Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹26.4643 as of 10 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹394 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 8.75%, 8.85% and 7.7%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a debt fund that has delivered steady but not standout compounding over longer periods, with a recent 1-year result that is broadly in line with its 3-year and 5-year profile. The portfolio is spread across corporate debt, government securities, CDs and cash-like exposures, so the return profile is more about credit selection and portfolio discipline than about chasing sharp upside.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹26.4643 as of 10 Sep 2026
AUM	₹394 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.8%
Launch Date	15 Jul 2014
Min SIP	₹1,000
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Debt
Exit Load	Nil for 10% of investments and 1% for remaining investment on or before 12M, Nil after 12M
Fund Managers	Devang Shah, Akhil Thakker

The fund is managed by Devang Shah and Akhil Thakker.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.43%	-4.06%
3M	2.57%	1.37%
1Y	8.75%	-7.31%
3Y	8.85%	6.07%
5Y	7.7%	5.91%

The recent pattern is better than the benchmark on every period shown. The 1-month return is modest, but it is still ahead of the benchmark’s decline over the same stretch, which tells us the fund has been comparatively stable in a weak market spell. The 3-month result also stays ahead, and that gap matters because it shows the fund has not needed a strong market tailwind to remain positive.

Longer term, the fund has compounded at 8.85% over 3 years and 7.7% over 5 years. That is a steady outcome rather than an aggressive one, and it suggests the fund has worked through different market environments with a fairly balanced return path. The benchmark has trailed the fund over 3 years and 5 years, so the scheme has shown better resilience and better compounding than the index across medium and long horizons.

What stands out is that recent returns do not look disconnected from the longer-term trend. The fund has not suddenly accelerated, but neither has it shown a sharp drop in pace. For an investor, that points to a return pattern that is more consistent than cyclical, with the caveat that High Risk debt exposure can still move differently from plain-vanilla fixed income funds.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Axis Credit Risk?

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.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	17.99%	10.1%	27.77%
Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	12.96%	13.18%	10.91%
DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	11.34%	16.81%	13.36%
Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.75%	8.85%	7.7%
ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.72%	9.15%	8.02%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

On 1-year return, the fund trails the stronger peer figures shown here and sits very close to ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan. That tells us the recent year has been respectable, but not as strong as the best outcomes in this peer set.

Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund also sits below several peers with available data, especially the higher-returning Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan and DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan. The comparison suggests the fund has been more moderate in its compounding, while some peers have shown stronger long-run gains. The short-term and longer-term comparisons point in the same direction: steady, but not the most powerful return profile in this group.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Jubilant Bevco Limited (31/05/2028) (ZCB) **	Corporate Debt	4.25%
JTPM Metal Traders Limited (29/09/2028) (ZCB) **	Corporate Debt	4.1%
Net Receivables / (Payables)	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	3.97%
8.4% Narayana Hrudayalaya Limited (15/02/2030) **	Corporate Debt	3.79%
8.8% Aditya Birla Digital Fashion Ventures Limited (26/08/2027) **	Corporate Debt	3.79%
7.45% Altius Telecom Infrastructure Trust (20/04/2035) **	Corporate Debt	3.73%
6.68% Government of India (07/07/2040)	Government Securities	3.67%
Small Industries Dev Bank of India (11/08/2027) **	Certificate of Deposit	3.55%
Clearing Corporation of India Ltd	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	3.44%
7.68% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited (27/10/2028) **	Corporate Debt	3.12%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 37.41% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding is 4.25%, so no single position dominates the visible book. The drop from the first holding to the tenth is only about 1.13 percentage points, which suggests the disclosed positions are fairly tightly grouped rather than sharply layered. That kind of spread may reduce dependence on one security, but it also means several holdings can influence returns in a similar band.

The displayed holdings together make up 37.41% of the portfolio, while 43 holding rows are disclosed overall. That points to a portfolio with a meaningful top slice but also a longer tail beyond the visible names. In practice, this may make the fund’s outcome more dependent on how credit exposure behaves across a wider set of positions instead of a single large anchor.

Because the top positions include corporate debt, government securities, CDs and cash-like balances, the visible mix looks diversified across instrument types rather than concentrated in one bucket. That can help moderate single-name effects, although the fund still remains a credit-risk strategy and can react to spread movement and issuer quality changes.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk debt exposure and who can hold for the medium to long term. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns show a steady pattern rather than a sharp upcycle, so the case for the fund is consistency across periods, not fast gains.

Our view is that it fits investors who want a credit-oriented debt fund that has stayed ahead of the benchmark across the periods shown, but who can also accept that some peers have delivered stronger long-term returns. The main trade-off is between the fund’s steadier profile and the higher-return potential that credit-risk peers can sometimes show. That makes it more suitable for investors who value measured compounding and can tolerate credit-related volatility over time.

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

Units sold on or before 12 months attract no charge on the first 10% of the investment and 1% on the remaining amount. There is no exit load after 12 months.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹26.4643 as of 10 Sep 2026.

What are the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?

The fund’s returns are 8.75% over 1 year, 8.85% over 3 years and 7.7% over 5 years.

How does the fund compare with its benchmark?

It has outperformed the benchmark across the periods shown. The benchmark’s 1-year return is -7.31%, its 3-year return is 6.07% and its 5-year return is 5.91%.

How does it compare with peer funds?

Its recent and longer-term returns are below some peer funds in the comparison set, while staying close to ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan on 1-year return. The fund has been steadier than the strongest peer numbers shown, but not the most aggressive.

Is there a minimum SIP amount?

Yes. The minimum SIP amount is ₹1000.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Devang Shah and Akhil Thakker. Units sold on or before 12 months attract no charge on the first 10% of the investment and 1% on the remaining amount, while no exit load applies after 12 months.

Bottom line

Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steady return pattern that stays ahead of the benchmark on the periods shown, but it has not matched the strongest peer outcomes in this group. The High Risk tag matters here, because the fund’s credit-focused approach can move differently from plain debt options. Its visible portfolio is spread across corporate debt, government securities, CDs and cash-like positions, which may support balance without eliminating credit risk. Overall, it looks more suitable for investors who want measured compounding over time rather than the most aggressive return profile.

Published on 11 September 2026 at 3:13 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.