Axis Small Cap Fund vs Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Axis Small Cap Fund and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund are both Small Cap funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 13.2% a year and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 18.0% a year. Axis Small Cap Fund charges 0.69% a year and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund 0.93% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 10.9%: they hold 20 of the same securities.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund
Small Cap
- 3 year return
- 18.0%
- Expense ratio
- 0.93%
- NAV
- ₹22.39
Which is better, Axis Small Cap or Mahindra Manulife 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.
- Mahindra Manulife Small Cap returned more over 3 years: 18.0% a year against 13.2%.
- Mahindra Manulife Small Cap returned more over 1 year: 6.3% against 1.0%.
- Axis Small Cap costs less: 0.69% a year against 0.93% (Direct plans).
- Axis Small Cap swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 15.0% a year against 18.2%.
- Axis Small Cap fell less in its worst fall since 14-12-2022: −19.4% against −26.0%.
- Axis Small Cap is the larger fund: ₹30,678 Cr against ₹5,373 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 10.9%: 20 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 Small Cap Fund | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Axis Mutual Fund | Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund |
| Category | Small Cap | Small Cap |
| AUM | ₹30,678 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹5,373 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹126.97 (Direct) | ₹22.39 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.69% | 0.93% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.68% | 2.21% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | BSE 250 Smallcap TRI |
| Launch date | 29-11-2013 | 12-12-2020 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹1,000 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki, Krishnaa N | Vishal Jajoo, $ Mr. Neelesh Dhamnaskar, Krishna Sanghavi |
| Exit load | Exit load of 1% for investments beyond 10% if redeemed within 12 months | Exit load of 1% if redeemed within 3 months |
Axis Small Cap vs Mahindra Manulife 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −5.18% | −4.11% | +3.40% | +1.02% | +13.23% | +14.44% | +18.24% |
| Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −4.59% | −1.41% | +7.45% | +6.31% | +18.00% | -- | -- |
| Small Cap average | −5.86% | −3.28% | +5.03% | +3.00% | +14.03% | -- | -- |
Category average: the average of the 36 Small Cap funds, same plan type.
Axis Small Cap vs Mahindra Manulife Small Cap: Year-wise Returns
| Year | AxisAxis Small Cap | Mahindra ManulifeMahindra Manulife Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +4.39% | +9.80% |
| 2025 | −0.95% | −1.29% |
| 2024 | +26.40% | +29.97% |
| 2023 | +35.57% | +60.03% |
| 2022 | +4.11% | -- |
| 2021 | +60.71% | -- |
Axis Small Cap vs Mahindra Manulife Small Cap: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI, the benchmark of Axis Small Cap Fund
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 218 of them, one for each trading day from 15-12-2025 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 Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
to
Jan 2026Mar 2023
to
Mar 2026Apr 2023
to
Apr 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 | Beat benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Small Cap | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.6 | 89.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 17.4% | 17.5% | 12.8% | 20.9% | 19% |
| Mahindra Manulife Small Cap | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.1 | 56.5 | 32.4 | 23.6% | 23.7% | 16.8% | 28.4% | 100% |
| Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.8 | 45.4 | 41.7 | 0.0 | 19.0% | 19.6% | 11.4% | 23.7% | -- |
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 Smallcap 250 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 14-12-2022. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Axis Small Cap vs Mahindra Manulife 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 01-12-2022 to 30-10-2026: 47 instalments, ₹4,70,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Small CapAxis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹4,70,000 | ₹5,80,137 | ₹1,10,137 | 10.8% |
| Mahindra Manulife Small CapMahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹4,70,000 | ₹6,41,931 | ₹1,71,931 | 16.1% |
Axis Small CapAxis Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Small CapMahindra Manulife 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.
Axis Small Cap vs Mahindra Manulife Small Cap: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +1.02% | +6.31% |
| Standard deviation | 15.51% | 17.52% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.27 | 0.06 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.37 | 0.08 |
| Maximum drawdown | −14.7% (23-03-2026) | −15.2% (23-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.84 | 0.94 |
| Alpha | +2.83% | +10.89% |
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 Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +13.23% | +18.00% |
| Standard deviation | 15.00% | 18.22% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.48 | 0.66 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.65 | 0.88 |
| Maximum drawdown | −19.4% (03-03-2025) | −26.0% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 0.76 | 0.96 |
| Alpha | +2.41% | +7.33% |
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 Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +21.76% | +23.03% |
| Standard deviation | 14.59% | 16.94% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.09 | 0.99 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.46 | 1.33 |
| Maximum drawdown | −34.6% (24-03-2020) | −26.0% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | -- | 0.93 |
| Alpha | -- | +9.56% |
From daily NAVs, 05-12-2013 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 Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −19.4% | 23-09-2024 | 03-03-2025 | 17-07-2025 | 4 months | −8.3% |
| Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −26.0% | 01-10-2024 | 03-03-2025 | 19-06-2026 | 16 months | −8.7% |
| Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | −26.0% | 23-09-2024 | 03-03-2025 | 26-08-2026 | 18 months | −9.4% |
From daily values since 14-12-2022, 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 Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 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 Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
Against Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 80% | 70% | 6.60% |
| Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 100% | 74% | 5.25% |
From month-end values since 14-12-2022. 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 Small Cap vs Mahindra Manulife Small Cap: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Axis Small Cap Fund, September 2026; Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 10.9%
- Held by both
- 20
- Only in Axis Small Cap
- 108
- Only in Mahindra Manulife Small Cap
- 65
| Security | % of Axis Small Cap | % of Mahindra Manulife Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Karur Vysya Bank Limited | 1.28% | 1.47% |
| Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited | 1.16% | 4.62% |
| Welspun Corp Limited | 1.51% | 1.01% |
| Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited | 0.85% | 1.80% |
| Doms Industries Limited | 0.81% | 0.86% |
| Blue Star Limited | 1.20% | 0.80% |
| Sagility Limited | 0.72% | 1.03% |
| Coforge Limited | 0.64% | 1.56% |
| Laurus Labs Limited | 0.58% | 0.93% |
| Krishna Institute Of Medical Sciences Limited | 2.46% | 0.46% |
| Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited | 1.25% | 0.42% |
| Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities Limited | 0.68% | 0.40% |
| Arvind Fashions Limited | 0.37% | 0.57% |
| Navin Fluorine International Limited | 1.40% | 0.33% |
| Aarti Industries Limited | 0.31% | 0.69% |
| Titagarh Rail Systems Limited | 0.25% | 0.84% |
| Ather Energy Limited | 0.20% | 1.60% |
| Gokaldas Exports Limited | 0.46% | 0.13% |
| SPR Auto Technologies Ltd | 0.11% | 1.63% |
| Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited | 0.09% | 0.57% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 10.9% means 10.9% 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 Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited | 2.32% |
| CCL Products (India) Limited | 2.24% |
| City Union Bank Limited | 1.94% |
| Sansera Engineering Limited | 1.86% |
| Sai Life Sciences Limited | 1.84% |
Largest holdings only in Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Divi's Laboratories Limited | 4.54% |
| Jindal Saw Ltd | 3.17% |
| Garware Hi-Tech Films Limited | 2.91% |
| Supreme Petrochem Limited | 2.50% |
| Voltamp Transformers Limited | 2.46% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Axis Small Cap | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 90.3% | 99.2% |
| Debt | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 9.2% | 0.8% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Axis Small Cap | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 6.3% | 12.6% |
| Mid Cap | 9.4% | 19.7% |
| Small Cap | 74.1% | 66.3% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.5% | 0.6% |
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 Small Cap | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Products | 8.2% | 15.3% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 7.6% | 15.2% |
| Auto Components | 7.9% | 8.7% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 8.5% | 8.2% |
| Banks | 7.7% | 6.1% |
| Finance | 6.0% | 3.1% |
| Textiles & Apparels | 0.6% | 4.9% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Axis Small Cap vs Mahindra Manulife Small Cap: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Axis Small Cap Fund | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.69% | 0.93% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.51% | 0.48% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.68% | 2.21% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.35% | 1.60% |
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 Small Cap with
Axis Small Cap Fund vs Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Axis Small Cap Fund and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund?
Both are Small Cap funds, run by Axis Mutual Fund and Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 10.9%. Axis Small Cap Fund charges 0.69% a year and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund 0.93%.
Which has given higher returns, Axis Small Cap Fund or Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund?
Over 1 year: Axis Small Cap Fund +1.02%, Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund +6.31%. Over 3 years: Axis Small Cap Fund +13.23% a year, Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund +18.00% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Axis Small Cap Fund or Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund?
Axis Small Cap Fund charges less: 0.69% a year against 0.93%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Axis Small Cap Fund and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund overlap?
10.9%. They hold 20 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being KARURVYSYA, MCX, WELCORP. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, Axis Small Cap Fund or Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, Axis Small Cap Fund is rated Very High and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 15.00% and 18.22% a year.
Which is better for SIP, Axis Small Cap Fund or Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund?
Over the last 3 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 03-10-2023 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹4,11,923 in Axis Small Cap Fund (XIRR 6.9% a year) and ₹4,34,798 in Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (XIRR 10.5% a year). Both received 37 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Axis Small Cap Fund and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund?
Yes. 10.9% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages Axis Small Cap Fund and Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund?
Axis Small Cap Fund: Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki, Krishnaa N. Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund: Vishal Jajoo, $ Mr. Neelesh Dhamnaskar, Krishna Sanghavi.
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.