Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund vs Axis Small Cap Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund and Axis Small Cap Fund are both Small Cap funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 14.0% a year and Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 13.2% a year. Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund charges 1.08% a year and Axis Small Cap Fund 0.69% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 26.5%: they hold 34 of the same securities.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund
Small Cap
- 3 year return
- 14.0%
- Expense ratio
- 1.08%
- NAV
- ₹107.63
Which is better, Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap or Axis Small Cap? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- Axis Small Cap returned more over 5 years: 14.4% a year against 12.3%.
- Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap returned more over 3 years: 14.0% a year against 13.2%.
- Axis Small Cap costs less: 0.69% a year against 1.08% (Direct plans).
- Axis Small Cap swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 15.0% a year against 17.2%.
- Axis Small Cap fell less in its worst fall since 05-12-2013: −34.6% against −57.4%.
- Axis Small Cap is the larger fund: ₹30,678 Cr against ₹6,120 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 26.5%: 34 of the same holdings.
Past returns do not promise future returns. This page is information, not investment advice.
Key facts
From each fund's scheme summary document and AMFI
| Fact | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund | Axis Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund | Axis Mutual Fund |
| Category | Small Cap | Small Cap |
| AUM | ₹6,120 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹30,678 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹107.63 (Direct) | ₹126.97 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 1.08% | 0.69% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 2.01% | 1.68% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | BSE 250 Smallcap TRI | Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI |
| Launch date | 31-05-2007 | 29-11-2013 |
| Minimum investment | ₹1,000 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Abhinav Khandelwal, Dhaval Joshi | Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki, Krishnaa N |
| Exit load | Exit load of 1%, if redeemed within 90 days. | Exit load of 1% for investments beyond 10% if redeemed within 12 months |
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap vs Axis Small Cap: Returns Comparison
Returns as on 30-10-2026. Up to one year they are absolute returns. Longer periods are a rate per year.
| Fund | 1M | 3M | 6M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −4.84% | −2.25% | +5.85% | +8.06% | +14.03% | +12.30% | +12.47% |
| Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −5.18% | −4.11% | +3.40% | +1.02% | +13.23% | +14.44% | +18.24% |
| Small Cap average | −5.86% | −3.28% | +5.03% | +3.00% | +14.03% | +14.51% | +16.19% |
Category average: the average of the 36 Small Cap funds, same plan type.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap vs Axis Small Cap: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Aditya Birla Sun LifeAditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap | AxisAxis Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +11.36% | +4.39% |
| 2025 | −2.81% | −0.95% |
| 2024 | +22.75% | +26.40% |
| 2023 | +40.87% | +35.57% |
| 2022 | −5.48% | +4.11% |
| 2021 | +52.88% | +60.71% |
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap vs Axis Small Cap: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI, the benchmark of Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,442 of them, one for each trading day from 05-12-2016 to 30-10-2026: the yearly return (CAGR) of each, plotted on the day it ended. One lucky or unlucky start day cannot flatter or hide a fund.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
to
Sept 2017May 2016
to
May 2019Jan 2018
to
Jan 2021Oct 2019
to
Oct 2022Jun 2021
to
Jun 2024Jan 2023
to
Jan 2026
How the periods spread
| Fund | Below 0% | 0-5% | 5-10% | 10-15% | 15-20% | 20-25% | Above 25% | Mean | Median | Lowest | Highest | Beat benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap | 11.3 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 14.4 | 24.7 | 20.3 | 19.3 | 16.2% | 18.3% | −16.6% | 39.6% | 36% |
| Axis Small Cap | 0.0 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 19.6 | 25.0 | 12.7 | 35.6 | 21.3% | 19.5% | −0.0% | 41.3% | 63% |
| BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI | 11.0 | 7.2 | 5.6 | 12.9 | 20.8 | 17.2 | 25.3 | 16.7% | 17.8% | −17.0% | 45.1% | -- |
The table shows the % of periods in each return band; a darker cell holds more of them. Lumpsum: the yearly rate (CAGR) from a period's first NAV to its last. SIP: the XIRR of the monthly instalments. The benchmark is BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI, over the same periods. "Beat benchmark" counts the periods in which the fund did better. Every fund is measured over the days all of them have, from 05-12-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap vs Axis Small Cap: SIP and Lumpsum Returns
What the same monthly or one-time investment would be worth in each fund today, from their own NAV history
Growth of an investment
₹10,000 on the first trading day of every month, from 02-12-2013 to 30-10-2026: 155 instalments, ₹15,50,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Small CapAditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹15,50,000 | ₹43,63,452 | ₹28,13,452 | 14.9% |
| Axis Small CapAxis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹15,50,000 | ₹59,20,716 | ₹43,70,716 | 19.1% |
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small CapAditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Axis Small CapAxis Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Amount invested
From each plan's published NAV (Growth option), over the same days. Return a year: XIRR for a SIP, CAGR for a lumpsum, shown for a year or more. It does not include exit load, stamp duty or tax. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap vs Axis Small Cap: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +8.06% | +1.02% |
| Standard deviation | 17.43% | 15.51% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.16 | -0.27 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.22 | -0.37 |
| Maximum drawdown | −14.0% (23-03-2026) | −14.7% (23-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.93 | 0.84 |
| Alpha | +12.49% | +2.83% |
From daily NAVs, 30-10-2025 to 30-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
| Measure | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +14.03% | +13.23% |
| Standard deviation | 17.15% | 15.00% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.47 | 0.48 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.63 | 0.65 |
| Maximum drawdown | −26.2% (03-03-2025) | −19.4% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 0.89 | 0.76 |
| Alpha | +3.67% | +2.41% |
From daily NAVs, 30-10-2023 to 30-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
| Measure | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +12.30% | +14.44% |
| Standard deviation | 16.35% | 14.23% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.40 | 0.61 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.53 | 0.81 |
| Maximum drawdown | −26.2% (03-03-2025) | −19.4% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 0.87 | 0.73 |
| Alpha | +0.92% | +3.27% |
From daily NAVs, 29-10-2021 to 30-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
| Measure | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +16.27% | +21.76% |
| Standard deviation | 16.97% | 14.59% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.60 | 1.09 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.80 | 1.46 |
| Maximum drawdown | −57.4% (24-03-2020) | −34.6% (24-03-2020) |
| Beta | 0.87 | -- |
| Alpha | +4.14% | -- |
From daily NAVs, 07-01-2013 to 30-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
Drawdowns
How far below its previous high each one was on every day: the falls an investor had to sit through. 0% means it was at a new high.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −57.4% | 15-01-2018 | 24-03-2020 | 08-04-2021 | 12 months | −8.5% |
| Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −34.6% | 11-02-2020 | 24-03-2020 | 13-11-2020 | 8 months | −8.3% |
| BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI | −58.8% | 15-01-2018 | 24-03-2020 | 03-03-2021 | 11 months | −11.5% |
From daily values since 05-12-2013, the first day every fund has.
Rolling standard deviation
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 1-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 3-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 5-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
Against BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 95% | 87% | 5.64% |
| Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 85% | 55% | 8.44% |
From month-end values since 05-12-2013. Up capture: a fund's average month when the benchmark rose, as % of the benchmark's; above 100% it gained more. Down capture: the same for months the benchmark fell; below 100% it fell less. Tracking error: how far the monthly returns strayed from the benchmark's, a year; an index fund aims near 0.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap vs Axis Small Cap: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund, September 2026; Axis Small Cap Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 26.5%
- Held by both
- 34
- Only in Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap
- 50
- Only in Axis Small Cap
- 94
| Security | % of Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap | % of Axis Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Sai Life Sciences Ltd. | 3.15% | 1.84% |
| CCL Products (India) Ltd. | 1.77% | 2.24% |
| Navin Fluorine International Ltd. | 2.84% | 1.40% |
| Craftsman Automation Ltd. | 1.91% | 1.33% |
| Minda Corporation Ltd. | 1.51% | 1.30% |
| Karur Vysya Bank Ltd. | 1.94% | 1.28% |
| PNB Housing Finance Ltd. | 1.98% | 1.24% |
| Gland Pharma Ltd. | 1.47% | 1.22% |
| Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. | 2.69% | 1.16% |
| Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd. | 1.04% | 1.29% |
| RBL Bank Ltd. | 2.07% | 1.03% |
| S.J.S. Enterprises Ltd. | 1.54% | 1.01% |
| Aditya Infotech Ltd. | 1.88% | 0.94% |
| Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Ltd. | 2.42% | 0.85% |
| Radico Khaitan Ltd. | 2.16% | 0.79% |
| Sagility Ltd. | 1.02% | 0.72% |
| Sudeep Pharma Ltd. | 0.71% | 0.79% |
| Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities Ltd. | 0.85% | 0.68% |
| Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Ltd. | 0.61% | 2.46% |
| PG Electroplast Ltd. | 1.13% | 0.60% |
| Apar Industries Ltd. | 1.26% | 0.58% |
| Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | 1.25% | 0.55% |
| Doms Industries Ltd. | 0.51% | 0.81% |
| Aditya Vision Ltd. | 0.65% | 0.47% |
| Gokaldas Exports Ltd. | 0.57% | 0.46% |
| Delhivery Ltd. | 0.67% | 0.43% |
| Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. | 0.40% | 0.42% |
| Orient Electric Ltd. | 0.37% | 0.35% |
| Cyient Ltd. | 0.35% | 0.90% |
| Aptus Value Housing Finance India Ltd. | 0.87% | 0.33% |
| Ather Energy Ltd. | 1.82% | 0.20% |
| Firstsource Solutions Ltd. | 0.96% | 0.18% |
| Sedemac Mechatronics Ltd. | 1.63% | 0.12% |
| Aditya Birla Real Estate Ltd. | 0.83% | 0.09% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 26.5% means 26.5% of each fund's money sits in positions the other also holds. Matched by ISIN. Cash and hedged positions are left out.
Largest holdings only in Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| TD Power Systems Ltd. | 3.39% |
| Meesho Ltd. | 2.34% |
| Shaily Engineering Plastics Ltd. | 2.31% |
| Arvind Ltd. | 2.06% |
| Dr. Lal Path labs Ltd. | 2.03% |
Largest holdings only in Axis Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited | 2.32% |
| City Union Bank Limited | 1.94% |
| Sansera Engineering Limited | 1.86% |
| Brigade Enterprises Limited | 1.54% |
| Avalon Technologies Limited | 1.51% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap | Axis Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 95.4% | 90.3% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| Cash and others | 4.6% | 9.2% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap | Axis Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 2.1% | 6.3% |
| Mid Cap | 13.1% | 9.4% |
| Small Cap | 75.3% | 74.1% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 4.9% | 0.5% |
Share of the whole fund. Groups follow AMFI's latest list: Large Cap is the 100 largest companies, Mid Cap the next 150, Small Cap the rest.
Largest sectors
| Sector | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap | Axis Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 12.0% | 7.6% |
| Auto Components | 8.8% | 7.9% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 4.5% | 8.5% |
| Industrial Products | 5.2% | 8.2% |
| Banks | 8.2% | 7.7% |
| Electrical Equipment | 6.6% | 2.8% |
| Finance | 5.6% | 6.0% |
| Consumer Durables | 5.8% | 3.7% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap vs Axis Small Cap: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund | Axis Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 1.08% | 0.69% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.77% | 0.51% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 2.01% | 1.68% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.58% | 1.35% |
The expense ratio comes out of the fund's assets every day, so every return on this page is already after it. Base expense ratio: the fund house's own fee. The total adds brokerage, transaction costs, and levies with GST.
More comparisons
Each fund against the others of its category
Compare Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap with
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund vs Axis Small Cap Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund and Axis Small Cap Fund?
Both are Small Cap funds, run by Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund and Axis Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 26.5%. Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund charges 1.08% a year and Axis Small Cap Fund 0.69%.
Which has given higher returns, Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund or Axis Small Cap Fund?
Over 1 year: Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund +8.06%, Axis Small Cap Fund +1.02%. Over 3 years: Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund +14.03% a year, Axis Small Cap Fund +13.23% a year. Over 5 years: Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund +12.30% a year, Axis Small Cap Fund +14.44% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund or Axis Small Cap Fund?
Axis Small Cap Fund charges less: 0.69% a year against 1.08%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund and Axis Small Cap Fund overlap?
26.5%. They hold 34 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being SAILIFE, CCL, NAVINFLUOR. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund or Axis Small Cap Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund is rated Very High and Axis Small Cap Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 17.15% and 15.00% a year.
Which is better for SIP, Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund or Axis Small Cap Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹8,66,057 in Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund (XIRR 13.8% a year) and ₹8,44,565 in Axis Small Cap Fund (XIRR 12.8% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund and Axis Small Cap Fund?
Yes. 26.5% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund and Axis Small Cap Fund?
Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund: Abhinav Khandelwal, Dhaval Joshi. Axis Small Cap Fund: Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki, Krishnaa N.
Sources: NAV and expense ratio from AMFI. Holdings from each fund house's monthly portfolio statement. Fund facts from each scheme summary document.
This page is information, not investment advice. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks; read all scheme related documents carefully. Past returns do not promise future returns. Figures come from AMFI, NSE, BSE and each fund house's own documents.