Axis Short Term Fund vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Axis Short Term Fund is a Short Duration fund and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund is a Low Duration fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Axis Short Term Fund (Direct) returned 7.6% a year and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct) returned 7.3% a year. Axis Short Term Fund charges 0.40% a year and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund 0.41% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 15.4%: they hold 30 of the same securities.
Axis Short Term Fund
Short Duration
- 3 year return
- 7.6%
- Expense ratio
- 0.40%
- NAV
- ₹36.27
Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund
Low Duration
- 3 year return
- 7.3%
- Expense ratio
- 0.41%
- NAV
- ₹3,948.32
Which is better, Axis Short Term or Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- Axis Short Term returned more over 5 years: 6.7% a year against 6.7%.
- Axis Short Term returned more over 3 years: 7.6% a year against 7.3%.
- Axis Short Term costs less: 0.40% a year against 0.41% (Direct plans).
- Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 0.5% a year against 1.0%.
- Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term fell less in its worst fall since 02-02-2015: −1.5% against −2.6%.
- Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term is the larger fund: ₹12,566 Cr against ₹7,425 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 15.4%: 30 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 Short Term Fund | Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Axis Mutual Fund | Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund |
| Category | Short Duration | Low Duration |
| AUM | ₹7,425 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹12,566 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹36.27 (Direct) | ₹3,948.32 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.40% | 0.41% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 0.92% | 1.18% |
| Riskometer | Moderate | Low to Moderate |
| Benchmark | NIFTY Short Duration Debt Index A-II | NIFTY Low Duration Debt Index A-I |
| Launch date | 22-01-2010 | 06-03-2008 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Devang Shah, Aditya Pagaria | Dharmesh Thakkar, Deepak Agrawal |
| Exit load | Nil | Nil |
Axis Short Term vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short 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 Short Term Fund (Direct) | −0.10% | +0.38% | +2.62% | +4.82% | +7.58% | +6.72% | +7.38% |
| Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct) | +0.13% | +0.98% | +2.86% | +5.73% | +7.33% | +6.70% | +7.25% |
| Short Duration average | −0.14% | +0.30% | +2.50% | +4.11% | +6.88% | +6.62% | +6.89% |
| Low Duration average | +0.18% | +1.12% | +2.95% | +5.79% | +7.22% | +6.58% | +6.73% |
Category average: the average of the 25 Short Duration funds and the 25 Low Duration funds, same plan type.
Axis Short Term vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term: Year-wise Returns
| Year | AxisAxis Short Term | Kotak Ultra Short toKotak Ultra Short to Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +3.96% | +4.74% |
| 2025 | +8.62% | +7.86% |
| 2024 | +8.56% | +8.19% |
| 2023 | +7.46% | +7.49% |
| 2022 | +4.39% | +4.68% |
| 2021 | +4.19% | +4.26% |
Axis Short Term vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,121 of them, one for each trading day from 02-02-2018 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 Short Term Fund (Direct)
Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct)
to
Oct 2018Apr 2017
to
Apr 2020Oct 2018
to
Oct 2021Mar 2020
to
Mar 2023Sept 2021
to
Sept 2024Feb 2023
to
Feb 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 Short Term | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.7% | 8.0% | 5.2% | 9.5% |
| Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.5% | 7.8% | 5.4% | 9.2% |
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 02-02-2015. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Axis Short Term vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short 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 02-02-2015 to 30-10-2026: 141 instalments, ₹14,10,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Short TermAxis Short Term Fund (Direct) | ₹14,10,000 | ₹21,99,232 | ₹7,89,232 | 7.3% |
| Kotak Ultra Short to Short TermKotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct) | ₹14,10,000 | ₹21,78,147 | ₹7,68,147 | 7.1% |
Axis Short TermAxis Short Term Fund (Direct)
Kotak Ultra Short to Short TermKotak Ultra Short to Short 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 Short Term vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Axis Short Term Fund (Direct) | Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +4.82% | +5.73% |
| Standard deviation | 1.18% | 0.63% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.36 | 0.77 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.51 | 1.16 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.5% (21-05-2026) | −0.2% (21-05-2026) |
| 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 Short Term Fund (Direct) | Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.58% | +7.33% |
| Standard deviation | 0.96% | 0.51% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.63 | 2.53 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.53 | 4.37 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.5% (21-05-2026) | −0.2% (21-05-2026) |
| 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 Short Term Fund (Direct) | Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.72% | +6.70% |
| Standard deviation | 0.92% | 0.53% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.99 | 1.69 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.44 | 2.52 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.8% (06-05-2022) | −0.6% (06-05-2022) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
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 | Axis Short Term Fund (Direct) | Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.99% | +7.62% |
| Standard deviation | 1.43% | 0.77% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.36 | 2.59 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.09 | 4.49 |
| Maximum drawdown | −2.6% (24-03-2020) | −1.5% (24-03-2020) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
From daily NAVs, 02-01-2013 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.
Axis Short Term Fund (Direct)
Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Short Term Fund (Direct) | −2.6% | 06-03-2020 | 24-03-2020 | 31-03-2020 | 7 days | −0.2% |
| Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct) | −1.5% | 06-03-2020 | 24-03-2020 | 27-03-2020 | 3 days | −0.0% |
From daily values since 02-02-2015, 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 Short Term Fund (Direct)
Kotak Ultra Short to Short 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 Short Term Fund (Direct)
Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct)
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.
Axis Short Term Fund (Direct)
Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (Direct)
Axis Short Term vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Axis Short Term Fund, September 2026; Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 15.4%
- Held by both
- 30
- Only in Axis Short Term
- 135
- Only in Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term
- 73
| Security | % of Axis Short Term | % of Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank Limited (15/01/2027) | 2.64% | 2.34% |
| Punjab National Bank (05/02/2027) | 0.99% | 3.11% |
| 7.99% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited (26/12/2028) | 1.33% | 0.98% |
| 7.99% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited (26/03/2029) | 1.26% | 0.98% |
| Radhakrishna Securitisation Trust (28/09/2028) | 0.95% | 1.59% |
| Small Industries Dev Bank of India (20/08/2027) | 0.95% | 1.49% |
| 7.45% Bharti Telecom Limited (15/12/2028) | 0.93% | 1.56% |
| 7.6937% Nexus Select Trust - REIT (28/05/2027) | 1.01% | 0.80% |
| Muthoot Finance Limited (04/09/2029) (FRN) | 1.01% | 0.80% |
| 7.25% RJ Corp Limited (08/12/2028) | 0.74% | 1.20% |
| JTPM Metal Traders Limited (29/09/2028) (ZCB) | 0.73% | 3.44% |
| 6.92% DLF Cyber City Developers Limited (28/07/2028) | 0.53% | 0.78% |
| 7.44% National Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development (24/02/2028) | 0.47% | 1.27% |
| 8.1% Bajaj Housing Finance Limited (08/07/2027) | 0.67% | 0.40% |
| 7.68% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited (28/04/2028) | 0.40% | 0.44% |
| Bank of Baroda (11/03/2027) | 0.65% | 0.39% |
| SBI - Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) - Class A2 | 0.49% | 0.35% |
| India Universal Trust (21/11/2027) | 0.33% | 0.29% |
| 7.68% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited (28/01/2028) | 0.27% | 0.44% |
| 7.96% Embassy Office Parks REIT (27/09/2027) | 0.20% | 0.40% |
| 7.3763% Bajaj Finance Limited (26/06/2028) | 0.20% | 0.39% |
| India Universal Trust (20/07/2027) | 0.18% | 0.61% |
| 8.2% RJ Corp Limited (24/09/2029) | 0.20% | 0.14% |
| Sansar Trust (25/06/2030) | 0.15% | 0.10% |
| 7.68% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited (28/07/2028) | 0.10% | 0.44% |
| 7.7951% Bajaj Finance Limited (10/12/2027) | 0.07% | 1.59% |
| 7.4% Bharti Telecom Limited (01/02/2029) | 0.07% | 0.97% |
| 7.68% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited (27/10/2028) | 0.26% | 0.05% |
| 4.7% Government of India (22/09/2033) | 0.16% | 0.01% |
| 7.56% REC Limited (31/08/2027) | 0.01% | 0.40% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 15.4% means 15.4% 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 Short Term Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| 6.94% Government of India (11/05/2036) | 4.45% |
| 7.7% Nuclear Power Corporation Of India Limited (21/03/2038) | 4.04% |
| Siddhivinayak Securitisation Trust (28/09/2030) | 2.74% |
| 6.61% Power Finance Corporation Limited (15/07/2028) | 2.65% |
| 7.22% Small Industries Dev Bank of India (10/04/2029) | 2.65% |
Largest holdings only in Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Karnataka State Govt - 2031 - Karnataka(^) | 3.93% |
| PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK | 3.87% |
| NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT | 3.78% |
| BAJAJ HOUSING FINANCE LTD.(^) | 3.16% |
| CANARA BANK | 2.72% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Axis Short Term | Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Debt | 93.4% | 98.1% |
| Cash and others | 6.6% | 1.9% |
Axis Short Term vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Axis Short Term Fund | Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.40% | 0.41% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.32% | 0.35% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 0.92% | 1.18% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 0.77% | 1.00% |
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 Short Term with
Compare Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term with
Axis Short Term Fund vs Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Axis Short Term Fund and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund?
Axis Short Term Fund is a Short Duration fund, Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund is a Low Duration fund, run by Axis Mutual Fund and Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 15.4%. Axis Short Term Fund charges 0.40% a year and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund 0.41%.
Which has given higher returns, Axis Short Term Fund or Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund?
Over 1 year: Axis Short Term Fund +4.82%, Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund +5.73%. Over 3 years: Axis Short Term Fund +7.58% a year, Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund +7.33% a year. Over 5 years: Axis Short Term Fund +6.72% a year, Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund +6.70% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Axis Short Term Fund or Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund?
Axis Short Term Fund charges less: 0.40% a year against 0.41%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Axis Short Term Fund and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund overlap?
15.4%. They hold 30 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being HDFC Bank Limited (15/01/2027), Punjab National Bank (05/02/2027), 7.99% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited (26/12/2028). From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, Axis Short Term Fund or Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, Axis Short Term Fund is rated Moderate and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund Low to Moderate. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 0.96% and 0.51% a year.
Which is better for SIP, Axis Short Term Fund or Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,29,981 in Axis Short Term Fund (XIRR 7.0% a year) and ₹7,30,431 in Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund (XIRR 7.0% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Axis Short Term Fund and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund?
Yes. 15.4% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages Axis Short Term Fund and Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund?
Axis Short Term Fund: Devang Shah, Aditya Pagaria. Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund: Dharmesh Thakkar, Deepak 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.