Axis Small Cap Fund vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Axis Small Cap Fund is a Small Cap fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund is an Index fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 13.2% a year and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) returned 11.9% a year. Axis Small Cap Fund charges 0.69% a year and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund 0.46% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 31.5%: they hold 64 of the same securities.
Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund
Index
- 3 year return
- 11.9%
- Expense ratio
- 0.46%
- NAV
- ₹37.57
Which is better, Axis Small Cap or Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- Axis Small Cap returned more over 5 years: 14.4% a year against 12.5%.
- Axis Small Cap returned more over 3 years: 13.2% a year against 11.9%.
- Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index costs less: 0.46% a year against 0.69% (Direct plans).
- Axis Small Cap swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 15.0% a year against 19.0%.
- Axis Small Cap fell less in its worst fall since 11-09-2019: −34.6% against −42.4%.
- Axis Small Cap is the larger fund: ₹30,678 Cr against ₹1,243 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 31.5%: 64 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 | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Axis Mutual Fund | Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund |
| Category | Small Cap | Index |
| AUM | ₹30,678 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹1,243 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹126.97 (Direct) | ₹37.57 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.69% | 0.46% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.68% | 1.15% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI |
| Launch date | 29-11-2013 | 06-09-2019 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹500 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki, Krishnaa N | Swapnil Mayekar |
| Exit load | Exit load of 1% for investments beyond 10% if redeemed within 12 months | Yes |
Axis Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: 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% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | −5.80% | −6.01% | +0.39% | −3.58% | +11.89% | +12.52% | -- |
| Small Cap average | −5.86% | −3.28% | +5.03% | +3.00% | +14.03% | +14.51% | +16.19% |
Category average: the average of the 36 Small Cap funds, same plan type.
Axis Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Axis Small CapAxis Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 IndexMotilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index | Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +4.39% | +0.61% | +1.00% |
| 2025 | −0.95% | −5.63% | −5.48% |
| 2024 | +26.40% | +26.46% | +27.21% |
| 2023 | +35.57% | +48.32% | +49.09% |
| 2022 | +4.11% | −3.42% | −2.64% |
| 2021 | +60.71% | +61.24% | +63.34% |
Axis Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI, the benchmark of both
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 1,025 of them, one for each trading day from 12-09-2022 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)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
to
Jan 2023Sept 2020
to
Sept 2023Jun 2021
to
Jun 2024Feb 2022
to
Feb 2025Nov 2022
to
Nov 2025Jul 2023
to
Jul 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 | 2.3 | 30.1 | 22.9 | 44.6 | 24.9% | 24.0% | 12.8% | 41.3% | 23% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 19.4 | 29.2 | 47.9 | 25.3% | 24.4% | 11.0% | 42.8% | 0% |
| Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 17.0 | 29.1 | 50.8 | 26.2% | 25.2% | 11.4% | 44.7% | -- |
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 11-09-2019. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Axis Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: 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 03-09-2019 to 30-10-2026: 86 instalments, ₹8,60,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Small CapAxis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹8,60,000 | ₹16,89,927 | ₹8,29,927 | 18.5% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 IndexMotilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | ₹8,60,000 | ₹16,23,671 | ₹7,63,671 | 17.4% |
Axis Small CapAxis Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 IndexMotilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index 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 Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: 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) | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +1.02% | −3.58% |
| Standard deviation | 15.51% | 18.05% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.27 | -0.49 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.37 | -0.66 |
| Maximum drawdown | −14.7% (23-03-2026) | −18.3% (23-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.84 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +2.83% | −0.42% |
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) | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +13.23% | +11.89% |
| Standard deviation | 15.00% | 19.01% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.48 | 0.31 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.65 | 0.41 |
| Maximum drawdown | −19.4% (03-03-2025) | −26.2% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 0.76 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +2.41% | −0.46% |
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) | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +14.44% | +12.52% |
| Standard deviation | 14.23% | 18.44% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.61 | 0.36 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.81 | 0.47 |
| Maximum drawdown | −19.4% (03-03-2025) | −26.8% (20-06-2022) |
| Beta | 0.73 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +3.27% | −0.59% |
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 Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +21.76% | +20.04% |
| Standard deviation | 14.59% | 19.60% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.09 | 0.76 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.46 | 0.98 |
| Maximum drawdown | −34.6% (24-03-2020) | −42.4% (24-03-2020) |
| Beta | -- | 0.99 |
| Alpha | -- | −0.59% |
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)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index 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) | −34.6% | 11-02-2020 | 24-03-2020 | 13-11-2020 | 8 months | −8.3% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | −42.4% | 24-01-2020 | 24-03-2020 | 17-11-2020 | 8 months | −9.6% |
| Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | −43.5% | 24-01-2020 | 24-03-2020 | 17-11-2020 | 8 months | −9.4% |
From daily values since 11-09-2019, 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)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index 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)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
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 Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
Against Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 81% | 64% | 8.00% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | 98% | 100% | 0.52% |
From month-end values since 11-09-2019. 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 Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Axis Small Cap Fund, September 2026; Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 31.5%
- Held by both
- 64
- Only in Axis Small Cap
- 64
- Only in Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
- 185
| Security | % of Axis Small Cap | % of Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Welspun Corp Limited | 1.51% | 1.60% |
| Navin Fluorine International Limited | 1.40% | 1.36% |
| Karur Vysya Bank Limited | 1.28% | 1.38% |
| Gland Pharma Limited | 1.22% | 1.04% |
| RBL Bank Limited | 1.03% | 1.12% |
| City Union Bank Limited | 1.94% | 0.98% |
| Sai Life Sciences Limited | 1.84% | 0.95% |
| PNB Housing Finance Limited | 1.24% | 0.94% |
| Sansera Engineering Limited | 1.86% | 0.90% |
| Krishna Institute Of Medical Sciences Limited | 2.46% | 0.89% |
| Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited | 1.29% | 0.86% |
| Craftsman Automation Limited | 1.33% | 0.71% |
| Kalpataru Projects International Limited | 1.15% | 0.70% |
| Carborundum Universal Limited | 0.74% | 0.65% |
| Syrma SGS Technology Limited | 1.45% | 0.62% |
| Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited | 1.25% | 0.62% |
| Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited | 0.63% | 0.60% |
| Data Patterns (India) Limited | 0.78% | 0.58% |
| Computer Age Management Services Limited | 0.58% | 0.72% |
| Amber Enterprises India Limited | 0.54% | 0.65% |
| KFin Technologies Limited | 0.66% | 0.50% |
| Timken India Limited | 0.63% | 0.50% |
| Kaynes Technology India Limited | 0.69% | 0.49% |
| Brigade Enterprises Limited | 1.54% | 0.48% |
| Aditya Infotech Limited | 0.94% | 0.47% |
| Onesource Specialty Pharma Limited | 0.45% | 0.54% |
| Sagility Limited | 0.72% | 0.44% |
| Pine Labs Limited | 0.68% | 0.43% |
| Affle 3i Limited | 0.63% | 0.43% |
| Delhivery Limited | 0.43% | 1.11% |
| Central Depository Services (India) Limited | 0.43% | 1.01% |
| Inventurus Knowledge Solutions Limited | 0.59% | 0.41% |
| Anant Raj Limited | 0.52% | 0.41% |
| Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited | 0.42% | 0.41% |
| Cyient Limited | 0.90% | 0.39% |
| Azad Engineering Ltd | 0.66% | 0.38% |
| R R Kabel Limited | 0.77% | 0.37% |
| PG Electroplast Limited | 0.60% | 0.36% |
| Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited | 0.55% | 0.36% |
| Balrampur Chini Mills Limited | 0.63% | 0.34% |
| Aptus Value Housing Finance India Limited | 0.33% | 0.38% |
| CCL Products (India) Limited | 2.24% | 0.32% |
| Vijaya Diagnostic Centre Limited | 0.97% | 0.32% |
| CreditAccess Grameen Limited | 0.71% | 0.31% |
| Aarti Industries Limited | 0.31% | 0.44% |
| Rainbow Childrens Medicare Limited | 0.46% | 0.29% |
| Can Fin Homes Limited | 0.78% | 0.27% |
| TBO Tek Limited | 1.10% | 0.26% |
| CESC Limited | 0.26% | 0.38% |
| Minda Corporation Limited | 1.30% | 0.25% |
| Jubilant Ingrevia Limited | 0.66% | 0.25% |
| Devyani International Limited | 0.48% | 0.25% |
| Titagarh Rail Systems Limited | 0.25% | 0.29% |
| Tenneco Clean Air India Limited | 0.40% | 0.23% |
| CIE Automotive India Limited | 0.44% | 0.22% |
| Doms Industries Limited | 0.81% | 0.21% |
| Aadhar Housing Finance Limited | 0.28% | 0.21% |
| Engineers India Limited | 0.21% | 0.38% |
| Birlasoft Limited | 0.30% | 0.20% |
| Ather Energy Limited | 0.20% | 1.21% |
| Firstsource Solutions Limited | 0.18% | 0.36% |
| RHI Magnesita India Limited | 0.55% | 0.11% |
| SPR Auto Technologies Ltd | 0.11% | 0.37% |
| Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited | 0.09% | 0.27% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 31.5% means 31.5% 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% |
| Avalon Technologies Limited | 1.51% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | 1.26% |
| Blue Star Limited | 1.20% |
| Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited | 1.16% |
Largest holdings only in Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited | 1.67% |
| Sterlite Technologies Limited | 1.19% |
| Redington Limited | 1.08% |
| HFCL Limited | 1.04% |
| Cupid Limited | 0.94% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Axis Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 90.3% | 98.8% |
| Debt | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 9.2% | 1.2% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Axis Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 6.3% | 0.0% |
| Mid Cap | 9.4% | 2.7% |
| Small Cap | 74.1% | 95.2% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.5% | 1.0% |
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 Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Products | 8.2% | 8.6% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 8.5% | 5.7% |
| Auto Components | 7.9% | 8.4% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 7.6% | 7.8% |
| Banks | 7.7% | 5.1% |
| Finance | 6.0% | 7.6% |
| Capital Markets | 2.8% | 5.4% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Axis Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Axis Small Cap Fund | Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.69% | 0.46% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.51% | 0.28% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.68% | 1.15% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.35% | 0.90% |
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 Small Cap Fund vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Axis Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Axis Small Cap Fund is a Small Cap fund, Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund is an Index fund, run by Axis Mutual Fund and Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 31.5%. Axis Small Cap Fund charges 0.69% a year and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund 0.46%.
Which has given higher returns, Axis Small Cap Fund or Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Over 1 year: Axis Small Cap Fund +1.02%, Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund −3.58%. Over 3 years: Axis Small Cap Fund +13.23% a year, Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund +11.89% a year. Over 5 years: Axis Small Cap Fund +14.44% a year, Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund +12.52% 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 Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund charges less: 0.46% a year against 0.69%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Axis Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund overlap?
31.5%. They hold 64 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being WELCORP, NAVINFLUOR, KARURVYSYA. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, Axis Small Cap Fund or Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, Axis Small Cap Fund is rated Very High and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 15.00% and 19.01% a year.
Which is better for SIP, Axis Small Cap Fund or Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹8,44,565 in Axis Small Cap Fund (XIRR 12.8% a year) and ₹8,14,656 in Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (XIRR 11.3% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Axis Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Yes. 31.5% 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 Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Axis Small Cap Fund: Tejas Sheth, Mayank Hyanki, Krishnaa N. Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund: Swapnil Mayekar.
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.