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

DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹60.8948 as of 08 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹309 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 11.3%, 16.84% and 13.37%, and it sits in the Medium Risk category.

Our view is that this is a debt fund for investors who can accept some credit-driven volatility in exchange for a return profile that has stayed ahead of the benchmark over longer periods. The portfolio is spread across government securities, CDs, corporate debt and cash equivalents, so the fund does not rely on one single bucket alone.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹60.8948 as of 08 Sep 2026
AUM	₹309 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.4%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Debt
Exit Load	Nil for 10% of investment and 1% for remaining Investment on or before 12M, Nil after 12M
Fund Managers	Vivekanand Ramakrishnan, Shalini Vasanta, Kunal Khudania

The fund is managed by Vivekanand Ramakrishnan, Shalini Vasanta and Kunal Khudania.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.27%	-3.86%
3M	1.95%	1.69%
1Y	11.3%	-5.72%
3Y	16.84%	6.3%
5Y	13.37%	6.05%

The short-term pattern has been uneven but still constructive. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund stayed positive, while the benchmark was weaker over 1 month and only modestly positive over 3 months. That tells us the fund has not been moving in lockstep with the benchmark and has been able to hold up better in the recent stretch.

The 1-year return of 11.3% is meaningfully above the benchmark’s -5.72%, which is a clear gap. That is important because it shows the fund did not merely protect capital in a difficult period; it also compounded positively while the benchmark was under pressure. For a credit-risk strategy, that kind of relative resilience matters as much as the absolute number.

The longer horizon is stronger still. The 3-year return of 16.84% and the 5-year return of 13.37% both sit well above the benchmark’s 6.3% and 6.05% for the same periods. Our read is that the fund has delivered a steadier compounding path over time, with the 3-year period looking particularly strong. The daily pattern also shows some swings, which is normal for a portfolio that includes credit exposure, but the overall direction over longer periods has been upward.

At the same time, recent returns are not dramatically different from the longer-term trend. The fund has remained positive over the last month and quarter, so the latest phase is more a continuation of steady gains than a sharp new breakout. For investors, that usually points to a fund that can participate in upside while still carrying the credit and duration sensitivities that come with this category.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD DSP 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	17.87%	10.12%	27.79%
Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	13.06%	13.19%	10.94%
DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	11.3%	16.84%	13.37%
ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.79%	9.17%	8.03%
Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.76%	8.87%	7.71%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On 1-year returns, the fund trails Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan and Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan, but it stays ahead of ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan and Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan. The longer horizon gives a different picture: its 3-year return is the strongest among the listed funds, and its 5-year return also sits above the ICICI Pru and Axis funds, though below Bank of India. That mix suggests the fund’s recent showing is solid, while its medium-term compounding has been stronger than some peers.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
6.94% GOI 11052036	Government Securities	8.24%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited**	Certificate of Deposit	7.85%
Tata Projects Limited**	Corporate Debt	7.49%
Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited**	Corporate Debt	6.84%
Adani Power Limited**	Corporate Debt	6.51%
Aditya Birla Digital Fashion Ventures Limited**	Corporate Debt	6.49%
Adani Airport Holdings Limited**	Corporate Debt	6.48%
TREPS / Reverse Repo Investments	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	5.76%
Aditya Birla Renewables Limited**	Corporate Debt	5.24%
JTPM Metal Traders Limited**	Corporate Debt	5.22%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 66.12% of the portfolio.

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

The largest holding, 6.94% GOI 11052036, is 8.24% of the portfolio, which gives the sovereign debt bucket a visible anchor. The next few positions are also meaningful in size, with the second holding at 7.85% and the tenth at 5.22%, so the spread from the top position to the tenth is not extreme. That suggests the fund is not built around one oversized bet, even though the leading positions still matter.

Because the displayed top 10 already make up 66.12% of the portfolio, the fund appears moderately concentrated rather than broadly dispersed across many equally sized positions. The disclosed 22 holdings indicate there is a longer tail beyond the table, but the listed positions still carry substantial influence. In our view, that mix may help the portfolio balance return-seeking credit exposure with some stabilising government securities and cash equivalents.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with Medium Risk and want a debt allocation that can accept some credit-linked volatility. The 1-year result is positive and the 3-year and 5-year figures are stronger still, while the benchmark has been weaker over the same longer windows. That makes the fund more suitable for a medium- to long-term horizon rather than a short-term parking place.

The main trade-off is between the possibility of better compounding and the credit risk embedded in the portfolio. The holding mix includes government securities, CDs and a fairly large set of corporate debt exposures, so the fund is not a pure low-volatility debt option. Investors who want steadier debt-style returns but can tolerate periodic swings may find the profile more relevant than those looking for the most conservative allocation.

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 investment and 1% for the remaining investment if redeemed on or before 12 months; no exit load after the holding period.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹60.8948 as of 08 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 11.3% for 1 year, 16.84% for 3 years and 13.37% for 5 years.

How has it done versus the benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark across the periods shown. The gap is especially clear over 1 year, where the fund is positive and the benchmark is negative.

How does it compare with other credit risk funds on available returns?
Its 1-year return is below Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan and Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan, but its 3-year return is the strongest among the listed peer funds. Its 5-year return is also ahead of ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan and Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

What is the exit load and who manages the fund?
If units are redeemed on or before 12 months, the exit load is nil for 10% of the investment and 1% for the remaining investment; there is no exit load after the holding period. The fund is managed by Vivekanand Ramakrishnan, Shalini Vasanta and Kunal Khudania.

Bottom line

DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a useful split between recent steadiness and stronger medium-term compounding. It has beaten the benchmark over the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods, while also posting a more mixed short-term pattern that still stayed positive. Among peers, the 1-year return is not the strongest, but the 3-year result is notably better than the listed group. The portfolio is moderately concentrated, with a meaningful share in the top holdings and a mix of government securities, CDs and corporate debt.

Published on 9 September 2026 at 1:22 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.