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

Axis Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹137.99 as of 27 Aug 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹30,088 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 13.89%, 17.31% and 18.01%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that this is a small-cap fund for investors who can tolerate sharp swings in exchange for a long holding period and who are comfortable with a portfolio that stays heavily tilted toward smaller companies.

The fund’s recent return pattern is steadier than its category label may suggest, but the portfolio remains concentrated in small caps and in a few sectors. That makes it more suitable for investors who want small-cap exposure with a meaningful quality buffer from larger, more established holdings, rather than for those looking for a low-volatility equity option.

Quick facts

Metric	Value
NAV	₹137.99
AUM	₹30,088 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.56%
Launch Date	29 Nov 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty Small Cap
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	Nil for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments on or before 12 months, nil after 12 months
Fund Managers	Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki, Krishnaa N

The fund is managed by Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki and Krishnaa N.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	4.51%	3.90%
3M	10.95%	8.48%
1Y	13.89%	8.56%
3Y	17.31%	14.23%
5Y	18.01%	15.79%

The fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark across every period shown. That matters because the edge is not limited to one short burst: the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns all lead the index by a clear margin.

The short-term pattern looks constructive as well. The 1-month and 3-month figures are both stronger than the benchmark, which suggests the fund entered the latest period with decent momentum rather than needing a sharp rebound to catch up. The daily pattern also points to a choppy but broadly improving path, with small pullbacks along the way rather than a straight line higher.

Over longer stretches, the fund has compounded at a healthy pace for a small-cap strategy. The 3-year and 5-year returns are close enough to each other to suggest that performance has been persistent rather than purely cyclical, and that is reinforced by the benchmark gap that remains visible over the full period. Our view is that the recent trend is directionally consistent with the longer record, even if the path remains uneven.

For investors, the key point is that the fund has not merely outperformed in one window and lagged in another. It has continued to hold a lead over the benchmark while still showing the sort of volatility that comes with small-cap exposure.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Axis 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.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Axis Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	13.89%	17.31%	18.01%
TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	34.453%	Data not available	Data not available
Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	29.8577%	23.6915%	21.6131%
Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	27.3968%	Data not available	Data not available
Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.5565%	19.2487%	19.1461%
ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	24.4962%	27.0623%	20.7449%

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

The fund’s 1-year return is below all of these peer observations that have a usable 1-year figure, but its longer track record is more balanced. On 3-year and 5-year numbers where available, it sits below Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan and ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan, while staying close enough to Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan to remain competitive on medium-term compounding. The short-term gap is wider than the long-term gap, so the peer picture is mixed rather than one-sided.

That mix matters because it suggests the fund’s latest year has been less forceful than several peers, even though its multi-year record is still respectable. For an investor comparing small-cap options, the recent comparison is less flattering than the longer-term comparison, which is why the fund looks better on a patient holding period than on a one-year screen.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Market-cap mix: small cap 72.08%, mid cap 12.56%, large cap 6.89% and other cap 8.47%.

Sector	Portfolio weight	Key holdings
BANK	26.01%	CITY UNION BANK LIMITED (20.64%), KARUR VYSYA BANK LIMITED (0.64%)
REALTY	14.80%	BRIGADE ENTERPRISES LIMITED (13.24%), THE PHOENIX MILLS LIMITED (0.53%)
FINANCE	8.94%	MULTI COMMODITY EXCHANGE OF INDIA LIMITED (5.51%), CHOLAMANDALAM FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LIMITED (0.83%)
RETAILING	6.27%	TRENT LIMITED (4.95%)
HEALTHCARE	5.18%	KRISHNA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES LIMITED (1.30%), METROPOLIS HEALTHCARE LIMITED (0.75%)

The portfolio is dominated by small caps, and that is the most important structural fact for investors to note. The large-cap slice is modest at 6.89%, while mid caps add another 12.56%, so the fund does keep a limited stabilising layer outside the smallest companies. Still, the 72.08% small-cap weight means the scheme should behave like a genuine small-cap fund rather than a blended multi-cap style product.

Within sectors, BANK is materially larger than the next exposure, REALTY. That gap means banking-related performance could have a greater influence on the fund than any other single area, especially because CITY UNION BANK LIMITED is the largest individual holding by a wide margin. REALTY is also meaningful, but it sits well behind BANK and is more likely to play a secondary role.

FINANCE, RETAILING and HEALTHCARE are smaller contributions and help add some diversification, but they do not change the core shape of the portfolio. Our view is that the sector mix, combined with the heavy small-cap weighting, may produce periods when the fund moves differently from broader equity funds and may also explain why results can remain uneven even when the medium-term trend is constructive.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and who can stay invested through volatile phases. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year return pattern shows decent compounding, but the journey has not been smooth, so the holding period matters.

It is better aligned with a long horizon than with a short tactical allocation. Investors who want a small-cap sleeve with a limited mid-cap and large-cap cushion may find the structure easier to hold through market swings than a more concentrated pure small-cap portfolio.

The main trade-off is clear: you get meaningful exposure to smaller companies and a return record that has stayed ahead of the benchmark, but you also accept higher swings and sector concentration, especially in banking and realty.

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 for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments on or before 12 months. Nil after 12 months.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Axis Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹137.99 as of 27 Aug 2026.

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

The 1-year return is 13.89%, the 3-year return is 17.31% and the 5-year return is 18.01%.

How does it compare with the benchmark?

It has stayed ahead of the Nifty Small Cap benchmark across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. That points to consistent relative strength rather than a single strong phase.

How does it compare with peer funds on available return data?

Its 1-year return is below the better recent peer readings shown here, while its 3-year and 5-year numbers remain competitive but not the strongest among the peers with available longer-term figures. The short-term and longer-term pictures are therefore different.

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 Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki and Krishnaa N. The exit load is nil for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments on or before 12 months, and nil after 12 months.

Bottom line

Axis Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a stronger long-term shape than its recent year alone might suggest, because the 3-year and 5-year returns remain solid and the benchmark gap stays positive across periods. Peer comparisons show that the latest 1-year reading is not the standout feature, but the medium-term record still holds up. The fund carries High Risk characteristics, and its small-cap tilt is pronounced, with BANK the largest sector. It fits patient investors who want a genuine small-cap allocation and can accept uneven swings.

Published on 28 August 2026 at 10:39 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.