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    Axis Arbitrage Fund vs HDFC Arbitrage Fund

    Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026

    Axis Arbitrage Fund and HDFC Arbitrage Fund are both Arbitrage funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Axis Arbitrage Fund (Direct) returned 7.3% a year and HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct) returned 7.3% a year. Axis Arbitrage Fund charges 1.40% a year and HDFC Arbitrage Fund 1.48% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 49.4%: they hold 129 of the same securities.

    Axis Arbitrage Fund

    Arbitrage

    3 year return
    7.3%
    Expense ratio
    1.40%
    NAV
    ₹22.09
    See Axis Arbitrage Fund

    HDFC Arbitrage Fund

    Arbitrage

    3 year return
    7.3%
    Expense ratio
    1.48%
    NAV
    ₹21.93
    See HDFC Arbitrage Fund

    Which is better, Axis Arbitrage or HDFC Arbitrage? Key differences

    It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.

    • Axis Arbitrage returned more over 5 years: 6.8% a year against 6.7%.
    • Axis Arbitrage returned more over 3 years: 7.3% a year against 7.3%.
    • Axis Arbitrage costs less: 1.40% a year against 1.48% (Direct plans).
    • Axis Arbitrage swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 1.0% a year against 1.1%.
    • Axis Arbitrage fell less in its worst fall since 21-08-2014: −0.6% against −0.7%.
    • HDFC Arbitrage is the larger fund: ₹25,407 Cr against ₹10,168 Cr.
    • Their portfolios overlap 49.4%: 129 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

    FactAxis Arbitrage FundHDFC Arbitrage Fund
    Fund houseAxis Mutual FundHDFC Mutual Fund
    CategoryArbitrageArbitrage
    AUM₹10,168 Cr (30-09-2026)₹25,407 Cr (30-09-2026)
    NAV₹22.09 (Direct)₹21.93 (Direct)
    Expense ratio (Direct)1.40%1.48%
    Expense ratio (Regular)2.09%2.02%
    RiskometerLowLow
    BenchmarkNifty 50 Arbitrage IndexNifty 50 Arbitrage TRI
    Launch date14-08-201423-10-2007
    Minimum investment₹500₹100
    Lock inNoneNone
    Fund managersDevang Shah, Sachin JainNandita Menezes, Arun Agarwal, Anil Bamboli, Gopal Agrawal
    Exit loadExit load of 0.25% if redeemed within 15 days.• In respect of each purchase / switch-in of Units, an Exit load of 0.25% is payable if Units are redeemed / switched-out within 15 days from the date of allotment of units. • No Exit Load is payable if Units are redeemed/switched-out after 15 days from the date of allotment.

    Axis Arbitrage vs HDFC Arbitrage: Returns Comparison

    Returns as on 30-10-2026. Up to one year they are absolute returns. Longer periods are a rate per year.

    Fund1M3M6M1Y3Y5Y10Y
    Axis Arbitrage Fund (Direct)+0.52%+1.52%+3.22%+6.68%+7.31%+6.84%+6.44%
    HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)+0.55%+1.55%+3.25%+6.66%+7.26%+6.73%+6.13%
    Arbitrage average+0.56%+1.52%+3.20%+6.62%+7.18%+6.68%+6.31%

    Category average: the average of the 39 Arbitrage funds, same plan type.

    Axis Arbitrage vs HDFC Arbitrage: Year-wise Returns

    YearAxisAxis ArbitrageHDFCHDFC Arbitrage
    2026to date+5.44%+5.43%
    2025+7.06%+6.93%
    2024+8.26%+8.22%
    2023+7.68%+7.78%
    2022+4.95%+4.73%
    2021+4.61%+4.17%

    Axis Arbitrage vs HDFC Arbitrage: Rolling Returns

    Every holding period of both funds

    Rolling returns

    Every 3-year holding period, 2,272 of them, one for each trading day from 21-08-2017 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.

    0%2%4%6%8%
    May 2015
    to
    May 2018
    Dec 2016
    to
    Dec 2019
    Jun 2018
    to
    Jun 2021
    Jan 2020
    to
    Jan 2023
    Aug 2021
    to
    Aug 2024
    Feb 2023
    to
    Feb 2026
    Axis Arbitrage Fund (Direct)HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)

    How the periods spread

    FundBelow 0%0-5%5-10%10-15%15-20%20-25%Above 25%MeanMedianLowestHighest
    Axis Arbitrage0.010.789.30.00.00.00.06.5%6.8%4.6%7.8%
    HDFC Arbitrage0.017.382.70.00.00.00.06.1%6.3%4.2%7.8%

    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. Every fund is measured over the days all of them have, from 21-08-2014. Past returns do not promise future returns.

    Axis Arbitrage vs HDFC Arbitrage: 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

    Step up each year
    PeriodFor

    ₹10,000 on the first trading day of every month, from 21-08-2014 to 30-10-2026: 147 instalments, ₹14,70,000 in all.

    InvestmentInvestedValue nowGainReturn a year
    Axis ArbitrageAxis Arbitrage Fund (Direct) ₹14,70,000 ₹22,26,621 ₹7,56,621 6.5%
    HDFC ArbitrageHDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct) ₹14,70,000 ₹21,95,297 ₹7,25,297 6.3%
    ₹0₹5.0 L₹10.0 L₹15.0 L₹20.0 L₹25.0 L
    201520172019202120232025
    Axis ArbitrageAxis Arbitrage Fund (Direct)HDFC ArbitrageHDFC Arbitrage 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.

    Axis Arbitrage vs HDFC Arbitrage: Risk and Drawdowns

    How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days

    Risk and return

    MeasureAxis Arbitrage Fund (Direct)HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
    Return (CAGR)+7.31%+7.26%
    Standard deviation1.05%1.10%
    Sharpe ratio1.231.12
    Sortino ratio1.881.71
    Maximum drawdown−0.4% (06-08-2026)−0.5% (06-08-2026)
    Beta----
    Alpha----

    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.

    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.

    −0.8%−0.6%−0.4%−0.2%0%
    201520172019202120232025
    Axis Arbitrage Fund (Direct)HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
    FundWorst fallHigh before itBottomBack at the highTime to climb backBelow its high today
    Axis Arbitrage Fund (Direct)−0.6%16-03-202025-03-202030-03-20205 days−0.0%
    HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)−0.7%16-03-202025-03-202003-04-20209 days−0.1%

    From daily values since 21-08-2014, 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 3-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.

    0%0.2%0.4%0.6%0.8%1%1.2%
    20182020202220242026
    Axis Arbitrage Fund (Direct)HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)

    Axis Arbitrage vs HDFC Arbitrage: Portfolio Overlap

    From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Axis Arbitrage Fund, September 2026; HDFC Arbitrage Fund, September 2026

    Holdings in common

    Overlap
    49.4%
    Held by both
    129
    Only in Axis Arbitrage
    25
    Only in HDFC Arbitrage
    40
    Security% of Axis Arbitrage% of HDFC Arbitrage
    HDFC Bank Limited4.06%5.04%
    ICICI Bank Limited3.83%5.04%
    Reliance Industries Limited3.77%3.39%
    State Bank of India2.63%2.30%
    Bharti Airtel Limited2.22%3.31%
    Tata Steel Limited1.83%1.55%
    Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited1.58%1.44%
    Bajaj Finance Limited1.43%1.80%
    Axis Bank Limited1.38%2.87%
    Divi's Laboratories Limited1.25%1.26%

    Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 49.4% means 49.4% 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 Axis Arbitrage Fund

    Security% of fund
    Axis Money Market Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option13.06%
    Canara Bank (10/02/2027)1.92%
    National Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development (10/03/2027)1.91%
    Small Industries Dev Bank of India (04/02/2027)1.87%
    Canara Bank (02/02/2027)1.68%

    Largest holdings only in HDFC Arbitrage Fund

    Security% of fund
    HDFC Money Market Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option9.14%
    Union Bank of India3.84%
    HDFC Liquid Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option3.75%
    HDFC Ultra Short Term Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option2.85%
    HDFC Ultra Short to Short Term Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option2.64%

    Asset and sector split

    Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio

    Asset allocation

    AssetAxis ArbitrageHDFC Arbitrage
    Equity69.7%67.5%
    Debt17.2%9.0%
    Cash and others13.1%23.4%

    Market cap of stocks

    Market capAxis ArbitrageHDFC Arbitrage
    Large Cap54.4%55.6%
    Mid Cap12.1%10.3%
    Small Cap3.2%1.7%

    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

    SectorAxis ArbitrageHDFC Arbitrage
    Banks18.6%22.2%
    Finance6.3%4.3%
    Telecom - Services4.5%5.2%
    Ferrous Metals3.8%4.5%
    Petroleum Products4.3%4.4%
    Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology3.6%3.0%
    Automobiles0.8%3.1%

    The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.

    Axis Arbitrage vs HDFC Arbitrage: Expense Ratio

    What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file

    ChargeAxis Arbitrage FundHDFC Arbitrage Fund
    Total expense ratio (Direct)1.40%1.48%
    Base expense ratio (Direct)0.27%0.34%
    Total expense ratio (Regular)2.09%2.02%
    Base expense ratio (Regular)0.86%0.80%

    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

    Axis Arbitrage Fund vs HDFC Arbitrage Fund: Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between Axis Arbitrage Fund and HDFC Arbitrage Fund?

    Both are Arbitrage funds, run by Axis Mutual Fund and HDFC Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 49.4%. Axis Arbitrage Fund charges 1.40% a year and HDFC Arbitrage Fund 1.48%.

    Which has given higher returns, Axis Arbitrage Fund or HDFC Arbitrage Fund?

    Over 1 year: Axis Arbitrage Fund +6.68%, HDFC Arbitrage Fund +6.66%. Over 3 years: Axis Arbitrage Fund +7.31% a year, HDFC Arbitrage Fund +7.26% a year. Over 5 years: Axis Arbitrage Fund +6.84% a year, HDFC Arbitrage Fund +6.73% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.

    Which has the lower expense ratio, Axis Arbitrage Fund or HDFC Arbitrage Fund?

    Axis Arbitrage Fund charges less: 1.40% a year against 1.48%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.

    How much do Axis Arbitrage Fund and HDFC Arbitrage Fund overlap?

    49.4%. They hold 129 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being HDFCBANK, ICICIBANK, RELIANCE. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.

    Which is riskier, Axis Arbitrage Fund or HDFC Arbitrage Fund?

    On SEBI's riskometer, Axis Arbitrage Fund is rated Low and HDFC Arbitrage Fund Low. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 1.05% and 1.10% a year.

    Which is better for SIP, Axis Arbitrage Fund or HDFC Arbitrage Fund?

    Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,31,700 in Axis Arbitrage Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year) and ₹7,30,981 in HDFC Arbitrage Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.

    Can I invest in both Axis Arbitrage Fund and HDFC Arbitrage Fund?

    Yes. 49.4% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so a large part of the two investments would move together.

    Who manages Axis Arbitrage Fund and HDFC Arbitrage Fund?

    Axis Arbitrage Fund: Devang Shah, Sachin Jain. HDFC Arbitrage Fund: Nandita Menezes, Arun Agarwal, Anil Bamboli, Gopal Agrawal.

    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.

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