DSP Ultra Short Term Fund vs ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
DSP Ultra Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund are both Ultra Short funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, DSP Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) returned 7.3% a year and ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) returned 7.3% a year. DSP Ultra Short Term Fund charges 0.30% a year and ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund 0.40% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 10.4%: they hold 15 of the same securities.
DSP Ultra Short Term Fund
Ultra Short
- 3 year return
- 7.3%
- Expense ratio
- 0.30%
- NAV
- ₹4,027.55
ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund
Ultra Short
- 3 year return
- 7.3%
- Expense ratio
- 0.40%
- NAV
- ₹32.60
Which is better, DSP Ultra Short Term or ICICI Prudential Ultra 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 Ultra Short Term returned more over 5 years: 6.8% a year against 6.7%.
- ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term returned more over 3 years: 7.3% a year against 7.3%.
- DSP Ultra Short Term costs less: 0.30% a year against 0.40% (Direct plans).
- DSP Ultra Short Term swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 0.4% a year against 0.4%.
- DSP Ultra Short Term fell less in its worst fall since 09-01-2013: −1.1% against −7.5%.
- ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term is the larger fund: ₹15,236 Cr against ₹4,425 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 10.4%: 15 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 Ultra Short Term Fund | ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | DSP Mutual Fund | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund |
| Category | Ultra Short | Ultra Short |
| AUM | ₹4,425 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹15,236 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹4,027.55 (Direct) | ₹32.60 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.01% | 0.80% |
| Riskometer | Low to Moderate | Not available |
| Benchmark | CRISIL Ultra Short Duration Debt A-I Index | NIFTY Ultra Short Duration Debt Index A-I |
| Launch date | 31-07-2006 | 03-05-2011 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | 1) Growth & IDCW - Rs. 5,000/- (plus multiples of Re. 1/-) 2) AEP – Rs. 25,000 (plus multiples of Re. 1/-) Minimum application amount for switch ins – Rs. 5,000 and any amount thereafter 1) Growth & IDCW - Rs. 5,000/- (plus multiples of Re. 1/-) 2) AEP – |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Shalini Vasanta, Karan Mundhra | Ritesh Lunawat, Manish Banthia |
| Exit load | Nil | Nil |
DSP Ultra Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Ultra 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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | +0.31% | +1.42% | +3.21% | +6.43% | +7.26% | +6.70% | +6.39% |
| ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | +0.29% | +1.40% | +3.20% | +6.37% | +7.31% | +6.78% | +7.15% |
| Ultra Short average | +0.30% | +1.34% | +3.06% | +6.00% | +6.82% | +6.27% | +6.43% |
Category average: the average of the 26 Ultra Short funds, same plan type.
DSP Ultra Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term: Year-wise Returns
| Year | DSPDSP Ultra Short Term | ICICI PrudentialICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +5.36% | +5.28% |
| 2025 | +7.47% | +7.52% |
| 2024 | +7.69% | +7.90% |
| 2023 | +7.46% | +7.39% |
| 2022 | +4.85% | +5.05% |
| 2021 | +3.60% | +4.58% |
DSP Ultra Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,622 of them, one for each trading day from 11-01-2016 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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Ultra 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 Ultra Short Term | 0.0 | 12.6 | 87.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.8% | 7.0% | 4.5% | 9.3% |
| ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term | 0.0 | 0.0 | 87.2 | 12.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.0% | 7.7% | 5.5% | 12.9% |
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 09-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
DSP Ultra Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Ultra 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 Ultra Short TermDSP Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹26,80,305 | ₹10,20,305 | 6.6% |
| ICICI Prudential Ultra Short TermICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹28,45,364 | ₹11,85,364 | 7.4% |
DSP Ultra Short TermDSP Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Ultra Short TermICICI Prudential Ultra 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 Ultra Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | DSP Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.43% | +6.37% |
| Standard deviation | 0.49% | 0.48% |
| Sharpe ratio | 2.43 | 2.35 |
| Sortino ratio | 3.95 | 3.82 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.1% (23-10-2026) | −0.1% (08-07-2026) |
| 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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.26% | +7.31% |
| Standard deviation | 0.39% | 0.39% |
| Sharpe ratio | 3.15 | 3.25 |
| Sortino ratio | 5.97 | 6.24 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.1% (23-10-2026) | −0.1% (08-07-2026) |
| 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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.70% | +6.78% |
| Standard deviation | 0.38% | 0.37% |
| Sharpe ratio | 2.38 | 2.67 |
| Sortino ratio | 4.33 | 4.97 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.2% (06-05-2022) | −0.2% (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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.10% | +7.90% |
| Standard deviation | 0.58% | 1.69% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.83 | 1.09 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.53 | 1.46 |
| Maximum drawdown | −1.1% (18-12-2018) | −7.5% (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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | −1.1% | 17-12-2018 | 18-12-2018 | 04-02-2019 | 48 days | 0.0% |
| ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct) | −7.5% | 28-05-2013 | 19-08-2013 | 27-03-2014 | 7 months | 0.0% |
From daily values since 09-01-2013, 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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Ultra 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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Ultra 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 Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund (Direct)
DSP Ultra Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: DSP Ultra Short Term Fund, September 2026; ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 10.4%
- Held by both
- 15
- Only in DSP Ultra Short Term
- 77
- Only in ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term
- 105
| Security | % of DSP Ultra Short Term | % of ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| Canara Bank | 4.94% | 3.03% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | 1.66% | 2.24% |
| 360 One Prime Limited | 1.73% | 0.73% |
| National Bank For Agriculture & Rural Development | 2.04% | 0.66% |
| Small Industries Development Bank of India | 1.10% | 0.64% |
| National Bank For Agriculture & Rural Development | 0.56% | 0.65% |
| Canara Bank | 0.55% | 1.12% |
| Bajaj Housing Finance Limited | 0.59% | 0.49% |
| National Bank For Agriculture & Rural Development | 0.59% | 0.49% |
| Small Industries Development Bank of India | 0.55% | 0.48% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | 1.10% | 0.32% |
| SBI Funds Management Pvt Limited/Fund Parent | 0.26% | 0.33% |
| SPR Auto Technologies Limited | 1.12% | 0.25% |
| Muthoot Finance Limited | 0.58% | 0.16% |
| Piramal Finance Limited | 0.12% | 1.51% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 10.4% means 10.4% 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 Ultra Short Term Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Small Industries Development Bank of India | 3.76% |
| Export-Import Bank Of India | 2.76% |
| National Bank For Agriculture & Rural Development | 2.21% |
| Federal Bank Limited | 2.20% |
| 182 DAYS T-BILL 18032027 | 2.20% |
Largest holdings only in ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| 91 Days Treasury Bills | 3.28% |
| Small Industries Development Bank Of India. | 2.89% |
| Punjab National Bank | 2.57% |
| NABARD | 2.45% |
| Small Industries Development Bank Of India. | 2.30% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | DSP Ultra Short Term | ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Debt | 100.2% | 97.3% |
| Cash and others | -0.2% | 2.7% |
DSP Ultra Short Term vs ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | DSP Ultra Short Term Fund | ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.25% | 0.34% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.01% | 0.80% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 0.86% | 0.68% |
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 Ultra Short Term with
Compare ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term with
DSP Ultra Short Term Fund vs ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DSP Ultra Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund?
Both are Ultra Short funds, run by DSP Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 10.4%. DSP Ultra Short Term Fund charges 0.30% a year and ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund 0.40%.
Which has given higher returns, DSP Ultra Short Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund?
Over 1 year: DSP Ultra Short Term Fund +6.43%, ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund +6.37%. Over 3 years: DSP Ultra Short Term Fund +7.26% a year, ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund +7.31% a year. Over 5 years: DSP Ultra Short Term Fund +6.70% a year, ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund +6.78% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, DSP Ultra Short Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund?
DSP Ultra Short Term Fund charges less: 0.30% a year against 0.40%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do DSP Ultra Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund overlap?
10.4%. They hold 15 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being Canara Bank, HDFC Bank Limited, 360 One Prime Limited. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is better for SIP, DSP Ultra Short Term Fund or ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,30,776 in DSP Ultra Short Term Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year) and ₹7,31,280 in ICICI Prudential Ultra 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 Ultra Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund?
Yes. 10.4% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages DSP Ultra Short Term Fund and ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund?
DSP Ultra Short Term Fund: Shalini Vasanta, Karan Mundhra. ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Fund: Ritesh Lunawat, Manish Banthia.
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.