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

ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan is at a NAV of ₹38.0095 as of 17 September 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹3,602 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 17.75%, 23.78% and 18.52%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. In our view, the recent and medium-term return profile has been competitive, but the small-cap exposure means the journey can still be uneven.

The fund has outpaced its benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, which points to decent relative resilience across cycles. With 79 holdings and a top-heavy but not extreme portfolio, it may suit investors who can accept sharp swings in exchange for long-horizon growth potential.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹38.0095 as of 17 Sep 2026
AUM	₹3,602 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.22%
Launch Date	17 Feb 2020
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty Small Cap
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	0.50% on or before 3M, NIL after 3M
Fund Managers	Dhimant Shah, Alok Ranjan

The fund is managed by Dhimant Shah and Alok Ranjan.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-1.28%	-1.84%
3M	8.15%	2.25%
1Y	17.75%	4.94%
3Y	23.78%	13.77%
5Y	18.52%	13.97%

The short-term picture has been mixed, but it is still stronger than the benchmark. Over 1 month, the fund fell slightly less than the index, while the 3-month return was clearly stronger than the benchmark’s more modest rise. That tells us the recent phase has been constructive for the fund, even if the path has not been smooth.

Over 1 year, the gap versus the benchmark is wide, and the 3-year return keeps that lead intact. The fund has therefore converted its small-cap orientation into better medium-term compounding than the benchmark, which is important for investors who judge small-cap funds over full cycles rather than isolated months.

The 5-year return is also ahead of the benchmark, though the lead is less dramatic than in the 3-year window. That suggests the fund has not depended on one short burst alone; instead, it has maintained a better long-term pace even through periods when small-cap markets have been uneven.

From the return pattern, our view is that this is a volatile small-cap fund that has still managed to stay ahead of the benchmark across all the main time frames provided. The recent improvement fits the longer-term story rather than contradicting it, which is a positive sign for consistency.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD ITI Small Cap?

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
TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	27.33%	Data not available	Data not available
Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	24.01%	20.78%	19.46%
Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	19.7%	Data not available	Data not available
Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	18.13%	16.46%	16.71%
ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	17.75%	23.78%	18.52%

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

On 1-year returns, the fund trails the strongest recent peer figures, especially TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan and Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan. That said, the comparison changes when we look at longer periods: the fund’s 3-year return is higher than the peers with available 3-year data, and its 5-year return is also ahead of those same peers.

That split matters. The recent 1-year reading suggests others have had a sharper short-term run, but the 3-year and 5-year figures point to a stronger longer-term compounding profile for this fund. For an investor, that usually means the fund has shown better staying power over fuller market cycles, even if the most recent stretch has not been the most dominant among the set.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Acutaas Chemicals Limited	Healthcare	3.48%
Welspun Corp Limited	Iron & Steel	2.59%
Laurus Labs Limited	Healthcare	2.41%
Karur Vysya Bank Limited	Bank	2.10%
TREPS 01-Sep-2026	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	1.93%
Va Tech Wabag Limited	Business Services	1.93%
Cartrade Tech Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	1.88%
Net Receivables / (Payables)	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	1.88%
Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited	Finance	1.87%
Radico Khaitan Limited	Alcohol	1.81%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 21.88% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding is Acutaas Chemicals Limited at 3.48%, which is a modest single-stock weight for a small-cap strategy. The drop from the first holding to the tenth is not extreme either: the tenth holding stands at 1.81%, so the disclosed positions are fairly closely spaced at the top.

That pattern suggests the fund is not relying on one or two very large bets. At the same time, the top 10 holdings together still represent only 21.88% of the portfolio, so a large part of the scheme is spread across the remaining disclosed holdings. With 79 total holdings, the structure may give the fund broad participation across smaller companies while still keeping individual position sizes contained.

In our view, this is a reasonably diversified small-cap book rather than a highly concentrated one. The larger number of holdings can help balance stock-specific outcomes, but the scheme can still be influenced by the performance of its higher-weight positions.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better suited to investors who are comfortable with High Risk and can hold through uneven periods. The 1-year figure is lower than some peers, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers show stronger medium- to long-term delivery, and that is the pattern most relevant for a small-cap fund.

The main trade-off is clear: you get access to a diversified small-cap portfolio with stronger longer-term numbers than the benchmark, but you must accept meaningful volatility and the possibility that short stretches may lag peers. A longer investment horizon is important here because the fund’s edge has been more visible over 3 years and 5 years than over the most recent year.

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 within 3 months; nil after 3 months.

Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹38.0095 as of 17 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 17.75%, 23.78% and 18.52%.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
The fund has outpaced the Nifty Small Cap benchmark across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is widest over 1 year and 3 years.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its 1-year return is below the strongest peer figures in the set, but its 3-year and 5-year returns are stronger than the peers with available longer-term data. That gives it a mixed short-term but firmer long-term comparison.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Dhimant Shah and Alok Ranjan. The exit load is 0.50% if units are sold within 3 months and nil after 3 months.

Bottom line

ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a stronger long-term return profile than its benchmark, and the 3-year and 5-year numbers are more convincing than the 1-year reading. Against the peer set shown here, the recent year is not the strongest, but the longer windows compare better. The portfolio also looks reasonably spread out, with 79 holdings and the top 10 accounting for only 21.88%. For investors who can handle High Risk and want a small-cap fund with measured position sizes, the longer-horizon story is the more important one.

Published on 18 September 2026 at 4:32 PM 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.