HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹22.544 as of 17 Sep 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹3,310 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 25.31%, Data not available and Data not available, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a focused healthcare portfolio with strong recent momentum, but the shorter operating history means longer-term return context is still limited. The fund may suit investors who can tolerate sharper swings and want sector-specific exposure rather than broad-market diversification.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹22.544 as of 17 Sep 2026
AUM	₹3,310 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.92%
Launch Date	04 Oct 2023
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D
Fund Managers	Nikhil Mathur

The fund is managed by Nikhil Mathur.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	1.09%	-3.66%
3M	10.43%	-3.71%
1Y	25.31%	-7.13%
3Y	Data not available	Data not available
5Y	Data not available	Data not available

The recent pattern is clearly stronger than the benchmark. Over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, the fund stayed positive while the benchmark was negative in each period, which tells us the strategy has held up better than the broader market in the latest stretches.

The 3-month path also looks steadier than the benchmark, which moved lower through much of the same window. That matters because healthcare funds can behave differently from the index when investors rotate away from large-cap market breadth and toward defensives or stock-specific themes.

Longer-term context is limited because the fund has only been live since October 2023, so there is no 3-year or 5-year return figure to study. Even so, the 1-year number suggests the fund has compounded well through a period when the benchmark was under pressure.

Our view is that the main takeaway is not just outperformance, but the difference in behaviour: this portfolio has recently shown resilience where the benchmark was weak. Investors should still treat that as a theme-led outcome rather than proof of what may happen next.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD HDFC Pharma and Healthcare?

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.

Already holding HDFC Pharma and Healthcare? Thinking of investing now?

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	25.31%	Data not available	Data not available
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	69.8%	36.32%	Data not available
Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	25.27%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan	24.51%	Data not available	Data not available
PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	22.75%	Data not available	Data not available

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

The fund’s 1-year return is close to Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan and ahead of Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan and PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan. The standout short-term figure in this group is ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan, but that strategy is clearly different from this healthcare-focused portfolio.

For longer horizons, the current fund does not yet have 3-year or 5-year return history, so the comparison leans more on recent performance than on compounding depth. That leaves a mixed message: the fund has recent strength, but peers with longer records offer a fuller picture of how they have behaved across a broader market cycle.

For us, the key point is that the short-term comparison is competitive, while the longer-term comparison is simply incomplete. Investors should separate near-term momentum from durability, especially when the fund itself is still relatively new.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Divis Laboratories Ltd.	Healthcare	9.54%
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.	Healthcare	8.94%
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.	Healthcare	4.08%
Max Healthcare Institute Limited	Healthcare	4.06%
Lupin Ltd.	Healthcare	4.04%
Cipla Ltd.	Healthcare	3.94%
Aster DM Quality Care Limited	Healthcare	3.84%
Neuland Laboratories Limited	Healthcare	3.7%
Anthem Biosciences Limited	Healthcare	3.48%
Acutaas Chemicals Limited	Healthcare	3.24%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 48.86% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Divis Laboratories Ltd. is the largest holding at 9.54%, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. follows at 8.94%. After that, the weights step down into the 4% range fairly quickly, which suggests the portfolio does not lean on one or two names alone.

The gap from the largest holding to the tenth holding is material, but not extreme. That pattern can still make the top positions important, especially because the first two holdings together already account for a meaningful share of the visible book.

At the same time, 48.86% across the top 10 and 37 disclosed holdings overall indicates a concentrated but not narrowly held portfolio. Our view is that this may give the fund enough stock-level diversification within healthcare, while still leaving performance more sensitive to its biggest positions.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who can accept High Risk and are comfortable with a sector-focused equity portfolio. The recent return pattern is positive and stronger than the benchmark, but the fund’s short history means there is not yet a long record to lean on for cycle testing.

It is better suited to a medium- to long-term horizon, where investors can allow healthcare exposure time to play out. The trade-off is clear: you may get differentiated return behaviour versus the broad market, but you also take on higher concentration in one sector and less certainty than in a diversified 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

1% on or before 30 days. Nil after 30 days.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹22.544 as of 17 Sep 2026.

What is the fund’s 1-year return?

The 1-year return is 25.31%.

Does the fund have 3-year and 5-year return history?

No. The 3-year and 5-year return figures are Data not available because the fund has a short operating history.

How has the fund performed against Nifty 50 recently?

It has outperformed Nifty 50 over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year. The benchmark was negative across those same periods while the fund stayed positive.

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 Nikhil Mathur. The exit load is 1% on or before 30 days and nil after 30 days.

Bottom line

HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan has started with strong recent momentum and has stayed ahead of the benchmark in the latest periods, but its short history means longer-term evidence is still limited. In peer terms, the recent return is competitive, though some peers have longer performance records to compare against. The portfolio is concentrated in healthcare stocks, led by Divis Laboratories Ltd. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., so the fund suits investors who want sector exposure and can accept High Risk.

Published on 18 September 2026 at 9:39 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.