Axis Long Term Fund vs ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Axis Long Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund are both Long Duration funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Axis Long Term Fund (Direct) returned 5.6% a year and ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct) returned 6.1% a year. Axis Long Term Fund charges 0.33% a year and ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund 0.43% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 25.7%: they hold 3 of the same securities.
Axis Long Term Fund
Long Duration
- 3 year return
- 5.6%
- Expense ratio
- 0.33%
- NAV
- ₹1,239.95
ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund
Long Duration
- 3 year return
- 6.1%
- Expense ratio
- 0.43%
- NAV
- ₹99.02
Which is better, Axis Long Term or ICICI Prudential Long Term? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- ICICI Prudential Long Term returned more over 3 years: 6.1% a year against 5.6%.
- Axis Long Term returned more over 1 year: 0.5% against 0.1%.
- Axis Long Term costs less: 0.33% a year against 0.43% (Direct plans).
- ICICI Prudential Long Term swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 3.2% a year against 4.1%.
- ICICI Prudential Long Term fell less in its worst fall since 30-12-2022: −4.2% against −5.6%.
- ICICI Prudential Long Term is the larger fund: ₹822 Cr against ₹154 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 25.7%: 3 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 Long Term Fund | ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Axis Mutual Fund | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund |
| Category | Long Duration | Long Duration |
| AUM | ₹154 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹822 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹1,239.95 (Direct) | ₹99.02 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.33% | 0.43% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 0.77% | 0.94% |
| Riskometer | Moderate | Not available |
| Benchmark | NIFTY Long Duration Debt Index A-III | CRISIL Long Duration Debt A-III Index |
| Launch date | 27-12-2022 | 09-07-1998 |
| Minimum investment | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Devang Shah, Hardik Shah | Manish Banthia, Raunak Surana |
| Exit load | NIL | Nil |
Axis Long Term vs ICICI Prudential Long Term: 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 Long Term Fund (Direct) | −1.34% | −2.11% | +0.92% | +0.52% | +5.56% | -- | -- |
| ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct) | −1.39% | −2.48% | +0.65% | +0.12% | +6.11% | +5.11% | +6.46% |
| Long Duration average | −1.14% | −2.16% | +0.90% | +0.63% | +5.83% | -- | -- |
Category average: the average of the 11 Long Duration funds, same plan type.
Axis Long Term vs ICICI Prudential Long Term: Year-wise Returns
| Year | AxisAxis Long Term | ICICI PrudentialICICI Prudential Long Term |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −0.21% | −0.22% |
| 2025 | +3.19% | +5.65% |
| 2024 | +11.56% | +10.71% |
| 2023 | +7.72% | +7.32% |
| 2022 | -- | +1.86% |
| 2021 | -- | +1.01% |
Axis Long Term vs ICICI Prudential Long Term: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 204 of them, one for each trading day from 30-12-2025 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 Long Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct)
to
Jan 2026Mar 2023
to
Mar 2026May 2023
to
May 2026Jun 2023
to
Jun 2026Aug 2023
to
Aug 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Long Term | 0.0 | 2.5 | 97.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.7% | 7.4% |
| ICICI Prudential Long Term | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.9% | 6.8% | 5.7% | 8.0% |
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. Every fund is measured over the days all of them have, from 30-12-2022. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Axis Long Term vs ICICI Prudential Long Term: 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 30-12-2022 to 30-10-2026: 47 instalments, ₹4,70,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Long TermAxis Long Term Fund (Direct) | ₹4,70,000 | ₹5,05,310 | ₹35,310 | 3.7% |
| ICICI Prudential Long TermICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct) | ₹4,70,000 | ₹5,11,841 | ₹41,841 | 4.3% |
Axis Long TermAxis Long Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Long TermICICI Prudential Long Term 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 Long Term vs ICICI Prudential Long Term: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Axis Long Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +0.52% | +0.12% |
| Standard deviation | 4.86% | 4.30% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.97 | -1.19 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.29 | -1.59 |
| Maximum drawdown | −4.1% (23-10-2026) | −4.2% (27-10-2026) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
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 Long Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +5.56% | +6.11% |
| Standard deviation | 4.13% | 3.17% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.11 | 0.03 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.15 | 0.04 |
| Maximum drawdown | −5.6% (02-04-2026) | −4.2% (27-10-2026) |
| 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.
| Measure | Axis Long Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +5.72% | +7.50% |
| Standard deviation | 3.97% | 4.39% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.12 | 0.33 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.16 | 0.46 |
| Maximum drawdown | −5.6% (02-04-2026) | −12.0% (19-08-2013) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
From daily NAVs, 30-12-2022 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 Long Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Long Term Fund (Direct) | −5.6% | 16-05-2025 | 02-04-2026 | 25-06-2026 | 3 months | −3.6% |
| ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct) | −4.2% | 14-08-2026 | 27-10-2026 | Not yet | -- | −3.7% |
From daily values since 30-12-2022, 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 Long Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct)
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 Long Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (Direct)
Axis Long Term vs ICICI Prudential Long Term: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Axis Long Term Fund, September 2026; ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 25.7%
- Held by both
- 3
- Only in Axis Long Term
- 4
- Only in ICICI Prudential Long Term
- 16
| Security | % of Axis Long Term | % of ICICI Prudential Long Term |
|---|---|---|
| 7.34% Government of India (22/04/2064) | 22.94% | 36.66% |
| 7.24% Government of India (18/08/2055) | 9.22% | 2.35% |
| SBI - Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) - Class A2 | 1.05% | 0.41% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 25.7% means 25.7% 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 Long Term Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| 7.25% Government of India (12/06/2063) | 21.35% |
| 7.36% Government of India (12/09/2052) | 20.67% |
| 7.09% Government of India (05/08/2054) | 18.16% |
| 7.3% Government of India (19/06/2053) | 0.94% |
Largest holdings only in ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Government Securities | 13.55% |
| State Government of Maharashtra | 8.36% |
| State Government of Maharashtra | 5.70% |
| State Government of Maharashtra | 5.58% |
| State Government of Maharashtra | 5.57% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Axis Long Term | ICICI Prudential Long Term |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Debt | 93.3% | 95.4% |
| Cash and others | 6.7% | 4.6% |
Axis Long Term vs ICICI Prudential Long Term: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Axis Long Term Fund | ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.33% | 0.43% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.28% | 0.37% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 0.77% | 0.94% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 0.66% | 0.81% |
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 Long Term with
Axis Long Term Fund vs ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Axis Long Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund?
Both are Long Duration funds, run by Axis Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 25.7%. Axis Long Term Fund charges 0.33% a year and ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund 0.43%.
Which has given higher returns, Axis Long Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund?
Over 1 year: Axis Long Term Fund +0.52%, ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund +0.12%. Over 3 years: Axis Long Term Fund +5.56% a year, ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund +6.11% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Axis Long Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund?
Axis Long Term Fund charges less: 0.33% a year against 0.43%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Axis Long Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund overlap?
25.7%. They hold 3 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being 7.34% Government of India (22/04/2064), 7.24% Government of India (18/08/2055), SBI - Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) - Class A2. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is better for SIP, Axis Long Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund?
Over the last 3 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 03-10-2023 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹3,85,158 in Axis Long Term Fund (XIRR 2.6% a year) and ₹3,89,866 in ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund (XIRR 3.3% a year). Both received 37 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Axis Long Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund?
Yes. 25.7% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages Axis Long Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund?
Axis Long Term Fund: Devang Shah, Hardik Shah. ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund: Manish Banthia, Raunak Surana.
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.