DSP Healthcare Fund vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 29-10-2026
DSP Healthcare Fund is a Sectoral fund and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund is a Thematic fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, DSP Healthcare Fund (Direct) returned 21.8% a year and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) returned 22.4% a year. DSP Healthcare Fund charges 0.76% a year and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund 1.31% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 39.9%: they hold 16 of the same securities.
ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund
Thematic
- 3 year return
- 22.4%
- Expense ratio
- 1.31%
- NAV
- ₹45.82
Which is better, DSP Healthcare or ICICI Prudential Healthcare? 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 Healthcare returned more over 5 years: 16.7% a year against 16.3%.
- ICICI Prudential Healthcare returned more over 3 years: 22.4% a year against 21.8%.
- DSP Healthcare costs less: 0.76% a year against 1.31% (Direct plans).
- DSP Healthcare swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 12.6% a year against 13.7%.
- ICICI Prudential Healthcare fell less in its worst fall since 03-12-2018: −20.6% against −21.7%.
- DSP Healthcare holds 9.3% of the fund in foreign stocks; ICICI Prudential Healthcare 0.0%.
- ICICI Prudential Healthcare is the larger fund: ₹6,861 Cr against ₹3,750 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 39.9%: 16 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 Healthcare Fund | ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | DSP Mutual Fund | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund |
| Category | Sectoral | Thematic |
| AUM | ₹3,750 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹6,861 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹50.24 (Direct) | ₹45.82 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.76% | 1.31% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 2.06% | 2.07% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | BSE Healthcare TRI | BSE Healthcare TRI |
| Launch date | 30-11-2018 | 13-07-2018 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹5,000 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Chirag Dagli | Dharmesh Kakkad, Sharmila D'silva |
| Exit load | Exit load of 0.50% if redeemed within 1 month. | 1% of the applicable NAV - If units purchased or switched in from another scheme of the Fund are redeemed or switched out within 15 days from the date of allotment NIL - If units purchased or switched in from another scheme of the Fund are redeemed or switched out after 15 days from the date of allotment (w.e.f. 1st Jan 2019) |
DSP Healthcare vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare: 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct) | −1.61% | +1.18% | +16.73% | +15.40% | +21.77% | +16.26% | -- |
| ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) | −0.63% | −3.54% | +5.70% | +5.09% | +22.38% | +16.69% | -- |
| Sectoral average | −1.70% | −4.49% | +2.30% | −0.58% | +15.61% | +14.51% | -- |
| Thematic average | −2.09% | −4.52% | +0.86% | −1.22% | +13.76% | +11.62% | -- |
Category average: the average of the 20 Sectoral funds and the 235 Thematic funds, same plan type.
DSP Healthcare vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare: Year-wise Returns
| Year | DSPDSP Healthcare | ICICI PrudentialICICI Prudential Healthcare | BSE Healthcare TRI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +15.40% | +6.43% | +14.00% |
| 2025 | −4.55% | +0.05% | −2.72% |
| 2024 | +42.61% | +49.36% | +44.30% |
| 2023 | +36.80% | +42.55% | +37.97% |
| 2022 | −6.50% | −7.63% | −11.50% |
| 2021 | +25.11% | +19.30% | +21.54% |
DSP Healthcare vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against BSE Healthcare TRI, the benchmark of both
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 1,186 of them, one for each trading day from 03-12-2021 to 29-10-2026: 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct)
BSE Healthcare TRI
to
Apr 2022Feb 2020
to
Feb 2023Dec 2020
to
Dec 2023Oct 2021
to
Oct 2024Aug 2022
to
Aug 2025Jun 2023
to
Jun 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP Healthcare | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 18.3 | 49.3 | 32.2 | 23.7% | 22.8% | 15.0% | 35.1% | 78% |
| ICICI Prudential Healthcare | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 22.7 | 29.3 | 47.5 | 23.9% | 24.7% | 14.7% | 31.6% | 98% |
| BSE Healthcare TRI | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.0 | 29.7 | 44.2 | 13.2 | 20.5% | 20.8% | 12.0% | 28.8% | -- |
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 BSE Healthcare 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 03-12-2018. Past returns do not promise future returns.
DSP Healthcare vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare: 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 03-12-2018 to 29-10-2026: 95 instalments, ₹9,50,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP HealthcareDSP Healthcare Fund (Direct) | ₹9,50,000 | ₹22,58,555 | ₹13,08,555 | 21.3% |
| ICICI Prudential HealthcareICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) | ₹9,50,000 | ₹22,05,763 | ₹12,55,763 | 20.7% |
DSP HealthcareDSP Healthcare Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential HealthcareICICI Prudential Healthcare 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 Healthcare vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | DSP Healthcare Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +15.40% | +5.09% |
| Standard deviation | 12.14% | 13.46% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.84 | -0.01 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.24 | -0.02 |
| Maximum drawdown | −10.5% (23-03-2026) | −10.6% (23-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.73 | 0.93 |
| Alpha | +6.09% | −6.75% |
From daily NAVs, 29-10-2025 to 29-10-2026. 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +21.77% | +22.38% |
| Standard deviation | 12.56% | 13.68% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.25 | 1.20 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.77 | 1.72 |
| Maximum drawdown | −16.1% (07-04-2025) | −16.2% (28-02-2025) |
| Beta | 0.77 | 0.92 |
| Alpha | +2.89% | +0.66% |
From daily NAVs, 27-10-2023 to 29-10-2026. 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +16.26% | +16.69% |
| Standard deviation | 12.71% | 13.14% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.82 | 0.83 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.17 | 1.18 |
| Maximum drawdown | −20.5% (17-06-2022) | −16.2% (28-02-2025) |
| Beta | 0.80 | 0.90 |
| Alpha | +2.79% | +2.09% |
From daily NAVs, 29-10-2021 to 29-10-2026. 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +22.57% | +20.30% |
| Standard deviation | 14.11% | 14.88% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.23 | 1.01 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.77 | 1.47 |
| Maximum drawdown | −21.7% (23-03-2020) | −20.6% (23-03-2020) |
| Beta | 0.77 | 0.86 |
| Alpha | +7.48% | +4.21% |
From daily NAVs, 03-12-2018 to 29-10-2026. 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct)
BSE Healthcare TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP Healthcare Fund (Direct) | −21.7% | 20-02-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 20-04-2020 | 28 days | −2.8% |
| ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) | −20.6% | 14-02-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 08-04-2020 | 16 days | −4.8% |
| BSE Healthcare TRI | −24.1% | 20-02-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 09-04-2020 | 17 days | −3.8% |
From daily values since 03-12-2018, 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct)
BSE Healthcare 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct)
BSE Healthcare 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 Healthcare Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct)
BSE Healthcare TRI
Against BSE Healthcare TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSP Healthcare Fund (Direct) | 96% | 71% | 6.93% |
| ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (Direct) | 98% | 81% | 4.17% |
From month-end values since 03-12-2018. 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 Healthcare vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: DSP Healthcare Fund, September 2026; ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 39.9%
- Held by both
- 16
- Only in DSP Healthcare
- 11
- Only in ICICI Prudential Healthcare
- 23
| Security | % of DSP Healthcare | % of ICICI Prudential Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | 7.44% | 11.49% |
| Cipla Limited | 7.18% | 5.79% |
| Alkem Laboratories Limited | 4.75% | 4.81% |
| Cohance Lifesciences Limited | 3.79% | 4.06% |
| Divi's Laboratories Limited | 4.17% | 3.78% |
| Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 3.18% | 2.50% |
| Pfizer Limited | 2.72% | 2.42% |
| Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited | 6.07% | 2.30% |
| Gland Pharma Limited | 6.15% | 1.97% |
| Syngene International Limited | 1.35% | 3.50% |
| Thyrocare Technologies Limited | 1.91% | 1.17% |
| Aarti Drugs Limited | 0.98% | 1.17% |
| Manipal Health Enterprises Limited | 1.85% | 0.87% |
| Indoco Remedies Limited | 2.26% | 0.43% |
| Abbott India Limited | 0.26% | 2.54% |
| Laxmi Dental Limited | 0.14% | 0.68% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 39.9% means 39.9% 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 Healthcare Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| IPCA Laboratories Limited | 8.13% |
| Sai Life Sciences Limited | 6.52% |
| Kovai Medical Center And Hospital Limited | 2.83% |
| Concord Biotech Limited | 2.70% |
| Vijaya Diagnostic Centre Limited | 2.36% |
Largest holdings only in ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. | 9.73% |
| Biocon Ltd. | 5.33% |
| Mankind Pharma Ltd. | 5.04% |
| Medplus Health Services Ltd | 4.31% |
| Dr Agarwal's Health Care Ltd | 2.66% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | DSP Healthcare | ICICI Prudential Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 93.3% | 98.9% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 6.7% | 1.1% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | DSP Healthcare | ICICI Prudential Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 24.9% | 23.4% |
| Mid Cap | 14.2% | 32.0% |
| Small Cap | 42.7% | 42.7% |
| Foreign stocks | 9.3% | 0.0% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 2.2% | 0.9% |
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 Healthcare | ICICI Prudential Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 65.8% | 72.6% |
| Healthcare Services | 17.8% | 18.3% |
| Healthcare Equipment & Supplies | 7.5% | 0.7% |
| Retailing | 0.0% | 5.0% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| Foreign Security | 1.1% | 0.0% |
| Insurance | 1.0% | 1.1% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
DSP Healthcare vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | DSP Healthcare Fund | ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.76% | 1.31% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.54% | 0.89% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 2.06% | 2.07% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.65% | 1.55% |
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 Healthcare with
Compare ICICI Prudential Healthcare with
DSP Healthcare Fund vs ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DSP Healthcare Fund and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund?
DSP Healthcare Fund is a Sectoral fund, ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund is a Thematic fund, run by DSP Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 39.9%. DSP Healthcare Fund charges 0.76% a year and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund 1.31%.
Which has given higher returns, DSP Healthcare Fund or ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund?
Over 1 year: DSP Healthcare Fund +15.40%, ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund +5.09%. Over 3 years: DSP Healthcare Fund +21.77% a year, ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund +22.38% a year. Over 5 years: DSP Healthcare Fund +16.26% a year, ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund +16.69% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, DSP Healthcare Fund or ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund?
DSP Healthcare Fund charges less: 0.76% a year against 1.31%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do DSP Healthcare Fund and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund overlap?
39.9%. They hold 16 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being SUNPHARMA, CIPLA, ALKEM. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, DSP Healthcare Fund or ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, DSP Healthcare Fund is rated Very High and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 12.56% and 13.68% a year.
Which is better for SIP, DSP Healthcare Fund or ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 29-10-2026 grew to ₹9,79,978 in DSP Healthcare Fund (XIRR 18.8% a year) and ₹9,75,479 in ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund (XIRR 18.5% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both DSP Healthcare Fund and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund?
Yes. 39.9% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages DSP Healthcare Fund and ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund?
DSP Healthcare Fund: Chirag Dagli. ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund: Dharmesh Kakkad, Sharmila D'silva.
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.