HDFC Children's Fund vs HDFC Equity Savings Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
HDFC Children's Fund is a Solution fund and HDFC Equity Savings Fund is an Equity Savings fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) returned 8.0% a year and HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct) returned 8.3% a year. HDFC Children's Fund charges 1.03% a year and HDFC Equity Savings Fund 1.30% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 35.6%: they hold 31 of the same securities.
HDFC Equity Savings Fund
Equity Savings
- 3 year return
- 8.3%
- Expense ratio
- 1.30%
- NAV
- ₹75.88
Which is better, HDFC Children's or HDFC Equity Savings? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- HDFC Children's returned more over 5 years: 9.3% a year against 7.8%.
- HDFC Equity Savings returned more over 3 years: 8.3% a year against 8.0%.
- HDFC Children's costs less: 1.03% a year against 1.30% (Direct plans).
- HDFC Equity Savings swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 4.7% a year against 9.6%.
- HDFC Equity Savings fell less in its worst fall since 01-01-2013: −16.9% against −28.9%.
- HDFC Equity Savings holds more in large companies: 58.4% of the fund in large caps against 36.7%.
- HDFC Children's is the larger fund: ₹10,339 Cr against ₹5,533 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 35.6%: 31 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 | HDFC Children's Fund | HDFC Equity Savings Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | HDFC Mutual Fund | HDFC Mutual Fund |
| Category | Solution | Equity Savings |
| AUM | ₹10,339 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹5,533 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹311.41 (Direct) | ₹75.88 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 1.03% | 1.30% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.81% | 2.20% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Moderately High |
| Benchmark | NIFTY 50 Hybrid Composite Debt 65:35 Index (Total Returns Index) | Nifty Equity Savings Index |
| Launch date | 02-03-2001 | 17-09-2004 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | 5 years, or until the child turns 18 if earlier | None |
| Fund managers | Chirag Setalvad, Gopal Agrawal, Anil Bamboli | Anand Laddha, Anil Bamboli, Nandita Menezes, Arun Agarwal, Gopal Agrawal, Bhagyesh Kagalkar |
| Exit load | (i) For existing investments by investors including SIP / SWAP registrations, etc (until May 22, 2018). In respect of units subject to lockin period: Nil In case of Units not subject to Lock-in Period: -3% if the Units are redeemed / switched-out within one year from the date of allotment. - 2% if the Units are redeemed / switched-out between first and second year of the date of allotment. - 1% if the Units are redeemed / switched-out between second and third year of the date of allotment. - Nil if the Units are redeemed / switched-out after third year from the date of allotment (ii) Fresh investments by investors including SIP/ SWAP registrations, etc (effective May 23, 2018): Nil | Exit load For units in excess of 15% of the investment,1% will be charged for redemption within 1 month. |
HDFC Children's vs HDFC Equity Savings: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | −1.71% | −3.88% | −0.62% | −6.09% | +7.95% | +9.25% | +12.30% |
| HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct) | +0.47% | −1.25% | +0.85% | +0.39% | +8.28% | +7.85% | +9.27% |
| Equity Savings average | −0.02% | −0.68% | +1.71% | +2.12% | +8.55% | +7.55% | +8.43% |
Category average: the average of the 23 Equity Savings funds, same plan type.
HDFC Children's vs HDFC Equity Savings: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Children'sHDFC Children's | Equity SavingsHDFC Equity Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −6.11% | −0.54% |
| 2025 | +3.18% | +7.84% |
| 2024 | +17.03% | +11.33% |
| 2023 | +27.95% | +14.83% |
| 2022 | +7.69% | +6.98% |
| 2021 | +27.53% | +17.74% |
HDFC Children's vs HDFC Equity Savings: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,667 of them, one for each trading day from 01-01-2016 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.
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
HDFC Equity Savings 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Children's | 0.2 | 3.6 | 10.3 | 30.0 | 41.2 | 11.5 | 3.1 | 15.3% | 15.6% | −1.6% | 30.9% |
| HDFC Equity Savings | 0.0 | 6.6 | 21.8 | 68.8 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.7% | 11.3% | 0.6% | 17.6% |
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 01-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
HDFC Children's vs HDFC Equity Savings: 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 01-01-2013 to 30-10-2026: 166 instalments, ₹16,60,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Children'sHDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹42,94,755 | ₹26,34,755 | 12.8% |
| HDFC Equity SavingsHDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹33,31,312 | ₹16,71,312 | 9.5% |
HDFC Children'sHDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
HDFC Equity SavingsHDFC Equity Savings 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 Children's vs HDFC Equity Savings: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −6.09% | +0.39% |
| Standard deviation | 9.47% | 5.01% |
| Sharpe ratio | -1.20 | -0.97 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.58 | -1.28 |
| Maximum drawdown | −11.1% (30-03-2026) | −4.8% (30-03-2026) |
| 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 | HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.95% | +8.28% |
| Standard deviation | 9.57% | 4.70% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.20 | 0.48 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.27 | 0.65 |
| Maximum drawdown | −12.4% (03-03-2025) | −4.8% (30-03-2026) |
| 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 | HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +9.25% | +7.85% |
| Standard deviation | 9.66% | 4.90% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.36 | 0.42 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.48 | 0.57 |
| Maximum drawdown | −12.4% (03-03-2025) | −5.3% (20-06-2022) |
| 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 | HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +14.00% | +9.72% |
| Standard deviation | 10.71% | 5.75% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.74 | 0.64 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.00 | 0.87 |
| Maximum drawdown | −28.9% (23-03-2020) | −16.9% (23-03-2020) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
From daily NAVs, 01-01-2013 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.
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | −28.9% | 24-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 26-08-2020 | 5 months | −6.5% |
| HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct) | −16.9% | 14-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 06-11-2020 | 7 months | −2.2% |
From daily values since 01-01-2013, 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.
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
HDFC Equity Savings 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.
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
HDFC Equity Savings 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.
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Direct)
HDFC Children's vs HDFC Equity Savings: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: HDFC Children's Fund, September 2026; HDFC Equity Savings Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 35.6%
- Held by both
- 31
- Only in HDFC Children's
- 77
- Only in HDFC Equity Savings
- 95
| Security | % of HDFC Children's | % of HDFC Equity Savings |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | 6.19% | 6.96% |
| Larsen and Toubro Ltd. | 3.58% | 2.97% |
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | 6.62% | 2.87% |
| Reliance Industries Ltd. | 2.85% | 5.23% |
| 7.18% GOI MAT 140833 | 3.74% | 2.38% |
| 7.1% GOI MAT 180429 | 2.20% | 2.01% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | 3.00% | 1.74% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | 1.67% | 2.38% |
| Axis Bank Ltd. | 1.81% | 1.61% |
| State Bank of India | 3.25% | 1.56% |
| State Bank of India (Tier 2 - Basel III) | 1.40% | 1.22% |
| Infosys Limited | 1.63% | 1.08% |
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | 0.93% | 2.00% |
| Hyundai Motor India Limited | 0.72% | 1.10% |
| Eternal Limited | 1.70% | 0.62% |
| 7.1% GOI MAT 080434 | 2.99% | 0.54% |
| ITC LIMITED | 0.99% | 0.54% |
| 7.17% GOI MAT 170430 | 0.54% | 1.09% |
| National Bank for Agri & Rural Dev. | 0.48% | 0.54% |
| Muthoot Finance Ltd. | 0.48% | 0.90% |
| Ipca Laboratories Ltd. | 1.39% | 0.39% |
| United Spirits Limited | 1.57% | 0.38% |
| PVR LIMITED | 0.65% | 0.38% |
| 7.23% GOI MAT 150439 | 0.29% | 0.81% |
| REC Limited. | 0.33% | 0.24% |
| National Bank for Agri & Rural Dev. | 0.23% | 0.26% |
| CIE Automotive India Ltd | 0.47% | 0.21% |
| 6.94% GOI MAT 110536 | 0.24% | 0.18% |
| Power Finance Corporation Ltd. | 0.24% | 0.18% |
| Bank of Baroda (Tier 2 - Basel III) | 0.14% | 0.09% |
| 7.34% GOI MAT 220464 | 0.05% | 0.17% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 35.6% means 35.6% 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 Children's Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| eClerx Services Limited | 2.55% |
| Aster DM Quality Care Limited | 2.53% |
| Finolex Cables Ltd. | 2.24% |
| Voltamp Transformers Ltd. | 1.77% |
| S.J.S. Enterprises Limited | 1.58% |
Largest holdings only in HDFC Equity Savings Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| NTPC Limited | 3.55% |
| Titan Company Ltd. | 3.20% |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | 2.89% |
| Maruti Suzuki India Limited | 2.05% |
| Muthoot Finance Ltd. | 1.35% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | HDFC Children's | HDFC Equity Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 70.5% | 65.6% |
| Debt | 26.4% | 26.5% |
| Cash and others | 3.2% | 7.9% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | HDFC Children's | HDFC Equity Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 36.7% | 58.4% |
| Mid Cap | 6.5% | 3.2% |
| Small Cap | 25.6% | 3.9% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 1.6% | 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 | HDFC Children's | HDFC Equity Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 21.3% | 14.8% |
| Automobiles | 0.9% | 6.5% |
| Industrial Products | 5.8% | 0.7% |
| Petroleum Products | 3.4% | 5.5% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 2.1% | 5.2% |
| Power | 0.0% | 4.2% |
| Construction | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Finance | 1.4% | 3.6% |
| Retailing | 3.5% | 0.9% |
| Auto Components | 3.4% | 0.6% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
HDFC Children's vs HDFC Equity Savings: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | HDFC Children's Fund | HDFC Equity Savings Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 1.03% | 1.30% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.84% | 0.83% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.81% | 2.20% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.50% | 1.59% |
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 Children's Fund vs HDFC Equity Savings Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HDFC Children's Fund and HDFC Equity Savings Fund?
HDFC Children's Fund is a Solution fund, HDFC Equity Savings Fund is an Equity Savings fund, run by HDFC Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 35.6%. HDFC Children's Fund charges 1.03% a year and HDFC Equity Savings Fund 1.30%.
Which has given higher returns, HDFC Children's Fund or HDFC Equity Savings Fund?
Over 1 year: HDFC Children's Fund −6.09%, HDFC Equity Savings Fund +0.39%. Over 3 years: HDFC Children's Fund +7.95% a year, HDFC Equity Savings Fund +8.28% a year. Over 5 years: HDFC Children's Fund +9.25% a year, HDFC Equity Savings Fund +7.85% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, HDFC Children's Fund or HDFC Equity Savings Fund?
HDFC Children's Fund charges less: 1.03% a year against 1.30%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do HDFC Children's Fund and HDFC Equity Savings Fund overlap?
35.6%. They hold 31 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being HDFCBANK, LT, ICICIBANK. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, HDFC Children's Fund or HDFC Equity Savings Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, HDFC Children's Fund is rated Very High and HDFC Equity Savings Fund Moderately High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 9.57% and 4.70% a year.
Which is better for SIP, HDFC Children's Fund or HDFC Equity Savings Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,31,165 in HDFC Children's Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year) and ₹7,32,972 in HDFC Equity Savings Fund (XIRR 7.2% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both HDFC Children's Fund and HDFC Equity Savings Fund?
Yes. 35.6% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages HDFC Children's Fund and HDFC Equity Savings Fund?
HDFC Children's Fund: Chirag Setalvad, Gopal Agrawal, Anil Bamboli. HDFC Equity Savings Fund: Anand Laddha, Anil Bamboli, Nandita Menezes, Arun Agarwal, Gopal Agrawal, Bhagyesh Kagalkar.
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.