DSP Short Term Fund vs ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
DSP Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund are both Short Duration funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, DSP Short Term Fund (Direct) returned 7.0% a year and ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct) returned 7.5% a year. DSP Short Term Fund charges 0.37% a year and ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund 0.45% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 4.9%: they hold 11 of the same securities.
DSP Short Term Fund
Short Duration
- 3 year return
- 7.0%
- Expense ratio
- 0.37%
- NAV
- ₹53.88
ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund
Short Duration
- 3 year return
- 7.5%
- Expense ratio
- 0.45%
- NAV
- ₹70.57
Which is better, DSP Short Term or ICICI Prudential 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.
- ICICI Prudential Short Term returned more over 5 years: 7.0% a year against 6.2%.
- ICICI Prudential Short Term returned more over 3 years: 7.5% a year against 7.0%.
- DSP Short Term costs less: 0.37% a year against 0.45% (Direct plans).
- ICICI Prudential Short Term swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 0.9% a year against 1.0%.
- DSP Short Term fell less in its worst fall since 02-01-2013: −2.8% against −3.4%.
- ICICI Prudential Short Term is the larger fund: ₹18,890 Cr against ₹3,416 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 4.9%: 11 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 Short Term Fund | ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | DSP Mutual Fund | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund |
| Category | Short Duration | Short Duration |
| AUM | ₹3,416 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹18,890 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹53.88 (Direct) | ₹70.57 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.37% | 0.45% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 0.96% | 1.05% |
| Riskometer | Moderate | Not available |
| Benchmark | CRISIL Short Duration Debt A-II Index | Not available |
| Launch date | 09-09-2002 | Not available |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | Not available |
| Lock in | None | Not available |
| Fund managers | Karan Mundhra, Shantanu Godambe | Not available |
| Exit load | Nil | Not available |
DSP Short Term vs ICICI Prudential 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP Short Term Fund (Direct) | −0.18% | +0.06% | +2.41% | +4.10% | +7.00% | +6.19% | +6.82% |
| ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct) | −0.28% | +0.18% | +2.45% | +4.92% | +7.48% | +6.99% | +7.63% |
| Short Duration average | −0.14% | +0.30% | +2.50% | +4.11% | +6.88% | +6.62% | +6.89% |
Category average: the average of the 25 Short Duration funds, same plan type.
DSP Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Short Term: Year-wise Returns
| Year | DSPDSP Short Term | ICICI PrudentialICICI Prudential Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +3.34% | +3.84% |
| 2025 | +7.88% | +8.61% |
| 2024 | +8.29% | +8.45% |
| 2023 | +7.31% | +8.10% |
| 2022 | +3.64% | +5.44% |
| 2021 | +3.47% | +4.67% |
DSP Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Short Term: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,627 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 Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP Short Term | 0.0 | 4.4 | 90.6 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.6% | 7.7% | 4.6% | 10.6% |
| ICICI Prudential Short Term | 0.0 | 0.0 | 88.5 | 11.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.4% | 8.4% | 6.0% | 11.5% |
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. Every fund is measured over the days all of them have, from 02-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
DSP Short Term vs ICICI Prudential 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 02-01-2013 to 30-10-2026: 166 instalments, ₹16,60,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP Short TermDSP Short Term Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹27,57,815 | ₹10,97,815 | 7.0% |
| ICICI Prudential Short TermICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹29,31,798 | ₹12,71,798 | 7.8% |
DSP Short TermDSP Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Short TermICICI Prudential 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.
DSP Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Short Term: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | DSP Short Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +4.10% | +4.92% |
| Standard deviation | 1.30% | 1.22% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.88 | -0.27 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.23 | -0.37 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.7% (02-04-2026) | −0.6% (23-10-2026) |
| 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 | DSP Short Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.00% | +7.48% |
| Standard deviation | 1.00% | 0.93% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.98 | 1.55 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.46 | 2.34 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.7% (02-04-2026) | −0.6% (23-10-2026) |
| 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 | DSP Short Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.19% | +6.99% |
| Standard deviation | 0.95% | 0.98% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.41 | 1.21 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.58 | 1.74 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.9% (06-05-2022) | −0.7% (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 | DSP Short Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.60% | +8.30% |
| Standard deviation | 1.33% | 1.56% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.17 | 1.44 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.70 | 2.16 |
| Maximum drawdown | −2.8% (23-03-2020) | −3.4% (19-08-2013) |
| 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.
DSP Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP Short Term Fund (Direct) | −2.8% | 06-03-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 17-04-2020 | 25 days | −0.4% |
| ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct) | −3.4% | 19-06-2013 | 19-08-2013 | 04-10-2013 | 46 days | −0.5% |
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 Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential 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.
DSP Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential 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.
DSP Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (Direct)
DSP Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Short Term: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: DSP Short Term Fund, September 2026; ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 4.9%
- Held by both
- 11
- Only in DSP Short Term
- 52
- Only in ICICI Prudential Short Term
- 144
| Security | % of DSP Short Term | % of ICICI Prudential Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| 6.94% GOI 11052036 | 13.31% | 1.00% |
| LIC Housing Finance Limited | 0.77% | 0.85% |
| Small Industries Development Bank Of India | 0.77% | 1.42% |
| India Universal Trust | 3.81% | 0.65% |
| SBI Funds Management Pvt Limited/Fund Parent | 0.33% | 0.34% |
| Bharti Telecom Limited | 4.04% | 0.31% |
| REC Limited | 0.76% | 0.26% |
| Small Industries Development Bank Of India | 0.73% | 0.26% |
| Power Finance Corporation Limited | 0.74% | 0.26% |
| Knowledge Realty Trust | 2.90% | 0.18% |
| Small Industries Development Bank Of India | 0.74% | 0.13% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 4.9% means 4.9% 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 Short Term Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| 6.87% GOI FRB 22092033 | 4.59% |
| Small Industries Development Bank Of India | 2.93% |
| Canara Bank | 2.88% |
| Indian Bank | 2.79% |
| Muthoot Finance Limited | 2.55% |
Largest holdings only in ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| NABARD | 4.98% |
| LIC Housing Finance Ltd. | 3.96% |
| Vedanta Ltd. | 3.12% |
| Shivshakti Securitisation Trust | 3.03% |
| NABARD | 2.82% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | DSP Short Term | ICICI Prudential Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Debt | 99.3% | 96.2% |
| Cash and others | 0.7% | 3.8% |
DSP Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Short Term: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | DSP Short Term Fund | ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.37% | 0.45% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.30% | 0.38% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 0.96% | 1.05% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 0.80% | 0.89% |
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 Short Term with
DSP Short Term Fund vs ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DSP Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund?
Both are Short Duration funds, run by DSP Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 4.9%. DSP Short Term Fund charges 0.37% a year and ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund 0.45%.
Which has given higher returns, DSP Short Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund?
Over 1 year: DSP Short Term Fund +4.10%, ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund +4.92%. Over 3 years: DSP Short Term Fund +7.00% a year, ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund +7.48% a year. Over 5 years: DSP Short Term Fund +6.19% a year, ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund +6.99% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, DSP Short Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund?
DSP Short Term Fund charges less: 0.37% a year against 0.45%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do DSP Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund overlap?
4.9%. They hold 11 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being 6.94% GOI 11052036, LIC Housing Finance Limited, Small Industries Development Bank Of India. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is better for SIP, DSP Short Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,19,654 in DSP Short Term Fund (XIRR 6.5% a year) and ₹7,32,200 in ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both DSP Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund?
Yes. 4.9% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so the two hold mostly different investments.
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.