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

ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹101.2174 as of 09 September 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹832 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 3.29%, 6.64% and 5.49%, and the fund carries a Medium Risk profile.

Our view is that this is a steady, income-oriented debt scheme rather than a short-horizon return play. The portfolio is dominated by government securities, so the return pattern has been fairly measured, with recent performance softer than the mid-term trend but still broadly consistent with a conservative fixed-income mandate.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹101.2174 as of 09 Sep 2026
AUM	₹832 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.43%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹1,000
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Debt
Exit Load	No exit load
Fund Managers	Manish Banthia, Raunak Surana

The fund is managed by Manish Banthia and Raunak Surana.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-1.1%	-4.69%
3M	1.7%	0.93%
1Y	3.29%	-7.16%
3Y	6.64%	6%
5Y	5.49%	5.87%

The last month was weak in absolute terms, but the fund still held up better than the benchmark over the same stretch. That matters because the benchmark’s one-month decline was deeper, which suggests the fund has continued to show some downside control in a difficult patch.

The three-month trend looks more constructive. The fund’s 1.7% return outpaced the benchmark’s 0.93%, which indicates a stronger short-run recovery than the index over that window. The time pattern also suggests a gradual improvement after earlier softness, rather than a sharp rebound from one-off volatility.

Over 1 year, the picture is much clearer: the fund returned 3.29% while the benchmark was negative at -7.16%. That gap shows the fund has been considerably more resilient over the most recent full-year period. Even so, the longer 3-year and 5-year figures are more moderate, which tells us the recent resilience has not yet translated into standout long-run compounding.

Across 3 years, the fund’s 6.64% return slightly leads the benchmark’s 6%, while the 5-year figure of 5.49% trails the benchmark’s 5.87%. Our reading is that the scheme has been steadier than the benchmark in the recent period, but the longer compounding record remains broadly in line rather than decisively ahead.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD ICICI Pru Long Term?

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
Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.03%	Data not available	Data not available
Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	4.23%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	3.7%	6.73%	Data not available
ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	3.29%	6.64%	5.49%
Nippon India Nivesh Lakshya Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	2.87%	6.36%	5.83%

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

On the latest 1-year numbers, the fund sits behind Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan and Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan, but it is ahead of the other available peer returns after that. That makes the recent comparison look mixed rather than one-sided.

At 3 years, the fund’s 6.64% is close to Aditya Birla SL Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan’s 6.73% and above Nippon India Nivesh Lakshya Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan’s 6.36%. Over 5 years, it is below Nippon India Nivesh Lakshya Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan’s 5.83%, but ahead of the fund with available 5-year data only among the listed peers that report a lower figure. The short-term and longer-term comparisons therefore do not tell exactly the same story: the near-term relative showing is softer than some peers, while the mid-term picture stays more balanced.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
7.34% Government Securities	Government Securities	36.62%
6.9% Government Securities	Government Securities	13.56%
7.13% State Government of Maharashtra	Government Securities	8.47%
7.12% State Government of Maharashtra	Government Securities	8.07%
7.15% State Government of Maharashtra	Government Securities	5.64%
7.16% State Government of Maharashtra	Government Securities	5.64%
7.5% State Government of Andhra Pradesh	Government Securities	3.85%
7.56% State Government of Rajasthan	Government Securities	2.96%
7.51% State Government of Madhya Pradesh	Government Securities	2.94%
7.14% State Government of Maharashtra	Government Securities	2.88%

The largest holding, 7.34% Government Securities, carries a weight of 36.62%, so it is likely to have a meaningful influence on the fund’s movement. The tenth holding in the table is 2.88%, which shows a clear drop from the largest position to the end of the visible list.

The displayed holdings account for approximately 90.63% of the portfolio, and there are 17 disclosed holdings in total. That suggests the scheme is concentrated in a relatively small set of government security lines, even though the visible list also shows a broad spread across different state issuers and maturities.

Because the top ten holdings already explain a large share of the portfolio, the remaining tail is likely to matter less on a day-to-day basis than the dominant sovereign and state borrowing positions. In our view, this structure may support a more measured return profile, while still leaving the fund exposed to changes in rates and bond-market sentiment.

To see all holdings, visit the ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund may suit investors who are comfortable with Medium Risk and who want a debt-oriented allocation rather than equity-style growth. The 1-year return has been stronger than the benchmark, while the 3-year and 5-year figures are more moderate, so the main trade-off is between steadier portfolio behaviour and limited upside when compared with equity funds.

We think the more relevant horizon is medium to long term, because the portfolio is built around government securities and the return profile does not suggest a short-term tactical product. Investors who want relatively calm debt exposure, can live with rate sensitivity, and are comfortable with a return pattern that has been mixed across time periods are the closest fit.

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

No exit load applies if units are sold anytime.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹101.2174 as of 09 September 2026.

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

The fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 3.29%, 6.64% and 5.49%.

How has the fund performed against the benchmark?

It has beaten the benchmark over 1 year and 3 months, while the benchmark is slightly ahead over 5 years. Over 3 years, the fund is also marginally ahead.

How does it compare with peer funds on available return data?

Its 1-year return is below Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan and Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan, but its 3-year and 5-year figures remain broadly competitive among the listed peers with available data.

Is there a minimum SIP amount?

The fund allows SIPs, but a minimum SIP amount is not stated here.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Manish Banthia and Raunak Surana. No exit load applies if units are sold anytime.

Bottom line

ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steadier near-term showing than its benchmark, especially over 1 year, but its longer-term returns remain more measured. Against the listed peers, the recent picture is mixed, while the 3-year and 5-year numbers look broadly in line rather than clearly dominant. The Medium Risk profile and heavy government-securities exposure make it more suitable for investors seeking debt-style stability than for those chasing high growth.

Published on 10 September 2026 at 9:23 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.