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

ITI Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan is at ₹19.5775 as of 16 September 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹276 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 10.16%, 18.9% and 0%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a focused sector fund that has still delivered positive medium-term returns, but its benchmark-relative record is mixed. It may suit investors who can tolerate sharp swings and want healthcare exposure as part of a broader equity allocation rather than as a core all-purpose holding.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹19.5775 as of 16 Sep 2026
AUM	₹276 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.47%
Launch Date	08 Nov 2021
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	0.50% on or before 3M, NIL after 3M
Fund Managers	Animesh Singh, Nilay Dalal

The fund is managed by Animesh Singh and Nilay Dalal.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-0.88%	-4.41%
3M	7.74%	-3.6%
1Y	10.16%	-7.76%
3Y	18.9%	5.74%
5Y	0%	Data not available

The recent pattern is better than the benchmark across every available short horizon. Over 1 month the fund was marginally negative, but it still fell less than the benchmark. Over 3 months and 1 year, the gap is more meaningful, which suggests the portfolio has handled the latest phase of volatility better than the broad market proxy used here.

The longer view is also constructive. The 3-year return of 18.9% is comfortably above the benchmark’s 5.74%, so the fund has compounded well through a longer period even after weaker patches along the way. The time pattern also shows that gains were not linear; the fund went through drawdowns and recoveries, which is typical for a high-risk sector strategy.

That said, the 5-year figure is not informative for judging endurance because the scheme was launched in November 2021, so the displayed 5-year return is 0% rather than a full-cycle track record. For investors, that means the evidence set is still relatively young and should be read as a medium-term record rather than a long market cycle test.

In our view, the key takeaway is that the fund has outpaced its benchmark on the available trailing windows, but the journey has been uneven. The stronger 3-year record supports the medium-term case, while the shorter windows show that returns can swing with sector sentiment and market conditions.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD ITI Pharma & 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 ITI Pharma & Healthcare? Thinking of investing now?

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

Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
ITI Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	10.16%	18.9%	0%
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	69.8%	36.32%	Data not available
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	25.31%	Data not available	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. On the latest 1-year comparison, the fund trails each of the five peer schemes listed here, with the widest gap against the metal-and-energy FoF and a smaller gap against the healthcare-focused names. That does not weaken the fund’s medium-term story on its own, because its 3-year return is available and remains solid, while most peer 3-year and 5-year figures are not available. So the short-term peer picture looks softer, but the longer-term comparison is less one-sided.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited	Healthcare	12.58%
Divi'S Laboratories Limited	Healthcare	9.23%
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited	Healthcare	5.72%
Max Healthcare Institute Limited	Healthcare	4.84%
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited	Healthcare	4.75%
DR. Reddy'S Laboratories Limited	Healthcare	4.31%
Cipla Limited	Healthcare	4.22%
Laurus Labs Limited	Healthcare	4.02%
Aurobindo Pharma Limited	Healthcare	3.97%
Mankind Pharma Limited	Healthcare	3.31%

The largest holding, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, carries a weight of 12.58%, so it can have greater influence on fund behaviour than any smaller single position. The weight then falls fairly steadily through the list, with the tenth holding at 3.31%, which shows that the top names still matter more than the tail of the portfolio.

The displayed holdings add up to 56.95% of the portfolio, and there are 38 disclosed holdings in total. That combination suggests meaningful concentration in the leading healthcare names, but not a one-stock fund. Our view is that the structure may allow strong participation in sector upswings while still leaving some room for diversification across the wider basket.

Because all ten listed holdings are in healthcare, the fund’s return profile may remain closely tied to the fortunes of that industry group. That can be useful for investors who want a deliberate sector tilt, but it also means the portfolio is likely to be more sensitive to sector-specific news than a broad diversified equity fund.

To see all holdings, visit the ITI Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can accept High Risk and are comfortable with a sector-specific equity allocation. The return pattern suggests that it can participate well over medium periods, but it can also move sharply over shorter stretches, so a longer horizon is more appropriate than a short holding period.

The main trade-off is between focused healthcare exposure and smoother diversification. Investors who already have a broad equity base and want an additional sector tilt may find the profile easier to understand than those looking for a steady all-weather core fund.

Against the benchmark, the fund has done better across the available trailing windows, and its 3-year record is stronger than the short-term benchmark picture. That supports a patient approach, but only for investors who are comfortable with higher volatility and with the possibility that sector cycles can dominate returns.

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: 0.50% if units are sold on or before 3 months; nil after 3 months.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of ITI Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹19.5775 as of 16 September 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 10.16% over 1 year, 18.9% over 3 years and 0% over 5 years.

How has the fund performed against its benchmark?
It has beaten the benchmark across all the available trailing periods in the review: 1 month, 3 months, 1 year and 3 years. The gap is especially visible over 3 months and 1 year.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its 1-year return is lower than each of the five peer funds shown, while its 3-year return is available and healthy. Most peer 3-year and 5-year figures are not available, so the longer-term comparison is only partial.

Is there a minimum SIP for this fund?
Yes. The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

What risk and portfolio style does this fund have?
It is marked High Risk and is built around healthcare-sector holdings. The top 10 holdings account for 56.95% of the portfolio, so the fund may be influenced more by its leading positions than by a very long tail of small holdings.

Bottom line

ITI Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan has a stronger medium-term record than its benchmark, but its short-term path is uneven and its 1-year return trails the listed peer funds. That mix points to a high-risk, sector-focused strategy rather than a steady core holding. The portfolio is concentrated in healthcare names, with the biggest positions carrying meaningful weight, so the fund may be best understood as a targeted satellite allocation for investors who want healthcare exposure and can stay invested through volatility.

Published on 17 September 2026 at 12:16 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.