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

Bajaj Finserv Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹11.24 as of 15 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹2,646 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 14.47%, Data not available and Data not available, and it sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that the fund has shown a positive near-term run, but the shorter history and volatile small-cap setting mean investors need to look at it with a longer horizon rather than a quick-return mindset.

The fund is still early in its life, having launched on 18 Jul 2025, so the current performance picture is useful mainly for assessing how it has behaved through recent market swings. The combination of a broad 71-holding portfolio and a fairly concentrated top set suggests return outcomes may be shaped by a limited number of positions.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹11.24 as of 15 Sep 2026
AUM	₹2,646 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.44%
Launch Date	18 Jul 2025
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Exit Load	Nil upto 10% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 6M, Nil after 6M
Fund Managers	Nimesh Chandan, Sorbh Gupta, Siddharth Chaudhary

The fund is managed by Nimesh Chandan, Sorbh Gupta and Siddharth Chaudhary.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-0.89%	-4.81%
3M	6.44%	-3.63%
1Y	14.47%	-8.27%
3Y	Data not available	Data not available
5Y	Data not available	Data not available

The fund’s recent path has been steadier than the benchmark over the last month and three months. It finished the month slightly negative, but that is still much better than the benchmark’s deeper decline, and the 3-month gain shows that it recovered after a shaky start.

Over 1 year, the fund has stayed in positive territory while the benchmark has remained negative. That gap matters because it suggests the portfolio has held up better than the index through the past year, even though the ride has not been smooth. The daily pattern in the period data also points to intermittent drawdowns and rebounds rather than a straight upward move.

Because this scheme was launched only in July 2025, there is no 3-year or 5-year return history yet. That makes the 1-year number useful, but not enough on its own to judge whether the current pace is durable across a full market cycle.

Overall, the near-term picture is better than the benchmark, but it still looks like an early-stage track record for a high-risk small-cap strategy. Investors should read the recent strength as evidence of resilience, not as proof of a settled long-term pattern.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Bajaj Finserv 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
Bajaj Finserv Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	14.47%	Data not available	Data not available
Baroda BNP Paribas Gold ETF FoF Direct Growth Plan	34.78%	Data not available	Data not available
HDFC Innovation Fund Direct Growth Plan	14.3%	Data not available	Data not available
Quant Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	9.25%	Data not available	Data not available
Kotak Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.59%	Data not available	Data not available

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On 1-year returns, the fund is ahead of HDFC Innovation Fund Direct Growth Plan, Quant Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan and Kotak Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan, but behind Baroda BNP Paribas Gold ETF FoF Direct Growth Plan. For longer periods, the comparison is limited because the current fund and several peers do not yet have 3-year or 5-year figures available, so the short-term view is more informative than any longer-horizon comparison right now.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Rubicon Research Limited	Domestic Equities	3.98%
Welspun Corp Limited	Iron & Steel	3.91%
TD Power Systems Limited	Capital Goods	2.78%
CRISIL Limited	Ratings	2.72%
S.J.S. Enterprises Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	2.7%
Schaeffler India Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	2.66%
Zydus Wellness Limited	FMCG	2.57%
Timken India Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	2.49%
The Federal Bank Limited	Bank	2.22%
Angel One Limited	Finance	2.07%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 28.1% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the Bajaj Finserv Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding is Rubicon Research Limited at 3.98%, and the decline from the first position to the tenth is fairly gradual. The top five positions all sit in a narrow band, which suggests that no single large holding dominates the visible part of the portfolio.

That said, the top 10 together make up only 28.1% of the portfolio, while the full disclosed holding count is 71. This points to a structure that is spread across many names rather than tightly packed into a small cluster, although the largest positions may still have the greatest influence on short-term movement.

Several of the largest holdings come from industrial, financial and consumer-facing businesses, which may help the portfolio avoid being dependent on just one theme. Even so, small-cap portfolios can see individual positions matter more than the broad list suggests, so the mix here should be read as diversified but still capable of uneven moves.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can accept High Risk and are comfortable with a small-cap portfolio that may move sharply in different market phases. The one-year return is positive and better than the benchmark, but the absence of longer track record means the case for it rests more on recent behaviour than on a proven full-cycle record.

We think the better fit is an investor with a long horizon and patience for volatility. The main trade-off is that the portfolio can offer upside participation through a wide set of smaller companies, but the same structure can also lead to faster swings than a more stable equity fund.

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 10% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 6M, Nil after 6M.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

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

The current NAV is ₹11.24 as of 15 Sep 2026.

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

The 1-year return is 14.47%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are Data not available. The fund is too new for meaningful longer-horizon figures.

How does the fund compare with Nifty 50?

It has beaten the benchmark over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year. The benchmark has remained negative across those same periods, while the fund has stayed positive over 3 months and 1 year.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?

Its 1-year return is above three of the four other funds shown and below one peer. Longer-horizon comparison is limited because the current fund and several peers do not have 3-year or 5-year figures available.

Who manages the fund?

The fund is managed by Nimesh Chandan, Sorbh Gupta and Siddharth Chaudhary.

What are the tax and exit-load rules?

Units held for less than 1 year face 20% short-term capital gains tax, while units held for more than 1 year face 12.5% long-term capital gains tax. The exit load is nil for up to 10% of units and 1% for the remaining units if sold on or before 6 months, and nil after 6 months.

Bottom line

Bajaj Finserv Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a better recent run than its benchmark, but its history is still short and the longer-horizon return fields are not yet available. The peer view also leans on recent numbers rather than a full multi-year comparison. Its High Risk tag and small-cap orientation make it suitable only for investors who can handle volatility and hold for the long term. The diversified 71-holding structure may help spread stock-specific risk, but the top positions still matter enough to shape outcomes.

Published on 16 September 2026 at 6:07 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.