Axis Business Cycles Fund vs Sundaram Flexicap Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Axis Business Cycles Fund is a Thematic fund and Sundaram Flexicap Fund is a Flexi Cap fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct) returned 12.1% a year and Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct) returned 8.5% a year. Axis Business Cycles Fund charges 1.63% a year and Sundaram Flexicap Fund 0.87% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 37.2%: they hold 23 of the same securities.
Axis Business Cycles Fund
Thematic
- 3 year return
- 12.1%
- Expense ratio
- 1.63%
- NAV
- ₹16.86
Sundaram Flexicap Fund
Flexi Cap
- 3 year return
- 8.5%
- Expense ratio
- 0.87%
- NAV
- ₹14.35
Which is better, Axis Business Cycles or Sundaram Flexicap? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- Axis Business Cycles returned more over 3 years: 12.1% a year against 8.5%.
- Axis Business Cycles returned more over 1 year: −3.4% against −10.2%.
- Sundaram Flexicap costs less: 0.87% a year against 1.63% (Direct plans).
- Sundaram Flexicap swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 13.1% a year against 14.9%.
- Sundaram Flexicap fell less in its worst fall since 27-02-2023: −15.7% against −19.3%.
- Sundaram Flexicap holds more in large companies: 62.4% of the fund in large caps against 47.9%.
- Axis Business Cycles is the larger fund: ₹2,039 Cr against ₹1,837 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 37.2%: 23 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 | Axis Business Cycles Fund | Sundaram Flexicap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Axis Mutual Fund | Sundaram Mutual Fund |
| Category | Thematic | Flexi Cap |
| AUM | ₹2,039 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹1,837 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹16.86 (Direct) | ₹14.35 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 1.63% | 0.87% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 2.40% | 2.17% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | Nifty 500 TRI | Nifty 500 TRI |
| Launch date | 22-02-2023 | 12-09-2022 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Ashish Naik | Bharath S, Sandeep Agarwal, Shalav Saket |
| Exit load | Exit Load for units in excess of 10% of the investment,1% will be charged for redemption within 12 months. | Exit Load for units in excess of 25% of the investment,1% will be charged for redemption within 365 days. |
Axis Business Cycles vs Sundaram Flexicap: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct) | −3.16% | −4.80% | −0.06% | −3.38% | +12.13% | -- | -- |
| Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct) | −1.22% | −6.45% | −5.26% | −10.21% | +8.49% | -- | -- |
| Thematic average | −2.09% | −4.52% | +0.86% | −1.22% | +13.76% | -- | -- |
| Flexi Cap average | −1.62% | −4.17% | +1.00% | −3.58% | +12.37% | -- | -- |
Category average: the average of the 235 Thematic funds and the 46 Flexi Cap funds, same plan type.
Axis Business Cycles vs Sundaram Flexicap: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Axis Business CyclesAxis Business Cycles | Sundaram FlexicapSundaram Flexicap | Nifty 500 TRI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −2.54% | −10.90% | −7.51% |
| 2025 | +4.47% | +8.64% | +7.76% |
| 2024 | +21.14% | +16.31% | +16.24% |
| 2023 | -- | +26.25% | +26.91% |
Axis Business Cycles vs Sundaram Flexicap: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against Nifty 500 TRI, the benchmark of both
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 166 of them, one for each trading day from 27-02-2026 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.
Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct)
Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
to
Mar 2026Apr 2023
to
Apr 2026Jun 2023
to
Jun 2026Jul 2023
to
Jul 2026Sept 2023
to
Sept 2026Oct 2023
to
Oct 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Business Cycles | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 39.8 | 60.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15.3% | 15.4% | 11.5% | 19.5% | 100% |
| Sundaram Flexicap | 0.0 | 0.0 | 23.8 | 64.0 | 12.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.7% | 11.5% | 7.0% | 17.2% | 0% |
| Nifty 500 TRI | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.4 | 66.3 | 22.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.2% | 13.2% | 8.8% | 18.0% | -- |
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 Nifty 500 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 27-02-2023. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Axis Business Cycles vs Sundaram Flexicap: 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 27-02-2023 to 30-10-2026: 45 instalments, ₹4,50,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Business CyclesAxis Business Cycles Fund (Direct) | ₹4,50,000 | ₹5,17,969 | ₹67,969 | 7.5% |
| Sundaram FlexicapSundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct) | ₹4,50,000 | ₹4,80,520 | ₹30,520 | 3.5% |
Axis Business CyclesAxis Business Cycles Fund (Direct)
Sundaram FlexicapSundaram Flexicap 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 Business Cycles vs Sundaram Flexicap: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct) | Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −3.38% | −10.21% |
| Standard deviation | 15.56% | 14.30% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.55 | -1.08 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.75 | -1.44 |
| Maximum drawdown | −14.1% (30-03-2026) | −15.1% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 1.06 | 0.97 |
| Alpha | +4.67% | −3.19% |
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 | Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct) | Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +12.13% | +8.49% |
| Standard deviation | 14.88% | 13.15% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.41 | 0.19 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.55 | 0.26 |
| Maximum drawdown | −19.3% (28-02-2025) | −15.7% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 1.02 | 0.90 |
| Alpha | +1.84% | −1.31% |
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 | Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct) | Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +15.23% | +9.07% |
| Standard deviation | 13.95% | 12.19% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.65 | 0.24 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.88 | 0.32 |
| Maximum drawdown | −19.3% (28-02-2025) | −15.7% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 1.00 | 0.89 |
| Alpha | +2.36% | −0.51% |
From daily NAVs, 27-02-2023 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.
Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct)
Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct) | −19.3% | 24-09-2024 | 28-02-2025 | 06-07-2026 | 16 months | −8.5% |
| Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct) | −15.7% | 26-09-2024 | 03-03-2025 | 17-09-2025 | 7 months | −11.6% |
| Nifty 500 TRI | −18.6% | 26-09-2024 | 28-02-2025 | Not yet | -- | −8.8% |
From daily values since 27-02-2023, 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.
Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct)
Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 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.
Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct)
Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
Against Nifty 500 TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Business Cycles Fund (Direct) | 106% | 96% | 3.70% |
| Sundaram Flexicap Fund (Direct) | 90% | 93% | 3.36% |
From month-end values since 27-02-2023. 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.
Axis Business Cycles vs Sundaram Flexicap: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Axis Business Cycles Fund, September 2026; Sundaram Flexicap Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 37.2%
- Held by both
- 23
- Only in Axis Business Cycles
- 63
- Only in Sundaram Flexicap
- 30
| Security | % of Axis Business Cycles | % of Sundaram Flexicap |
|---|---|---|
| Axis Bank Limited | 3.60% | 4.44% |
| ICICI Bank Limited | 3.59% | 6.46% |
| Larsen & Toubro Limited | 3.79% | 3.53% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | 3.34% | 5.88% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | 2.72% | 3.40% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | 2.47% | 3.79% |
| Reliance Industries Limited | 2.17% | 3.42% |
| IndusInd Bank Limited | 2.21% | 1.85% |
| Eternal Limited | 1.56% | 2.22% |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Limited | 1.50% | 2.25% |
| NTPC Limited | 1.35% | 1.67% |
| HCL Technologies Limited | 1.94% | 1.35% |
| Tata Motors Ltd | 1.26% | 1.55% |
| Delhivery Limited | 0.95% | 1.17% |
| Amber Enterprises India Limited | 0.95% | 0.99% |
| Cummins India Limited | 0.84% | 1.46% |
| Swiggy Limited | 0.83% | 1.25% |
| United Spirits Limited | 0.71% | 1.47% |
| Hindustan Aeronautics Limited | 0.69% | 1.31% |
| Alkem Laboratories Limited | 0.61% | 1.49% |
| 360 One WAM Limited | 0.54% | 1.24% |
| Jubilant Foodworks Limited | 0.45% | 1.21% |
| InterGlobe Aviation Limited | 0.30% | 1.41% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 37.2% means 37.2% 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 Business Cycles Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Grasim Industries Limited | 2.67% |
| Aether Industries Limited | 2.58% |
| PTC Industries Limited | 2.22% |
| One 97 Communications Limited | 1.96% |
| Jindal Steel Limited | 1.56% |
Largest holdings only in Sundaram Flexicap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd | 3.74% |
| State Bank of India | 3.59% |
| Infosys Ltd | 2.87% |
| Ultratech Cement Ltd | 2.39% |
| Force Motors Ltd | 2.00% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Axis Business Cycles | Sundaram Flexicap |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 95.6% | 99.3% |
| Debt | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 3.9% | 0.7% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Axis Business Cycles | Sundaram Flexicap |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 47.9% | 62.4% |
| Mid Cap | 23.5% | 15.9% |
| Small Cap | 23.1% | 20.9% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 1.2% | 0.0% |
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 | Axis Business Cycles | Sundaram Flexicap |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 17.4% | 27.7% |
| Auto Components | 7.2% | 1.9% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 6.9% | 0.0% |
| Automobiles | 2.7% | 5.7% |
| Finance | 5.4% | 2.3% |
| Industrial Products | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| It - Software | 0.0% | 5.0% |
| Construction | 3.8% | 4.6% |
| Retailing | 4.2% | 3.5% |
| Telecom - Services | 2.5% | 3.8% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Axis Business Cycles vs Sundaram Flexicap: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Axis Business Cycles Fund | Sundaram Flexicap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 1.63% | 0.87% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 1.15% | 0.64% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 2.40% | 2.17% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.76% | 1.78% |
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 Axis Business Cycles with
Axis Business Cycles Fund vs Sundaram Flexicap Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Axis Business Cycles Fund and Sundaram Flexicap Fund?
Axis Business Cycles Fund is a Thematic fund, Sundaram Flexicap Fund is a Flexi Cap fund, run by Axis Mutual Fund and Sundaram Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 37.2%. Axis Business Cycles Fund charges 1.63% a year and Sundaram Flexicap Fund 0.87%.
Which has given higher returns, Axis Business Cycles Fund or Sundaram Flexicap Fund?
Over 1 year: Axis Business Cycles Fund −3.38%, Sundaram Flexicap Fund −10.21%. Over 3 years: Axis Business Cycles Fund +12.13% a year, Sundaram Flexicap Fund +8.49% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Axis Business Cycles Fund or Sundaram Flexicap Fund?
Sundaram Flexicap Fund charges less: 0.87% a year against 1.63%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Axis Business Cycles Fund and Sundaram Flexicap Fund overlap?
37.2%. They hold 23 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being AXISBANK, ICICIBANK, LT. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, Axis Business Cycles Fund or Sundaram Flexicap Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, Axis Business Cycles Fund is rated Very High and Sundaram Flexicap Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 14.88% and 13.15% a year.
Which is better for SIP, Axis Business Cycles Fund or Sundaram Flexicap Fund?
Over the last 3 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 03-10-2023 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹3,93,246 in Axis Business Cycles Fund (XIRR 3.9% a year) and ₹3,70,452 in Sundaram Flexicap Fund (XIRR 0.1% a year). Both received 37 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Axis Business Cycles Fund and Sundaram Flexicap Fund?
Yes. 37.2% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages Axis Business Cycles Fund and Sundaram Flexicap Fund?
Axis Business Cycles Fund: Ashish Naik. Sundaram Flexicap Fund: Bharath S, Sandeep Agarwal, Shalav Saket.
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.