LIC MF Value Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

LIC MF Value Fund Direct Growth Plan has a current NAV of ₹30.6866 as of 15 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹301 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 17.5%, 15.81% and 13.33%, respectively, and the scheme carries a High Risk tag.

Our view is that this is a value-style equity fund that has held up better over longer horizons than over the latest month, which has been softer. The portfolio leans into individual stock positions rather than broad index-like exposure, so it may suit investors who can accept higher volatility in exchange for a differentiated equity allocation.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹30.6866 as of 15 Sep 2026
AUM	₹301 Cr
Expense Ratio	1.37%
Launch Date	20 Aug 2018
Min SIP	₹200
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	Nil upto 12% of units and 1% for remaining units on or before 12M, Nil after 12M
Fund Managers	Mahesh Bendre

The fund is managed by Mahesh Bendre.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-3.38%	-4.81%
3M	5.17%	-3.63%
1Y	17.5%	-8.27%
3Y	15.81%	5.59%
5Y	13.33%	5.58%

The latest one-month stretch was weak, but the fund still fell less than the benchmark, which suggests some relative resilience even in a soft patch. The three-month number is a clearer improvement, with the fund recovering while the benchmark stayed negative. That gap tells us the strategy has been able to add value in a choppier short-term market environment.

Over one year, the fund’s return is comfortably ahead of the benchmark’s negative reading. That is a meaningful sign because it shows the portfolio has not merely protected capital in a difficult market; it has also generated positive compounding while the index was still in drawdown. The three-year and five-year figures remain strong in absolute terms, though they are not aggressive enough to imply uninterrupted outperformance every month.

The longer-term pattern points to a fund that can participate in equity upside, but with noticeable swings along the way. The 3Y and 5Y trend is steadier than the one-month data, so our reading is that recent weakness looks more like normal volatility than a break in the longer compounding story.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD LIC MF Value?

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
LIC MF Value Fund Direct Growth Plan	21.09%	16.82%	14.05%
Quant Value Fund Direct Growth Plan	19.58%	19.9%	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Value Fund Direct Growth Plan	13.65%	14.02%	14.71%
Mahindra Manulife Value Fund Direct Growth Plan	12.35%	Data not available	Data not available
Axis Value Fund Direct Growth Plan	9.73%	17.74%	Data not available

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On the latest one-year measure, the fund is ahead of Aditya Birla SL Value Fund Direct Growth Plan, Mahindra Manulife Value Fund Direct Growth Plan and Axis Value Fund Direct Growth Plan, while Quant Value Fund Direct Growth Plan is ahead on the same period and also has a stronger 3-year figure. The current fund’s 3-year number trails Quant Value Fund Direct Growth Plan and Axis Value Fund Direct Growth Plan, but it is above Aditya Birla SL Value Fund Direct Growth Plan. On 5-year data, the current fund remains ahead of Aditya Birla SL Value Fund Direct Growth Plan, and its longer-horizon result is not far from the better peer figures available.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	6.1%
Indo-Mim Ltd.	Domestic Equities	5.15%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	4.68%
Gabriel India Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	3.31%
Tenneco Clean Air India Ltd.	Domestic Equities	3.31%
Foseco India Ltd.	Chemicals	3%
Schaeffler India Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	3%
Garware Hi-Tech Films Ltd.	Plastic Products	2.97%
Saregama India Ltd.	Media & Entertainment	2.94%
Sansera Engineering Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	2.93%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 37.39% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the LIC MF Value Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. at 6.1%, is meaningful but not dominant on its own. The drop from the first holding to the tenth is fairly limited, moving from 6.1% to 2.93%, which suggests the visible positions are grouped in a fairly tight band rather than being concentrated in one or two very large bets.

At 37.39% across the top 10 disclosed holdings, the fund appears to spread capital across multiple names while still keeping enough weight in its leading positions to matter. With 50 holdings disclosed overall, the portfolio may have a long tail beyond the largest names, which can reduce single-stock dependence even though the strategy remains equity-heavy.

That structure may give the fund a mix of conviction and diversification. The leading automobile and ancillary names are likely to have greater influence on short-term behaviour, but the broader spread across 50 holdings means the portfolio is not narrowly tied to one sector or one company outcome.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is suited to investors who can tolerate High Risk and are comfortable with equity volatility. The return pattern shows strong longer-term compounding, but the latest month has been soft, so the ride can be uneven even when the bigger trend remains constructive.

It fits a medium- to long-term horizon better than a short one. The main trade-off is that you may get differentiated value-style exposure and the chance to stay ahead of the benchmark over time, but you must accept periods when the fund can lag or swing sharply.

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 12% of units and 1% for remaining units if sold on or before 12 months; no exit load after the holding period.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of LIC MF Value Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹30.6866 as of 15 Sep 2026.

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

The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 17.5%, 15.81% and 13.33%, respectively.

How has the fund done versus the benchmark?

It has stayed ahead of the Nifty 50 across the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year return periods shown here. The gap is especially clear over 1 year, where the benchmark is negative.

How does it compare with peer funds on recent performance?

Its 1-year return is ahead of Aditya Birla SL Value Fund Direct Growth Plan, Mahindra Manulife Value Fund Direct Growth Plan and Axis Value Fund Direct Growth Plan, while Quant Value Fund Direct Growth Plan is ahead on the same measure. On 3-year data, Quant Value Fund Direct Growth Plan and Axis Value Fund Direct Growth Plan are ahead, while Aditya Birla SL Value Fund Direct Growth Plan trails it.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹200.

What is the risk profile and who manages the fund?

The scheme is tagged High Risk, and it is managed by Mahesh Bendre. The portfolio is built around a set of individual equity positions, so investors should be comfortable with stock-level movement.

Bottom line

LIC MF Value Fund Direct Growth Plan has a stronger longer-term story than its latest month, which has been softer. It also compares well with the benchmark across the return periods shown, and its peer comparison is mixed rather than one-way: the fund is competitive on one-year data and respectable over longer periods, but some peers are stronger on 3-year performance. The High Risk profile and the portfolio’s spread across 50 holdings suggest an active equity stance that may suit investors looking for differentiated value exposure.

Published on 16 September 2026 at 8:14 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.