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

Kotak Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan has a current NAV of ₹30.6096 as of 10 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹10,409 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.16%, 10.18% and 10.26%, and the fund carries a Medium Risk tag. Our view is that it suits investors looking for a steadier hybrid-style allocation than an equity-only fund, while still accepting that returns can move around in the short run.

The fund has kept its longer-run return profile near double digits, but the latest 1-year figure is softer than the 3-year and 5-year numbers. That mix points to a fund that has been more consistent over longer periods than in recent months, with a portfolio that blends cash-like positions, equities and liquid-fund exposure.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹30.6096 as of 10 Sep 2026
AUM	₹10,409 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.67%
Launch Date	13 Oct 2014
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Hybrid
Exit Load	Nil upto 8% of investments and 1% for remaining investments on or before 90D, Nil after 90D
Fund Managers	Devender Singhal, Hiten Shah, Abhishek Bisen

The fund is managed by Devender Singhal, Hiten Shah and Abhishek Bisen.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-0.51%	-4.06%
3M	3.19%	1.37%
1Y	5.16%	-7.31%
3Y	10.18%	6.07%
5Y	10.26%	5.91%

The short-term pattern is better than the benchmark, even though the fund itself was slightly negative over 1 month. Over 3 months and 1 year, the fund stayed positive while the benchmark was much weaker, which shows that the strategy has held up better than the index through a softer market phase.

Over longer periods, the return pattern is steadier than the benchmark and still ahead on 3-year and 5-year numbers. The 3-year return of 10.18% and 5-year return of 10.26% both sit above the benchmark’s 6.07% and 5.91%, so the longer horizon still looks supportive of the fund’s mixed-asset structure.

Recent movement is less smooth than the long-run picture. The 1-year path has been decent but not as strong as the 3-year and 5-year track, which suggests some short-run pressure after a more stable multi-year compounding run. In our view, that is not unusual for an equity-savings strategy, but it does mean the fund is better judged over a full market cycle than over a few months.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Kotak 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.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Kotak Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.16%	10.18%	10.26%
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	6.1%	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, the fund trails several peers that have stronger recent numbers, including Edelweiss Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan and HSBC Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan. The longer view is more mixed: its 3-year and 5-year returns are solid, but HSBC is ahead on both of those available periods, while Edelweiss is also ahead on 3-year and slightly behind on 5-year. That makes the fund look more balanced than standout on the peer table, with stronger consistency than its recent year alone would suggest.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Kotak Liquid Direct Growth	Domestic Mutual Funds Units	6.48%
Triparty Repo	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	5.98%
Bharti Airtel Ltd.	Telecom	5.66%
Indus Towers Ltd.	Telecom	3.56%
Maruti Suzuki India Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	2.9%
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Bank	2.89%
State Bank of India.	Bank	2.88%
One 97 Communications Ltd	IT	2.55%
NTPC Ltd	Power	2.51%
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited	Logistics	2.47%

The largest single holding is Kotak Liquid Direct Growth at 6.48%, which is fairly modest for a top line item. The weight then steps down gradually to 2.47% by the tenth holding, so the visible book does not depend on one dominant position.

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 37.88% of the portfolio, which suggests a meaningful but not excessive concentration in the named positions. With 54 disclosed holdings overall, the fund may be relying on a longer tail beyond the top slice to shape outcomes, so the portfolio could behave more like a blended allocation than a narrow bet on a few stocks.

That structure may suit investors who want equity participation but also some cushioning from cash-like and liquid-fund exposure. At the same time, the visible names show that stock selection still matters, especially in telecom, banking and select sector positions, because those holdings together can still influence near-term results.

To see all holdings, visit the Kotak 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 are comfortable with medium risk and want a hybrid allocation rather than a pure equity strategy. The 1-year return is softer than the 3-year and 5-year figures, but the longer-term pattern remains ahead of the benchmark, which makes a multi-year holding period more appropriate than a short trading horizon.

The main trade-off is that steadier behaviour than equity funds can still come with periods of weaker short-run performance. Investors who can accept that give-and-take, and who prefer a mix of market exposure and lower-volatility components, may find the fund’s profile easier to hold through market swings.

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 is nil up to 8% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments on or before 90D; there is no exit load after 90D.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Kotak Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹30.6096 as of 10 Sep 2026.

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

The fund’s returns are 5.16% for 1 year, 10.18% for 3 years and 10.26% for 5 years.

How does this fund compare with the benchmark?

It has outpaced the Nifty 50 over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The benchmark return is -7.31% over 1 year, 6.07% over 3 years and 5.91% over 5 years.

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

Its 1-year return is lower than several peers in the table, while its 3-year and 5-year numbers are solid but not the highest among the peer set with available data. That points to a mixed peer picture rather than a clear lead or lag over every period.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

There is no minimum SIP figure shown here.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Devender Singhal, Hiten Shah and Abhishek Bisen. Exit load is nil up to 8% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments on or before 90D, and there is no exit load after 90D.

Bottom line

Kotak Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a clearer long-term picture than a short-term one. Its recent 1-year return is softer than the 3-year and 5-year figures, yet the fund still stays ahead of the benchmark across the measured horizons. The portfolio also looks balanced rather than concentrated, with the top 10 holdings forming a moderate slice of assets and a long tail beyond that. For investors who want medium-risk hybrid exposure and can stay invested for several years, that combination may be more relevant than chasing a short burst of performance.

Published on 11 September 2026 at 3:26 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.