ICICI Pru Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

ICICI Pru Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹25.13 as of 10 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹15,794 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 2.74%, 6.78% and 7.51% respectively, and the scheme carries a Balanced Risk profile. Our view is that this is a steadier hybrid-style option rather than a return-chasing one, with results that have held up better over longer periods than in the recent one-year window.

The fund’s portfolio mix and balanced risk reading suggest it is built to smooth equity exposure rather than fully mirror the benchmark. That can suit investors who want equity participation with a moderated ride, but it also means the upside may be more restrained when markets turn strongly in favour of pure equity funds.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹25.13 as of 10 Sep 2026
AUM	₹15,794 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.5%
Launch Date	05 Dec 2014
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	Balanced Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Hybrid
Exit Load	Nil upto 10% of units and 0.25% for remaining units on or before 7D, Nil after 7D
Fund Managers	Dharmesh Kakkad, Archana Nair, Ajaykumar Solanki, Manish Banthia

The fund is managed by Dharmesh Kakkad, Archana Nair, Ajaykumar Solanki and Manish Banthia.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-0.36%	-4.06%
3M	1.78%	1.37%
1Y	2.74%	-7.31%
3Y	6.78%	6.07%
5Y	7.51%	5.91%

Recent behaviour has been uneven but not fragile. The one-month return is slightly negative, yet it is still better than the benchmark’s sharper fall over the same period. Over three months, the fund has stayed positive and has also edged ahead of the benchmark, which points to a comparatively steadier short-term profile.

The one-year number is more telling: the fund is positive while the benchmark is negative. That gap suggests the scheme has held up better through a weaker market phase, even if the absolute return is modest. For investors, that matters because this type of scheme is often judged as much on drawdown control as on raw upside.

Over longer periods, the pattern becomes more constructive. The 3-year and 5-year returns are both ahead of the benchmark, which tells us the fund has converted its portfolio design into respectable compounding over a full market cycle. The trail is not explosive, but the longer arc is more consistent than the recent one-year stretch.

That split between recent and longer-term performance is important. Our view is that the fund has behaved like a balanced hybrid should: relatively resilient against benchmark weakness, modest in the near term, and more reliable over time than in a single short window.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD ICICI Pru Equity Savings?

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 ICICI Pru Equity Savings? Thinking of investing now?

Get your portfolio analysed for FREE by SEBI-registered Investment Adviser (RIA) through Univest MF Premium

Peer comparison

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

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
ICICI Pru Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	2.74%	6.78%	7.51%
Edelweiss Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.49%	11.44%	9.76%
HSBC Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.33%	12.82%	11.09%
WOC Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.61%	Data not available	Data not available
Mahindra Manulife Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.05%	9.37%	8.93%
Capitalmind Flexi Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.10%	Data not available	Data not available

The fund’s 1-year return trails the stronger peer numbers shown here, so the recent stretch has not matched the faster-moving alternatives in this comparison set. Even so, its 3-year and 5-year returns remain constructive because they sit above the benchmark and are not far from the middle of the peer cluster on longer windows.

The short-term picture and the longer-term picture do tell different stories. In the near term, several peers have produced materially stronger returns, while this fund has been more restrained. Over 3 years and 5 years, however, the scheme looks more competitive and its steadier profile may appeal to investors who value smoother participation over chasing the highest recent number.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
ICICI Prudential Money Market Fund – Direct Plan – Growth	Domestic Mutual Funds Units	8.63%
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Bank	8.15%
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.	Healthcare	5.65%
Reliance Industries Ltd.	Crude Oil	5.02%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	4.70%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.	Bank	3.95%
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	3.55%
Bajaj Finance Ltd.	Finance	2.75%
ITC Ltd.	FMCG	2.53%
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.	Logistics	2.52%

The largest disclosed holding is ICICI Prudential Money Market Fund – Direct Plan – Growth at 8.63%, which gives the portfolio a noticeable cash-like and short-duration anchor. The next few positions are still meaningful, but the weights step down fairly quickly from HDFC Bank to Adani Ports, which suggests the portfolio does not rely on one dominant equity bet alone.

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 47.45% of the portfolio, and the scheme discloses 41 holdings in total. That combination points to a portfolio that is not highly concentrated in just a handful of names, even though the leading positions may still have greater influence on short-term movement than the broader tail.

Because the mix includes both equity names and money-market or cash-linked exposure, the fund may behave differently from a plain equity fund during sharp market swings. The structure could help moderate volatility, but it may also limit how fast the fund participates when equity markets rally strongly.

To see all holdings, visit the ICICI Pru Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better suited to investors who can live with moderate ups and downs rather than those looking for a very aggressive growth profile. Its Balanced Risk tag, coupled with a long-run return record that is steadier than the recent one-year figure, makes it more suitable for medium- to long-term horizons than for very short holding periods.

Investors who want some equity participation but also value a more tempered portfolio mix may find the structure useful. The main trade-off is that the scheme may not keep pace with stronger pure-equity peers in fast-rising markets, even though it has been relatively resilient versus the benchmark and more consistent over 3-year and 5-year windows.

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 0.25% for remaining units on or before 7D, Nil after 7D.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of ICICI Pru Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹25.13 as of 10 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 2.74% over 1 year, 6.78% over 3 years and 7.51% over 5 years.

How has it done against the benchmark?
It has beaten the benchmark across the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods shown here. The one-year gap is especially clear because the benchmark is negative while the fund remains positive.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its recent return is lower than several peer funds in this comparison, while the longer-term numbers are more competitive. That makes the short-term and long-term picture 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 Dharmesh Kakkad, Archana Nair, Ajaykumar Solanki and Manish Banthia. The exit load is nil up to 10% of units and 0.25% for the remaining units on or before 7 days, and nil after 7 days.

Bottom line

ICICI Pru Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan looks steadier over longer horizons than in the latest one-year stretch. It has stayed ahead of the benchmark across the periods shown, but several peer funds have delivered stronger recent returns. The portfolio’s blend of equity names, money-market exposure and cash-linked assets supports its Balanced Risk profile, which may suit investors seeking moderate participation rather than full market aggression.

Published on 11 September 2026 at 3:46 PM IST

Explore mutual funds with Univest

Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.

Explore Univest

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.