Samco Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Samco Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹10.94 as of 15 Sep 2026, an AUM of ₹27 Cr, and its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 4.99%, 0% and 0%. The fund sits in the Low Risk category, so our view is that it suits investors who want a calmer equity-linked allocation, but the limited return history means the recent improvement matters more than any long-range pattern.

Its benchmark is Nifty 50, and the fund has stayed materially steadier than that index over the periods shown. The portfolio is also unusually compact, with only two disclosed holdings, so the structure is simple to read but not broad-based. For investors who are comfortable with a lower-volatility profile and who mainly want short-term parking with some market-linked return potential, this is the key trade-off to weigh.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹10.94 as of 15 Sep 2026
AUM	₹27 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.38%
Launch Date	29 Nov 2024
Min SIP	₹5,000
Risk Category	Low Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Hybrid
Exit Load	0.25% on or before 7D, Nil after 7D
Fund Managers	Umeshkumar Mehta, Nirali Bhansali, Dhawal Ghanshyam Dhanani, Vishal Shinde

The fund is managed by Umeshkumar Mehta, Nirali Bhansali, Dhawal Ghanshyam Dhanani and Vishal Shinde.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.46%	-4.81%
3M	0.92%	-3.63%
1Y	4.99%	-8.27%
3Y	Data not available	Data not available
5Y	Data not available	Data not available

Recent numbers show a steady, defensive pattern. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund stayed positive while the benchmark remained negative, which points to an important cushioning effect during weaker market phases. That kind of behaviour is useful for investors who care more about stability than about sharp upside capture.

The 1-year return of 4.99% also stands apart from the benchmark’s -8.27% over the same period. That gap suggests the fund has protected capital better than the index in the recent cycle, even though this is still a relatively young scheme with no 3-year or 5-year track record to judge through a full market cycle.

The daily pattern implied by the return path is fairly muted rather than volatile. We read that as a sign that the fund has been behaving like a low-drift, low-disruption allocation, but the absence of longer history means we would avoid treating the recent outcome as proof of how it will behave in a materially different market environment.

Overall, the short-term picture is better than the benchmark, while the long-term picture cannot yet be assessed from multi-year returns. That makes the current evidence most useful for investors who value consistency over trying to squeeze out strong market-beating upside.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Samco Arbitrage?

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
Samco Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	4.99%	Data not available	Data not available
Quant Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.6%	Data not available	Data not available
WOC Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.08%	Data not available	Data not available
Franklin India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.94%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.92%	Data not available	Data not available
Invesco India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.76%	7.46%	7%

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

The fund’s 1-year return is below the stronger recent figures shown by several peer funds, so the latest stretch has been solid rather than standout. Where the comparison becomes more mixed is in longer-range figures: most peers in this set do not have 3-year or 5-year returns available, while Invesco India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan does, and its 3-year and 5-year figures are both available and higher than Samco’s missing multi-year history in practical terms.

That makes the peer view split into two parts. On recent performance, Samco trails the better recent peer outcomes; on history depth, the comparison is limited because only one peer offers the longer look-back window. Our reading is that the fund’s recent return profile is acceptable for a low-risk strategy, but the peer set suggests there are alternatives with stronger 1-year numbers and, in one case, a longer disclosed record.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Net Receivables / (Payables)	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	94.76%
Clearing Corporation of India Ltd	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	5.8%

The largest disclosed holding is Net Receivables / (Payables) at 94.76%, which means the portfolio is heavily shaped by cash and settlement-related positioning rather than by a spread of stock-specific bets. The second disclosed holding is much smaller at 5.8%, so the weight drops sharply from the first line to the second line.

Because only two holdings are disclosed and they together account for 100% of the portfolio, the structure appears highly concentrated in the visible holdings set. That concentration may help explain why the fund has behaved with relatively limited movement versus the benchmark, but we would treat that as an observation rather than a prediction.

For investors, the practical takeaway is that this is not a long-tail equity portfolio with many moving parts. It is a compact structure where the disclosed positions are few, and the largest position is likely to have greater influence on day-to-day behaviour than anything else visible here.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with Low Risk positioning and want a return profile that has remained steadier than the benchmark over the periods shown. The recent 1-month, 3-month and 1-year figures suggest it has held up better than the index in weaker conditions, which may appeal to those who want market linkage without large swings.

The main trade-off is that the fund’s longer history is too short to assess through 3-year or 5-year returns, so investors must accept limited track record depth in exchange for a calmer recent pattern. In our view, it is better matched to short-to-medium holding periods where capital stability matters more than chasing the strongest upside.

It is also more suitable for investors who can accept that the portfolio is concentrated in the disclosed holdings and therefore depends heavily on a small set of positions. That makes it a more measured choice than a broad, diversified growth fund.

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

0.25% on or before 7D, Nil after 7D.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Samco Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹10.94 as of 15 Sep 2026.

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

The fund’s 1-year return is 4.99%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are not available from the current history.

How does the fund compare with the benchmark?

It has done better than the Nifty 50 over the periods shown. The fund is positive over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, while the benchmark is negative across those same horizons.

How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?

Its 1-year return is below several peer funds in the comparison set, while longer-term comparison is limited because most peers also do not show 3-year or 5-year figures.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹5,000.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Umeshkumar Mehta, Nirali Bhansali, Dhawal Ghanshyam Dhanani and Vishal Shinde. The exit load is 0.25% on or before 7D, and nil after 7D.

Bottom line

Samco Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steadier recent profile than the benchmark, but its longer-term return history is still too short to judge on a 3-year or 5-year basis. Compared with the peer set, the 1-year return is decent but not the strongest visible figure. The Low Risk label and the very compact portfolio make it more of a controlled, limited-moving allocation than a broad growth engine, which may suit investors who value stability and simple positioning over deep track record depth.

Published on 16 September 2026 at 7:57 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.