<th>1Y return<\/th>\n<th>3Y return<\/th>\n<th>5Y return<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/bandhan-small-cap-fund-g-direct-plan\">Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>14.7507%<\/td>\n<td>26.4819%<\/td>\n<td>20.7354%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/trustmf-small-cap-fund-g-direct-plan\">TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>34.453%<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/bank-of-india-small-cap-fund-g-direct-plan\">Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>29.8577%<\/td>\n<td>23.6915%<\/td>\n<td>21.6131%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/motilal-oswal-small-cap-fund-g-direct-plan\">Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>27.3968%<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/union-small-cap-fund-g-direct-plan\">Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>26.5565%<\/td>\n<td>19.2487%<\/td>\n<td>19.1461%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/iti-small-cap-fund-g-direct-plan\">ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>24.4962%<\/td>\n<td>27.0623%<\/td>\n<td>20.7449%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.<\/p>\n<p>The fund\u2019s 1-year return trails several peers that have available 1-year figures, so the near-term comparison is not the strongest part of its case. Even so, its 3-year return is ahead of the available 3-year figures for Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan, Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan and ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan, while its 5-year return remains close to ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan and ahead of the other peer figures shown here.<\/p>\n<p>That means the short-term and longer-term comparisons tell different stories. The recent year looks softer versus some peers, but the longer horizon still supports the fund\u2019s compounding record. For investors, the key question is whether they value consistency in recent relative strength or are comfortable relying more on the steadier multi-year pattern.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<div class=\"univest-peer-login-cta\" style=\"margin:20px 0;padding:16px 18px;border:1px solid #d8e3f0;border-radius:8px;background:#f7faff\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\"><strong>Want to know more?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/user\/log-in\" style=\"font-weight:700;text-decoration:none\">Log in to Univest<\/a> for more mutual fund insights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Portfolio_where_your_money_goes\"><\/span>Portfolio: where your money goes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The market-cap mix is heavily tilted to small caps at 69.13%, with 13.81% in mid caps, 6.12% in large caps and 10.94% in other categories. That structure tells us the fund is designed to stay close to the small-cap space rather than soften it with a large-cap bias.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Sector<\/th>\n<th>Weight<\/th>\n<th>Top holdings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>FINANCE<\/td>\n<td>21.57%<\/td>\n<td>MULTI COMMODITY EXCHANGE OF INDIA LIMITED (8.78%), ANGEL ONE LIMITED (2.58%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>IT<\/td>\n<td>11.14%<\/td>\n<td>ECLERX SERVICES LIMITED (7.8%), INFO EDGE (INDIA) LIMITED (0.88%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>CASH &amp; CASH EQUIVALENTS AND NET ASSETS<\/td>\n<td>8.39%<\/td>\n<td>TRIPARTY REPO TRP_020426_VAL (1.13%), TRIPARTY REPO TRP_040526 (1.09%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>BANK<\/td>\n<td>7.57%<\/td>\n<td>KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LIMITED (1.6%), THE SOUTH INDIAN BANK LIMITED (1.52%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HEALTHCARE<\/td>\n<td>7.53%<\/td>\n<td>YATHARTH HOSPITAL AND TRAUMA CARE SERVICES LIMITED (0.97%), JUBILANT PHARMOVA LIMITED (0.89%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Finance is the largest sector by a wide margin at 21.57%, so it is likely to have greater influence on the fund\u2019s day-to-day behaviour than the other named sectors. IT at 11.14% is the next meaningful sleeve, but it is materially smaller, which keeps the portfolio from looking sector-balanced in a strict sense.<\/p>\n<p>The holding list also shows one stock with a noticeably higher weight inside finance and another in IT, which can add to sector-specific movement. At the same time, the cash and cash-equivalents sleeve at 8.39% gives some room for liquidity and can slightly moderate immediate deployment risk. Overall, the mix still looks dominated by small-cap equity exposure, so swings in sector sentiment may matter more than in a diversified multi-cap style fund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_should_invest\"><\/span>Who should invest<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and who can stay invested through uneven periods. The 1-year result is solid, but the stronger case comes from the 3-year and 5-year numbers, which suggests that the fund has worked better as a patient holding than as a short-term allocation.<\/p>\n<p>The main trade-off is clear: you get strong small-cap participation and a history of better longer-term compounding than the benchmark, but you also accept sharper short-term swings and sector-driven movement. Investors with a long horizon and a willingness to tolerate volatility may find the profile more relevant than those who want smoother monthly outcomes.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tax_and_exit_load\"><\/span>Tax and exit load<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Holding period<\/th>\n<th>Tax rate<\/th>\n<th>Description<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Units held less than 1 year<\/td>\n<td>20%<\/td>\n<td>Short-term capital gains tax<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Units held more than 1 year<\/td>\n<td>12.5%<\/td>\n<td>Long-term capital gains tax<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Exit load<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1% on or before 1Y<\/li>\n<li>No exit load after holding period<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_current_NAV_of_Bandhan_Small_Cap_Fund_Direct_Growth_Plan\"><\/span>What is the current NAV of Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The current NAV is \u20b957.343 as of 27 August 2026.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_funds_1-year_3-year_and_5-year_returns\"><\/span>What are the fund\u2019s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The fund\u2019s returns are 14.7507% for 1 year, 26.4819% for 3 years and 20.7354% for 5 years.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_it_compare_with_the_benchmark\"><\/span>How does it compare with the benchmark?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It has outperformed the Nifty Small Cap benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is especially visible over the multi-year periods, where the fund\u2019s returns are noticeably higher.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_minimum_SIP_amount\"><\/span>What is the minimum SIP amount?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The minimum SIP amount is \u20b9100.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_risk_category_of_this_fund\"><\/span>What is the risk category of this fund?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The fund is tagged as High Risk, which fits its small-cap heavy portfolio and its uneven return pattern across shorter windows.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_manages_the_fund_and_what_is_the_exit_load\"><\/span>Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The fund is managed by Manish Gunwani and Kirthi Jain. The exit load is 1% on or before 1 year, and there is no exit load after the holding period.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bottom_line\"><\/span>Bottom line<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed short-term showing but a stronger long-term record, with 3-year and 5-year returns that stay ahead of the benchmark. Its peer comparison is less flattering over 1 year, yet the multi-year figures still support the fund\u2019s compounding case. The portfolio remains heavily small-cap focused, led by finance and IT, so the fund is best understood as a high-volatility equity option for investors who can tolerate sector swings and wait for the longer horizon to matter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"univest-posted-at\" style=\"font-size:14px;color:#666;margin:20px 0 8px\">Published on 28 August 2026 at 10:39 AM IST<\/p>\n<section class=\"univest-login-cta\" style=\"margin:28px 0;padding:24px;border-radius:10px;background:#eef5ff;border:1px solid #cddff7;text-align:center\">\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Explore_mutual_funds_with_Univest\"><\/span>Explore mutual funds with Univest<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/user\/log-in\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:11px 20px;border-radius:6px;background:#1f4e79;color:#fff !important;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700\">Explore Univest<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"univest-disclaimer\">\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"RIA_disclosure\"><\/span>RIA disclosure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"InvestmentFund\",\"name\":\"Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan\",\"identifier\":\"bandhan-small-cap-fund-g-direct-plan\",\"category\":\"Equity\",\"dateCreated\":\"25 Feb 2020\",\"isAccessibleForFree\":true,\"additionalProperty\":[{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"NAV\",\"value\":57.343,\"valueReference\":\"as of 27 Aug 2026\"},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"AUM\",\"value\":\"31103 Cr\"},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"Expense Ratio\",\"value\":\"0.4\"},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"Benchmark\",\"value\":\"Nifty Small Cap\"},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"1Y Return\",\"value\":14.7507},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"3Y Return\",\"value\":26.4819},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"5Y Return\",\"value\":20.7354},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"Fund Managers\",\"value\":\"Manish Gunwani, Kirthi Jain\"}]}<\/script><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the current NAV of Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The current NAV is \u20b957.343 as of 27 August 2026.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are the fund\u2019s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The fund\u2019s returns are 14.7507% for 1 year, 26.4819% for 3 years and 20.7354% for 5 years.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How does it compare with the benchmark?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It has outperformed the Nifty Small Cap benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is especially visible over the multi-year periods, where the fund\u2019s returns are noticeably higher.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the minimum SIP amount?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The minimum SIP amount is \u20b9100.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the risk category of this fund?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The fund is tagged as High Risk, which fits its small-cap heavy portfolio and its uneven return pattern across shorter windows.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The fund is managed by Manish Gunwani and Kirthi Jain. The exit load is 1% on or before 1 year, and there is no exit load after the holding period.\"}}]}<\/script><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"{{ANALYST_NAME}}\",\"affiliation\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd.\"},\"description\":\"Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. \u2014 SEBI Registered Investment Adviser INA000017639\"}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a \u20b957.343 NAV, \u20b931,103 Cr AUM and High Risk profile, with 1Y\/3Y\/5Y returns of 14.7507%\/26.4819%\/20.7354%.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":222008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3841],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-222009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mutual-funds"],"metadata":{"rank_math_internal_links_processed":["1"],"_thumbnail_id":["222008"],"rank_math_title":["Bandhan Small Cap Fund Review 2026 | NAV &amp; Returns"],"rank_math_description":["Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan NAV is \u20b957.343. 1Y return 14.7507%, 3Y 26.4819%, 5Y 20.7354%."],"rank_math_focus_keyword":["Bandhan Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan review"],"rank_math_robots":["a:2:{i:0;s:7:\"noindex\";i:1;s:8:\"nofollow\";}"],"_edit_lock":["1787896274:29"],"_last_editor_used_jetpack":["block-editor"],"rank_math_primary_category":["3841"],"rank_math_seo_score":["15"],"_edit_last":["29"],"_ez-toc-disabled":[""],"_ez-toc-insert":[""],"_ez-toc-header-label":[""],"_ez-toc-alignment":["none"],"_ez-toc-heading-levels":["a:0:{}"],"_ez-toc-alttext":[""],"_ez-toc-visibility_hide_by_default":[""],"_ez-toc-hide_counter":[""],"_ez-toc-exclude":[""],"_ez-toc-position-specific":["before"],"stm_select_gm_zoom":[""],"stm_agenda":[""],"stm_host":[""],"stm_select_approved_denied":[""],"stm_multiselect_approved":[""],"stm_multiselect_denied":[""],"stm_date":[""],"stm_time":[""],"stm_timezone":[""],"stm_duration":[""],"stm_password":[""],"stm_waiting_room":[""],"stm_join_before_host":[""],"stm_host_join_start":[""],"stm_start_after_participants":[""],"stm_mute_participants":[""],"stm_enforce_login":[""],"stm_alternative_hosts":[""],"top_bar_custom_style":[""],"top_bar_bg":[""],"wc_top_bar_cart_custom_style":[""],"wc_top_bar_cart_color":[""],"wc_top_bar_cart_icon_color_hover":[""],"wc_top_bar_cart_counter_color":[""],"wc_top_bar_cart_counter_color_hover":[""],"wc_top_bar_cart_counter_bg":[""],"wc_top_bar_cart_counter_bg_hover":[""],"top_bar_wpml_switcher_custom_style":[""],"wpml_switcher_color":[""],"top_bar_wpml_switcher_bg":[""],"top_bar_wpml_switcher_bg_hover":[""],"top_bar_wpml_switcher_color_hover":[""],"top_bar_socials_custom_style":[""],"top_bar_socials_color":[""],"top_bar_socials_color_hover":[""],"top_bar_search_custom_style":[""],"top_bar_search_color":[""],"top_bar_search_icon_color_hover":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_style":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_color":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_link_color":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_link_color_hover":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_select_bg":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_select_color":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_select_drop_bg":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_select_items_bg":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_select_items_color":[""],"top_bar_contact_info_select_items_hover":[""],"header_inverse":["default"],"enable_header_transparent":["off"],"header_nav_custom_style":[""],"header_bg":[""],"header_shadow":[""],"wc_cart_custom_style":[""],"wc_cart_icon_color":[""],"wc_cart_icon_color_hover":[""],"wc_cart_counter_color":[""],"wc_cart_counter_color_hover":[""],"wc_cart_counter_bg":[""],"wc_cart_counter_bg_hover":[""],"header_wpml_switcher_custom_style":[""],"header_wpml_switcher_color":[""],"header_wpml_switcher_color_hover":[""],"header_wpml_switcher_bg":[""],"header_wpml_switcher_bg_hover":[""],"header_socials_custom_style":[""],"header_socials_color":[""],"header_socials_color_hover":[""],"header_search_custom_style":[""],"header_search_icon_color":[""],"header_search_icon_color_hover":[""],"header_contact_info_style":[""],"header_contact_info_color":[""],"header_contact_info_link_color":[""],"header_contact_info_link_color_hover":[""],"header_button_custom_style":[""],"header_button_color":[""],"header_button_color_hover":[""],"header_button_bg":[""],"header_button_bg_hover":[""],"header_nav_menu_customize":[""],"header_nav_menu_link_color":[""],"header_nav_menu_link_color_hover":[""],"header_nav_menu_link_color_active":[""],"header_nav_menu_link_arrow_color":[""],"header_nav_menu_link_arrow_color_hover":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_1_bg":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_1_link_color":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_1_link_color_hover":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_1_link_bg_hover":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_1_link_arrow_color":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_1_link_arrow_color_hover":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_2_bg":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_2_link_color":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_2_link_color_hover":[""],"header_nav_menu_level_2_link_bg_hover":[""],"header_mega_menu_bg":[""],"header_mega_menu_title_color":[""],"header_mega_menu_title_color_hover":[""],"header_mega_menu_description_color":[""],"header_mega_menu_description_link_color":[""],"header_mega_menu_description_link_color_hover":[""],"header_mega_menu_color":[""],"header_mega_menu_color_hover":[""],"header_mega_menu_border_color":[""],"header_mega_menu_icons_color":[""],"header_nav_menu_customize_end":[""],"hfe_enabled_notice":[""],"disable_title_box":["default"],"hfe_disabled":[""],"enable_transparent":["default"],"title_box_title_bg_color":[""],"title_box_bg_custom_image":["default"],"title_box_bg_image":[""],"title_box_bg_position":["default"],"metabox_title_box_bg_position_x":[""],"metabox_title_box_bg_position_y":[""],"metabox_title_box_bg_attachment":["default"],"title_box_bg_size":["default"],"metabox_title_box_bg_size_slider":[""],"title_box_bg_repeat":["default"],"disable_title":["default"],"title_box_title_color":[""],"title_box_title_line_color":[""],"disable_breadcrumbs":["default"],"metabox_title_box_breadcrumbs_color":[""],"metabox_title_box_links_color":[""],"metabox_title_box_links_color_hover":[""],"content_bg_transparent":[""],"show_popup_single":[""],"popups_single":[""],"popups_single_event":[""],"popup_single_event_open_delay":[""],"popup_single_event_showing_in":[""],"popup_single_event_date_from":[""],"popup_single_event_date_to":[""],"popup_single_event_time_from":[""],"popup_single_event_time_to":[""],"popup_single_animation":[""],"popup_single_responsive":[""],"separator_footer_copyright_border_t":[""],"name":[""],"email":[""],"phone":[""],"company":[""],"memberId":[""],"testimonial_position":[""],"testimonial_company":[""],"testimonial_bg_img":[""],"testimonial_video_url":[""],"popups_width":[""],"popups_height":[""],"popups_image_bg":[""],"popups_color_bg":[""],"popups_border_radius":[""],"popups_template":[""],"rank_math_analytic_object_id":["40392"]},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bandhan_Small_Cap_Fund_Direct_Growth_Review_2026_NAV_Returns_Portfolio_Should_You_Invest_bullish.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222009"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222194,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222009\/revisions\/222194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/222008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}