ICICI Pru Children's Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

ICICI Pru Children's Fund Direct Growth Plan is an equity solution-oriented fund with a High Risk profile. Its NAV is ₹358.92 as of 09 Sep 2026, and its scheme AUM stands at ₹1,435 Cr. The fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -1.03%, 12.19% and 11.96%, respectively.

Our view is that this is a fund for investors who can live with uneven short-term moves in exchange for a steadier long-term compounding pattern. The portfolio is anchored by banks and large-cap names, but the presence of cash and credit exposure also means the path can differ from a plain equity index.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹358.92 as of 09 Sep 2026
AUM	₹1,435 Cr
Expense Ratio	1.46%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Solution Oriented
Exit Load	No exit load
Fund Managers	Aatur Shah, Darshil Dedhia, Rohit Lakhotia

The fund is managed by Aatur Shah, Darshil Dedhia and Rohit Lakhotia.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-2.9%	-4.69%
3M	1.21%	0.93%
1Y	-1.03%	-7.16%
3Y	12.19%	6%
5Y	11.96%	5.87%

The near-term pattern is mixed, but it is not weak across the board. Over 1 month the fund fell less than the benchmark, and over 3 months it held a slightly better pace than the index. That tells us the fund has been able to cushion some of the short-term market stress, even though the last year still ended slightly negative.

The 1-year return of -1.03% matters because it shows the fund did not escape the broader wobble in the past year. Even so, the benchmark’s -7.16% outcome was much weaker, so the fund compared favourably in that stretch. For an investor, that is a useful sign that the portfolio has not simply mirrored index weakness.

The longer view is stronger. The 3-year and 5-year returns of 12.19% and 11.96% are both well ahead of the benchmark’s 6% and 5.87%. That gap suggests the fund has converted its longer holding periods into better compounding than the index, even though the path has not been linear.

The time pattern also points to a fund that has gone through periods of recovery and pullback rather than a smooth climb. Our interpretation is that the fund has behaved like an active equity-oriented solution with moderate resilience in down phases and better compounding over multi-year periods.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD ICICI Pru Children's?

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
ICICI Pru Children's Fund Direct Growth Plan	-1.03%	12.19%	11.96%
SBI Children's Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan	16.76%	21.09%	21.49%
SBI Children's Fund-Savings Plan Direct Growth Plan	10.09%	11.79%	10.89%
LIC MF Children’s Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.06%	9.32%	8.37%
Aditya Birla SL Bal Bhavishya Yojna Direct Growth Plan	7.5%	11.28%	10.08%
Baroda BNP Paribas Children's Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.67%	Data not available	Data not available

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On the 1-year measure, this fund trails SBI Children’s Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan but stays ahead of the other listed peer funds with available figures. The longer-term picture is more balanced: its 3-year and 5-year returns are below SBI Children’s Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan, yet ahead of the other peers with available 3-year and 5-year numbers. That combination means the short-term peer read is not the same as the longer-term read.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Bank	8.47%
Axis Bank Ltd.	Bank	8.15%
Reliance Industries Ltd.	Crude Oil	7.22%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	6.87%
Atul Ltd.	Chemicals	3.74%
9.4% Vedanta Ltd.	Corporate Debt	3.5%
State Bank of India	Bank	2.95%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.	Bank	2.92%
Bajaj Holdings & Investment Ltd.	Finance	2.84%
ITC Ltd.	FMCG	2.31%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 48.97% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the ICICI Pru Children's Fund Direct Growth Plan page

HDFC Bank Ltd. is the largest holding at 8.47%, and that makes it a meaningful driver of the fund’s day-to-day movement. The next few positions are also substantial, but the drop from the first name to the tenth holding at 2.31% shows that the portfolio is not dominated by a single security.

At the same time, the displayed holdings still absorb only about half of the portfolio, while 53 holdings are disclosed in total. That points to a mix of concentration at the top and a longer tail beneath it. Our view is that the largest positions may have greater influence on returns, but the broader holding list should help reduce overdependence on any one company.

The sector spread across banks, crude oil, chemicals, debt, finance and FMCG also suggests that the fund is not confined to one narrow theme. Even so, the large bank allocation in the leading slots means the portfolio could still be sensitive to moves in financials.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better suited to investors with a High Risk appetite and a multi-year horizon. The negative 1-year return alongside the stronger 3-year and 5-year record suggests that patience matters more here than trying to time short stretches.

The fund has also held up better than the benchmark over the longer periods, so it can appeal to investors who want active equity exposure rather than a simple index-like path. The main trade-off is that the ride can still be uneven, especially in the short run, while the longer-run compounding story has been more constructive.

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: No exit load.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of ICICI Pru Children's Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹358.92 as of 09 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is -1.03%, its 3-year return is 12.19% and its 5-year return is 11.96%.

How has it compared with the benchmark?
It has done better than Nifty 50 over 3 years and 5 years, and it has also stayed ahead over 1 year despite the negative result. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund also held up slightly better than the benchmark.

How does it compare with the listed peer funds?
Its 1-year return trails SBI Children’s Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan but stays ahead of the other listed peers with available figures. Over 3 years and 5 years, it remains below SBI Children’s Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan but ahead of the other peers with available data.

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

What is the risk level and what does the portfolio look like?
The fund is classified as High Risk. Its largest holdings are led by HDFC Bank Ltd. at 8.47%, followed by Axis Bank Ltd. at 8.15% and Reliance Industries Ltd. at 7.22%, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 48.97% of the portfolio.

Bottom line

This fund’s short-term result has been choppy, but its 3-year and 5-year record is clearly stronger than its 1-year outcome and better than the benchmark over the longer stretches. Against the listed peer set, it sits behind the strongest SBI peer on available data, yet ahead of the rest of the comparison group on the return figures we have. The High Risk label, combined with a portfolio led by banks and a sizable top-holding weight, makes it more appropriate for investors who can stay invested through volatility and wait for multi-year compounding.

Published on 10 September 2026 at 9:36 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.