DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund vs DSP Flexi Cap Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund is an ELSS fund and DSP Flexi Cap Fund is a Flexi Cap fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) returned 13.0% a year and DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) returned 10.6% a year. DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund charges 0.91% a year and DSP Flexi Cap Fund 0.87% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 57.9%: they hold 33 of the same securities.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund
ELSS
- 3 year return
- 13.0%
- Expense ratio
- 0.91%
- NAV
- ₹147.63
Which is better, DSP ELSS Tax Saver or DSP Flexi Cap? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver returned more over 5 years: 10.9% a year against 8.6%.
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver returned more over 3 years: 13.0% a year against 10.6%.
- DSP Flexi Cap costs less: 0.87% a year against 0.91% (Direct plans).
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 14.0% a year against 14.0%.
- DSP Flexi Cap fell less in its worst fall since 02-01-2013: −35.7% against −37.2%.
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver holds more in large companies: 76.1% of the fund in large caps against 60.6%.
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver is the larger fund: ₹15,569 Cr against ₹11,720 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 57.9%: 33 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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund | DSP Flexi Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | DSP Mutual Fund | DSP Mutual Fund |
| Category | ELSS | Flexi Cap |
| AUM | ₹15,569 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹11,720 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹147.63 (Direct) | ₹109.49 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.91% | 0.87% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.80% | 1.87% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | Nifty 500 TRI | Nifty 500 TRI |
| Launch date | 18-01-2007 | 29-04-1997 |
| Minimum investment | ₹500 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | 3 years | None |
| Fund managers | Rohit Singhania | Bhavin Gandhi |
| Exit load | Nil | Exit load of 1% if redeemed less than 12 months |
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs DSP Flexi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | +0.35% | −5.64% | −2.65% | −6.86% | +13.04% | +10.90% | +14.11% |
| DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) | −1.20% | −6.32% | −1.01% | −6.29% | +10.58% | +8.62% | +13.06% |
| ELSS average | −2.34% | −5.61% | −1.63% | −5.75% | +10.92% | +10.29% | +13.05% |
| Flexi Cap average | −1.62% | −4.17% | +1.00% | −3.58% | +12.37% | +10.04% | +13.13% |
Category average: the average of the 50 ELSS funds and the 46 Flexi Cap funds, same plan type.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs DSP Flexi Cap: Year-wise Returns
| Year | ELSS Tax SaverDSP ELSS Tax Saver | Flexi CapDSP Flexi Cap | Nifty 500 TRI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −8.80% | −6.53% | −7.51% |
| 2025 | +8.50% | +5.67% | +7.76% |
| 2024 | +25.04% | +19.39% | +16.24% |
| 2023 | +31.19% | +33.56% | +26.91% |
| 2022 | +5.51% | −3.46% | +4.25% |
| 2021 | +36.41% | +33.87% | +31.60% |
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs DSP Flexi Cap: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against Nifty 500 TRI, the benchmark of both
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,668 of them, one for each trading day from 04-01-2016 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
to
Nov 2016Sept 2015
to
Sept 2018Jul 2017
to
Jul 2020May 2019
to
May 2022Mar 2021
to
Mar 2024Dec 2022
to
Dec 2025
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver | 1.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 16.6 | 31.7 | 29.0 | 11.9 | 18.0% | 18.8% | −5.0% | 34.9% | 98% |
| DSP Flexi Cap | 0.3 | 3.5 | 7.6 | 30.5 | 36.2 | 16.8 | 5.2 | 16.1% | 16.1% | −1.7% | 29.3% | 75% |
| Nifty 500 TRI | 1.9 | 4.3 | 7.8 | 37.1 | 34.7 | 11.3 | 2.9 | 14.7% | 14.9% | −6.3% | 33.5% | -- |
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 02-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs DSP Flexi 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 02-01-2013 to 30-10-2026: 166 instalments, ₹16,60,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax SaverDSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹52,13,250 | ₹35,53,250 | 15.3% |
| DSP Flexi CapDSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹46,15,482 | ₹29,55,482 | 13.7% |
DSP ELSS Tax SaverDSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
DSP Flexi CapDSP Flexi 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs DSP Flexi Cap: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −6.86% | −6.29% |
| Standard deviation | 14.04% | 14.25% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.86 | -0.81 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.17 | -1.11 |
| Maximum drawdown | −14.8% (31-03-2026) | −14.4% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.95 | 0.97 |
| Alpha | −0.20% | +0.61% |
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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +13.04% | +10.58% |
| Standard deviation | 13.97% | 14.05% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.50 | 0.32 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.69 | 0.44 |
| Maximum drawdown | −16.2% (03-03-2025) | −17.6% (28-02-2025) |
| Beta | 0.96 | 0.95 |
| Alpha | +3.01% | +0.56% |
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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +10.90% | +8.62% |
| Standard deviation | 13.89% | 14.11% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.37 | 0.20 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.49 | 0.27 |
| Maximum drawdown | −16.9% (20-06-2022) | −21.8% (17-06-2022) |
| Beta | 0.94 | 0.95 |
| Alpha | +2.25% | −0.03% |
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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +15.89% | +13.87% |
| Standard deviation | 15.63% | 16.15% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.63 | 0.48 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.85 | 0.65 |
| Maximum drawdown | −37.2% (23-03-2020) | −35.7% (23-03-2020) |
| Beta | 0.96 | 0.98 |
| Alpha | +3.34% | +1.22% |
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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | −37.2% | 24-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 09-11-2020 | 8 months | −9.8% |
| DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) | −35.7% | 19-02-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 13-11-2020 | 8 months | −8.4% |
| Nifty 500 TRI | −38.1% | 17-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 06-11-2020 | 7 months | −8.8% |
From daily values since 02-01-2013, 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
DSP Flexi Cap 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
Against Nifty 500 TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | 104% | 89% | 3.73% |
| DSP Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) | 103% | 98% | 5.08% |
From month-end values since 02-01-2013. 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs DSP Flexi Cap: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund, September 2026; DSP Flexi Cap Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 57.9%
- Held by both
- 33
- Only in DSP ELSS Tax Saver
- 25
- Only in DSP Flexi Cap
- 33
| Security | % of DSP ELSS Tax Saver | % of DSP Flexi Cap |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Limited | 9.69% | 9.28% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | 8.97% | 8.56% |
| Axis Bank Limited | 7.97% | 4.90% |
| State Bank of India | 5.59% | 3.43% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | 3.37% | 2.84% |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Limited | 2.43% | 4.10% |
| Max Financial Services Limited | 2.06% | 2.04% |
| Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited | 1.95% | 2.18% |
| Cipla Limited | 1.93% | 2.30% |
| Samvardhana Motherson International Limited | 1.61% | 2.00% |
| Coforge Limited | 1.60% | 2.01% |
| SBI Life Insurance Co Limited | 1.53% | 2.23% |
| Infosys Limited | 2.28% | 1.49% |
| Eternal Limited | 1.47% | 1.97% |
| Coromandel International Limited | 1.41% | 1.47% |
| Indus Towers Limited | 1.55% | 1.35% |
| Maruti Suzuki India Limited | 1.19% | 1.12% |
| Emami Limited | 1.06% | 1.06% |
| Alkem Laboratories Limited | 0.98% | 1.58% |
| Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Co Limited | 0.90% | 2.33% |
| Petronet LNG Limited | 0.85% | 0.88% |
| Oil India Limited | 0.99% | 0.83% |
| Century Plyboards (India) Limited | 0.83% | 1.06% |
| Syngene International Limited | 0.92% | 0.68% |
| Uno Minda Limited | 0.56% | 1.77% |
| IPCA Laboratories Limited | 1.43% | 0.45% |
| Atul Limited | 0.71% | 0.43% |
| Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited | 1.03% | 0.35% |
| Hindustan Unilever Limited | 1.61% | 0.33% |
| KEC International Limited | 0.24% | 0.57% |
| AU Small Finance Bank Limited | 0.99% | 0.23% |
| Bharat Forge Limited | 1.09% | 0.12% |
| Cohance Lifesciences Limited | 0.10% | 0.75% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 57.9% means 57.9% 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 DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | 3.89% |
| Reliance Industries Limited | 2.84% |
| NTPC Limited | 1.86% |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | 1.68% |
| Larsen & Toubro Limited | 1.52% |
Largest holdings only in DSP Flexi Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Bajaj Finance Limited | 2.21% |
| Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited | 1.90% |
| Radico Khaitan Limited | 1.81% |
| Hero MotoCorp Limited | 1.65% |
| CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited | 1.63% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | DSP ELSS Tax Saver | DSP Flexi Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 98.8% | 96.7% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 1.2% | 3.3% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | DSP ELSS Tax Saver | DSP Flexi Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 76.1% | 60.6% |
| Mid Cap | 15.2% | 24.3% |
| Small Cap | 7.5% | 11.8% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.1% | 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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver | DSP Flexi Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 37.1% | 26.4% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 6.9% | 5.1% |
| Automobiles | 4.2% | 6.9% |
| IT - Software | 5.4% | 6.1% |
| Insurance | 3.6% | 5.9% |
| Petroleum Products | 5.8% | 2.5% |
| Capital Markets | 0.0% | 5.1% |
| Telecom - Services | 4.9% | 4.2% |
| Finance | 4.9% | 4.7% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs DSP Flexi Cap: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund | DSP Flexi Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.91% | 0.87% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.68% | 0.62% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.80% | 1.87% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.45% | 1.48% |
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 DSP ELSS Tax Saver with
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund vs DSP Flexi Cap Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund and DSP Flexi Cap Fund?
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund is an ELSS fund, DSP Flexi Cap Fund is a Flexi Cap fund, run by DSP Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 57.9%. DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund charges 0.91% a year and DSP Flexi Cap Fund 0.87%.
Which has given higher returns, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund or DSP Flexi Cap Fund?
Over 1 year: DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund −6.86%, DSP Flexi Cap Fund −6.29%. Over 3 years: DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund +13.04% a year, DSP Flexi Cap Fund +10.58% a year. Over 5 years: DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund +10.90% a year, DSP Flexi Cap Fund +8.62% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund or DSP Flexi Cap Fund?
DSP Flexi Cap Fund charges less: 0.87% a year against 0.91%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund and DSP Flexi Cap Fund overlap?
57.9%. They hold 33 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being ICICIBANK, HDFCBANK, AXISBANK. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund or DSP Flexi Cap Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund is rated Very High and DSP Flexi Cap Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 13.97% and 14.05% a year.
Which is better for SIP, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund or DSP Flexi Cap Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,81,832 in DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (XIRR 9.7% a year) and ₹7,56,093 in DSP Flexi Cap Fund (XIRR 8.4% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund and DSP Flexi Cap Fund?
Yes. 57.9% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so a large part of the two investments would move together.
Who manages DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund and DSP Flexi Cap Fund?
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund: Rohit Singhania. DSP Flexi Cap Fund: Bhavin Gandhi.
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.