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    HDFC Arbitrage Fund vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund

    Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026

    HDFC Arbitrage Fund and ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund are both Arbitrage funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct) returned 7.3% a year and ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct) returned 7.3% a year. HDFC Arbitrage Fund charges 1.48% a year and ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund 1.63% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 48.3%: they hold 150 of the same securities.

    HDFC Arbitrage Fund

    Arbitrage

    3 year return
    7.3%
    Expense ratio
    1.48%
    NAV
    ₹21.93
    See HDFC Arbitrage Fund

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund

    Arbitrage

    3 year return
    7.3%
    Expense ratio
    1.63%
    NAV
    ₹40.00
    See ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund

    Which is better, HDFC Arbitrage or ICICI Prudential Arbitrage? 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 Arbitrage returned more over 5 years: 6.8% a year against 6.7%.
    • ICICI Prudential Arbitrage returned more over 3 years: 7.3% a year against 7.3%.
    • HDFC Arbitrage costs less: 1.48% a year against 1.63% (Direct plans).
    • ICICI Prudential Arbitrage swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 1.1% a year against 1.1%.
    • ICICI Prudential Arbitrage fell less in its worst fall since 27-03-2014: −0.6% against −0.7%.
    • ICICI Prudential Arbitrage is the larger fund: ₹35,576 Cr against ₹25,407 Cr.
    • Their portfolios overlap 48.3%: 150 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

    FactHDFC Arbitrage FundICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund
    Fund houseHDFC Mutual FundICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
    CategoryArbitrageArbitrage
    AUM₹25,407 Cr (30-09-2026)₹35,576 Cr (30-09-2026)
    NAV₹21.93 (Direct)₹40.00 (Direct)
    Expense ratio (Direct)1.48%1.63%
    Expense ratio (Regular)2.02%2.16%
    RiskometerLowNot available
    BenchmarkNifty 50 Arbitrage TRINifty 50 Arbitrage Index
    Launch date23-10-200730-12-2006
    Minimum investment₹100₹500
    Lock inNoneNone
    Fund managersNandita Menezes, Arun Agarwal, Anil Bamboli, Gopal AgrawalArchana Nair, Nikhil Kabra, Ajaykumar Solanki, Darshil Dedhia
    Exit load• In respect of each purchase / switch-in of Units, an Exit load of 0.25% is payable if Units are redeemed / switched-out within 15 days from the date of allotment of units. • No Exit Load is payable if Units are redeemed/switched-out after 15 days from the date of allotment.0.25% 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

    HDFC Arbitrage vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage: Returns Comparison

    Returns as on 30-10-2026. Up to one year they are absolute returns. Longer periods are a rate per year.

    Fund1M3M6M1Y3Y5Y10Y
    HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)+0.55%+1.55%+3.25%+6.66%+7.26%+6.73%+6.13%
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)+0.50%+1.50%+3.24%+6.62%+7.27%+6.77%+6.33%
    Arbitrage average+0.56%+1.52%+3.20%+6.62%+7.18%+6.68%+6.31%

    Category average: the average of the 39 Arbitrage funds, same plan type.

    HDFC Arbitrage vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage: Year-wise Returns

    YearHDFCHDFC ArbitrageICICI PrudentialICICI Prudential Arbitrage
    2026to date+5.43%+5.40%
    2025+6.93%+7.02%
    2024+8.22%+8.21%
    2023+7.78%+7.77%
    2022+4.73%+4.79%
    2021+4.17%+4.40%

    HDFC Arbitrage vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage: Rolling Returns

    Every holding period of both funds

    Rolling returns

    Every 3-year holding period, 2,364 of them, one for each trading day from 27-03-2017 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.

    0%2%4%6%8%
    Jan 2015
    to
    Jan 2018
    Aug 2016
    to
    Aug 2019
    Apr 2018
    to
    Apr 2021
    Nov 2019
    to
    Nov 2022
    Jul 2021
    to
    Jul 2024
    Jan 2023
    to
    Jan 2026
    HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)

    How the periods spread

    FundBelow 0%0-5%5-10%10-15%15-20%20-25%Above 25%MeanMedianLowestHighest
    HDFC Arbitrage0.016.683.40.00.00.00.06.2%6.3%4.2%7.8%
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage0.012.687.40.00.00.00.06.4%6.7%4.5%7.9%

    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 27-03-2014. Past returns do not promise future returns.

    HDFC Arbitrage vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage: 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

    Step up each year
    PeriodFor

    ₹10,000 on the first trading day of every month, from 27-03-2014 to 30-10-2026: 152 instalments, ₹15,20,000 in all.

    InvestmentInvestedValue nowGainReturn a year
    HDFC ArbitrageHDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct) ₹15,20,000 ₹23,04,061 ₹7,84,061 6.3%
    ICICI Prudential ArbitrageICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct) ₹15,20,000 ₹23,27,952 ₹8,07,952 6.5%
    ₹0₹5.0 L₹10.0 L₹15.0 L₹20.0 L₹25.0 L
    201520172019202120232025
    HDFC ArbitrageHDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)ICICI Prudential ArbitrageICICI Prudential Arbitrage 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.

    HDFC Arbitrage vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage: Risk and Drawdowns

    How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days

    Risk and return

    MeasureHDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
    Return (CAGR)+7.26%+7.27%
    Standard deviation1.10%1.10%
    Sharpe ratio1.121.13
    Sortino ratio1.711.74
    Maximum drawdown−0.5% (06-08-2026)−0.4% (06-08-2026)
    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.

    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.

    −0.8%−0.6%−0.4%−0.2%0%
    201520172019202120232025
    HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
    FundWorst fallHigh before itBottomBack at the highTime to climb backBelow its high today
    HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)−0.7%16-03-202025-03-202003-04-20209 days−0.1%
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)−0.6%29-05-202003-06-202020-08-20203 months−0.1%

    From daily values since 27-03-2014, 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 3-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.

    0%0.2%0.4%0.6%0.8%1%1.2%
    20182020202220242026
    HDFC Arbitrage Fund (Direct)ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)

    HDFC Arbitrage vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage: Portfolio Overlap

    From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: HDFC Arbitrage Fund, September 2026; ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund, September 2026

    Holdings in common

    Overlap
    48.3%
    Held by both
    150
    Only in HDFC Arbitrage
    19
    Only in ICICI Prudential Arbitrage
    42
    Security% of HDFC Arbitrage% of ICICI Prudential Arbitrage
    Reliance Industries Ltd.3.39%4.44%
    HDFC Bank Ltd.5.04%3.36%
    Axis Bank Ltd.2.87%2.94%
    State Bank of India2.30%2.35%
    Bharti Airtel Ltd.3.31%2.04%
    Union Bank of India3.84%1.92%
    Bajaj Finance Ltd.1.80%1.63%
    Tata Steel Ltd.1.55%1.47%
    Canara Bank1.52%1.23%
    VODAFONE IDEA LIMITED1.03%2.99%

    Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 48.3% means 48.3% 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 HDFC Arbitrage Fund

    Security% of fund
    HDFC Money Market Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option9.14%
    HDFC Liquid Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option3.75%
    HDFC Ultra Short Term Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option2.85%
    HDFC Ultra Short to Short Term Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option2.64%
    Indian Overseas Bank1.15%

    Largest holdings only in ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund

    Security% of fund
    ICICI Prudential Money Market Fund - Direct Plan - Growth14.97%
    Union Bank Of India1.78%
    HDFC Bank Ltd.1.37%
    Small Industries Development Bank Of India.1.10%
    NABARD0.82%

    Asset and sector split

    Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio

    Asset allocation

    AssetHDFC ArbitrageICICI Prudential Arbitrage
    Equity67.5%71.1%
    Debt9.0%11.9%
    Cash and others23.4%17.0%

    Market cap of stocks

    Market capHDFC ArbitrageICICI Prudential Arbitrage
    Large Cap55.6%54.2%
    Mid Cap10.3%14.7%
    Small Cap1.7%2.2%

    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

    SectorHDFC ArbitrageICICI Prudential Arbitrage
    Banks22.2%14.4%
    Finance4.3%6.1%
    Telecom - Services5.2%5.4%
    Petroleum Products4.4%5.1%
    Power1.7%4.5%
    Ferrous Metals4.5%3.6%
    Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology3.0%3.7%
    Automobiles3.1%2.4%

    The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.

    HDFC Arbitrage vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage: Expense Ratio

    What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file

    ChargeHDFC Arbitrage FundICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund
    Total expense ratio (Direct)1.48%1.63%
    Base expense ratio (Direct)0.34%0.34%
    Total expense ratio (Regular)2.02%2.16%
    Base expense ratio (Regular)0.80%0.79%

    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

    HDFC Arbitrage Fund vs ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund: Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between HDFC Arbitrage Fund and ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund?

    Both are Arbitrage funds, run by HDFC Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 48.3%. HDFC Arbitrage Fund charges 1.48% a year and ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund 1.63%.

    Which has given higher returns, HDFC Arbitrage Fund or ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund?

    Over 1 year: HDFC Arbitrage Fund +6.66%, ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund +6.62%. Over 3 years: HDFC Arbitrage Fund +7.26% a year, ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund +7.27% a year. Over 5 years: HDFC Arbitrage Fund +6.73% a year, ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund +6.77% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.

    Which has the lower expense ratio, HDFC Arbitrage Fund or ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund?

    HDFC Arbitrage Fund charges less: 1.48% a year against 1.63%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.

    How much do HDFC Arbitrage Fund and ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund overlap?

    48.3%. They hold 150 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being RELIANCE, HDFCBANK, AXISBANK. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.

    Which is better for SIP, HDFC Arbitrage Fund or ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund?

    Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,30,981 in HDFC Arbitrage Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year) and ₹7,31,362 in ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.

    Can I invest in both HDFC Arbitrage Fund and ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund?

    Yes. 48.3% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so a large part of the two investments would move together.

    Who manages HDFC Arbitrage Fund and ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund?

    HDFC Arbitrage Fund: Nandita Menezes, Arun Agarwal, Anil Bamboli, Gopal Agrawal. ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund: Archana Nair, Nikhil Kabra, Ajaykumar Solanki, Darshil Dedhia.

    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.

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