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

Samco Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹12.59 as of 16 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹196 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 0%, 0% and 0%, and the fund carries a High Risk label. Our view is that this is a small-cap portfolio for investors who can tolerate sharp swings and are comfortable waiting for a clearer performance record to build up.

The fund’s early return history is still short, but the latest 1M and 3M figures point to a rebound after a weaker patch versus the benchmark. That makes it more useful as a high-volatility satellite holding than as a core equity allocation.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹12.59 as of 16 Sep 2026
AUM	₹196 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.0%
Launch Date	04 Dec 2025
Min SIP	₹250
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty Small Cap
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D
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 16 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	8.53%	-2.45%
3M	18.77%	2.1%
1Y	0%	Data not available
3Y	0%	Data not available
5Y	0%	Data not available

The short-term pattern has been better than the benchmark. Over 1M, the fund was up 8.53% while the benchmark was down 2.45%, and over 3M it was also ahead with 18.77% against 2.1%. That tells us the recent move has been meaningful rather than merely a flat drift.

The daily path behind those figures looks choppy, with periods of weakness followed by a firmer recovery into the end of the 3M window. That kind of swing is typical of a small-cap strategy, where stock selection and market mood can both have a large effect on near-term outcomes.

The longer-horizon return fields are still not useful for drawing a full track record conclusion because the fund launched only in December 2025. Even so, the recent trend suggests the portfolio has started the year with momentum that is stronger than the benchmark’s own recent behaviour.

For investors, the useful point is not just that the fund has recovered, but that its recent strength has come in a segment where drawdowns can also arrive quickly. We would treat that combination as a sign to focus on horizon and risk tolerance rather than on short bursts of outperformance alone.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Samco 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
Samco Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	Data not available	Data not available	Data not available
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 the recent numbers, the fund trails the strongest peer figures on the table because its own 1Y return is not yet available in a way that can be compared with the established funds. Among peers with longer records, Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan and ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan show stronger multi-year numbers, while Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan is also ahead on both 3Y and 5Y data where available.

The more important contrast is that the current fund’s short-term gains have been better than the benchmark, while several peers have already turned that into a fuller multi-year record. So the comparison tells two stories at once: near-term momentum is encouraging, but the track record is still too young to judge it against older funds on the same footing.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Clearing Corporation of India Ltd	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	11.84%
Ather Energy Limited	Domestic Equities	3.95%
Gland Pharma Limited	Healthcare	3.38%
Navin Fluorine International Limited	Chemicals	3.35%
Lalithaa Jewellery Mart Ltd	Domestic Equities	3.26%
Anand Rathi Wealth Limited	Finance	3.23%
Welspun Corp Limited	Iron & Steel	3.15%
Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	3.01%
R R Kabel Limited	Electricals	2.97%
Syrma SGS Technology Limited	Electricals	2.79%

The largest position is Clearing Corporation of India Ltd at 11.84%, which is meaningfully larger than any of the listed equity holdings. After that, weights cluster in a fairly tight band around 3% to 4%, so the drop from the first holding to the tenth is steep.

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 40.93% of the portfolio, and the fund has 60 disclosed holdings in total. That combination suggests a long tail beyond the visible top positions, even though the headline weight is still carried by a relatively small set of names.

Our reading is that the portfolio may be influenced most by the largest cash position and the mid-sized equity bets that follow it, while the broader tail could dilute single-name concentration over time. Because the holdings are spread across many sectors, the fund may capture a wide range of small-cap opportunities, but the individual position sizes also mean stock selection will matter.

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

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who can handle High Risk exposure and are comfortable with a small-cap style that can move sharply in both directions. The recent 1M and 3M numbers show stronger short-term behaviour than the benchmark, but the track record is still too short for confidence on a full-cycle basis.

We think the right horizon is long enough to absorb volatility and let the small-cap exposure play out. The main trade-off is clear: this portfolio may offer sharper upside than a more defensive equity fund, but it can also swing hard when sentiment turns.

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: 1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Samco Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The NAV is ₹12.59 as of 16 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 0%, 0% and 0%.

How does the fund compare with its benchmark?
It has beaten the benchmark in the recent 1M and 3M periods, with 8.53% versus -2.45% over 1M and 18.77% versus 2.1% over 3M.

How does it compare with other small-cap funds on available return data?
Some peer funds show stronger 1Y and multi-year figures, including Bank of India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan, ITI Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan and Union Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan on the available periods.

Does the fund allow SIP investing?
Yes, SIP is allowed.

What are the risk level, fund managers and exit load?
The fund is tagged High Risk and is managed by Umeshkumar Mehta, Nirali Bhansali, Dhawal Ghanshyam Dhanani and Vishal Shinde. The exit load is 1% on or before 30D and nil after 30D.

Bottom line

Samco Small Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan is still building its record, so the recent strength stands out more clearly than its longer-term numbers. It has recently outpaced the benchmark, but peer funds with deeper history show stronger multi-year results on the available data. The portfolio also shows a sizeable first holding and a long list of disclosed positions, which may support diversification while still leaving room for sharp small-cap swings. In our view, it suits investors who want small-cap exposure and can stay patient through volatility.

Published on 17 September 2026 at 12:23 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.