HDFC Small Cap Fund vs Nippon India Small Cap Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
HDFC Small Cap Fund and Nippon India Small Cap Fund are both Small Cap funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, HDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 8.9% a year and Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 13.0% a year. HDFC Small Cap Fund charges 0.80% a year and Nippon India Small Cap Fund 0.69% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 11.1%: they hold 31 of the same securities.
Nippon India Small Cap Fund
Small Cap
- 3 year return
- 13.0%
- Expense ratio
- 0.69%
- NAV
- ₹192.76
Which is better, HDFC Small Cap or Nippon India Small Cap? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- Nippon India Small Cap returned more over 5 years: 17.1% a year against 13.1%.
- Nippon India Small Cap returned more over 3 years: 13.0% a year against 8.9%.
- Nippon India Small Cap costs less: 0.69% a year against 0.80% (Direct plans).
- HDFC Small Cap swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 15.8% a year against 16.5%.
- HDFC Small Cap fell less in its worst fall since 30-06-2014: −48.3% against −48.6%.
- Nippon India Small Cap is the larger fund: ₹80,906 Cr against ₹40,801 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 11.1%: 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 Small Cap Fund | Nippon India Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | HDFC Mutual Fund | Nippon India Mutual Fund |
| Category | Small Cap | Small Cap |
| AUM | ₹40,801 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹80,906 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹148.62 (Direct) | ₹192.76 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.80% | 0.69% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.57% | 1.41% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | BSE 250 Smallcap TRI | Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI |
| Launch date | 03-04-2008 | 16-09-2010 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | Not available |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Chirag Setalvad, Gopal Agrawal, Bhagyesh Kagalkar | Samir Rachh |
| Exit load | In respect of each purchase/ switch-in of units, an Exit Load of 1.00% is payable if Units are redeemed/switched-out within 1 year from the date of allotment. No Exit Load is payable if Units are redeemed/ switched-out after 1 year from the date of allotment. | Exit load of 1% if redeemed within 1 year. |
HDFC Small Cap vs Nippon India Small Cap: 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 Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −4.90% | −7.14% | −1.36% | −9.85% | +8.90% | +13.07% | +16.39% |
| Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −5.79% | −4.50% | +0.35% | −0.23% | +12.97% | +17.08% | +19.26% |
| Small Cap average | −5.86% | −3.28% | +5.03% | +3.00% | +14.03% | +14.51% | +16.19% |
Category average: the average of the 36 Small Cap funds, same plan type.
HDFC Small Cap vs Nippon India Small Cap: Year-wise Returns
| Year | HDFCHDFC Small Cap | Nippon IndiaNippon India Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −5.88% | +3.07% |
| 2025 | +0.25% | −4.02% |
| 2024 | +21.54% | +27.06% |
| 2023 | +46.17% | +50.17% |
| 2022 | +5.64% | +7.53% |
| 2021 | +66.49% | +75.87% |
HDFC Small Cap vs Nippon India Small Cap: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI, the benchmark of HDFC Small Cap Fund
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,299 of them, one for each trading day from 30-06-2017 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.
HDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
to
Mar 2018Oct 2016
to
Oct 2019May 2018
to
May 2021Jan 2020
to
Jan 2023Aug 2021
to
Aug 2024Jan 2023
to
Jan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Small Cap | 5.5 | 4.3 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 18.9 | 27.9 | 27.7 | 20.3% | 20.9% | −8.8% | 49.7% | 82% |
| Nippon India Small Cap | 4.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 8.0 | 11.8 | 21.4 | 43.4 | 23.3% | 23.5% | −8.3% | 54.5% | 100% |
| BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI | 11.7 | 7.7 | 5.9 | 13.4 | 20.8 | 15.5 | 25.0 | 16.3% | 17.4% | −17.0% | 45.1% | -- |
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 250 SmallCap Index 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 30-06-2014. Past returns do not promise future returns.
HDFC Small Cap vs Nippon India Small Cap: 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 30-06-2014 to 30-10-2026: 149 instalments, ₹14,90,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Small CapHDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹14,90,000 | ₹45,03,728 | ₹30,13,728 | 16.6% |
| Nippon India Small CapNippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹14,90,000 | ₹57,90,741 | ₹43,00,741 | 20.2% |
HDFC Small CapHDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Small CapNippon India Small Cap 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 Small Cap vs Nippon India Small Cap: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | HDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −9.85% | −0.23% |
| Standard deviation | 15.23% | 16.03% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.99 | -0.34 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.34 | -0.46 |
| Maximum drawdown | −18.0% (30-03-2026) | −14.7% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.81 | 0.87 |
| Alpha | −6.64% | +1.81% |
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 Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +8.90% | +12.97% |
| Standard deviation | 15.83% | 16.46% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.18 | 0.42 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.24 | 0.56 |
| Maximum drawdown | −22.6% (03-03-2025) | −24.2% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 0.82 | 0.85 |
| Alpha | −1.13% | +1.59% |
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 Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +13.07% | +17.08% |
| Standard deviation | 15.91% | 16.33% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.46 | 0.69 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.61 | 0.91 |
| Maximum drawdown | −22.6% (03-03-2025) | −24.2% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 0.84 | 0.86 |
| Alpha | +1.86% | +4.97% |
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 Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +17.07% | +23.01% |
| Standard deviation | 16.21% | 17.11% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.70 | 0.99 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.92 | 1.32 |
| Maximum drawdown | −48.3% (24-03-2020) | −48.6% (24-03-2020) |
| Beta | 0.82 | -- |
| Alpha | +5.62% | -- |
From daily NAVs, 30-06-2014 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 Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −48.3% | 30-04-2018 | 24-03-2020 | 04-01-2021 | 9 months | −10.4% |
| Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −48.6% | 15-01-2018 | 24-03-2020 | 14-12-2020 | 9 months | −8.7% |
| BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI | −58.8% | 15-01-2018 | 24-03-2020 | 03-03-2021 | 11 months | −11.5% |
From daily values since 30-06-2014, 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 1-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
HDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index 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.
HDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index 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.
HDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
Against BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 90% | 70% | 6.16% |
| Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 102% | 75% | 5.41% |
From month-end values since 30-06-2014. 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.
HDFC Small Cap vs Nippon India Small Cap: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: HDFC Small Cap Fund, September 2026; Nippon India Small Cap Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 11.1%
- Held by both
- 31
- Only in HDFC Small Cap
- 54
- Only in Nippon India Small Cap
- 225
| Security | % of HDFC Small Cap | % of Nippon India Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Apar Industries Limited | 1.92% | 1.74% |
| Voltamp Transformers Ltd. | 1.03% | 0.83% |
| eClerx Services Limited | 2.92% | 0.78% |
| Aster DM Quality Care Limited | 3.37% | 0.76% |
| Kalpataru Projects International Ltd | 1.57% | 0.62% |
| Krishna Institute Of Medical Sciences Limited | 2.04% | 0.56% |
| Vardhman Textiles Ltd. | 1.22% | 0.56% |
| Timken India Ltd. | 1.34% | 0.54% |
| PVR LIMITED | 1.75% | 0.50% |
| Bajaj Consumer Care Ltd. | 0.62% | 0.45% |
| Sudarshan Chemical Industries Limited | 1.71% | 0.38% |
| City Union Bank Ltd. | 1.48% | 0.38% |
| ION EXCHANGE (INDIA) LIMITED | 0.48% | 0.36% |
| Emami Ltd. | 0.31% | 0.79% |
| CIE Automotive India Ltd | 1.03% | 0.24% |
| Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. | 0.86% | 0.21% |
| Carborundum Universal Ltd. | 0.20% | 0.63% |
| LG Balakrishnan & Bros Ltd. | 1.18% | 0.19% |
| Indigo Paints Limited | 1.03% | 0.18% |
| UTI Asset Management Company Ltd | 1.01% | 0.16% |
| Tata Steel Ltd. | 0.70% | 0.16% |
| Vesuvius India Ltd. | 0.41% | 0.15% |
| Zensar Technologies Ltd. | 0.90% | 0.13% |
| Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd | 1.15% | 0.12% |
| Bajaj Electricals Ltd. | 0.47% | 0.12% |
| G R Infraprojects Limited | 0.29% | 0.12% |
| Sonata Software Ltd. | 1.28% | 0.10% |
| Kirloskar Ferrous Industries Ltd. | 0.91% | 0.09% |
| Vedant Fashions Ltd | 0.54% | 0.08% |
| KEC International Ltd. | 0.46% | 0.07% |
| PNC Infratech Ltd. | 0.43% | 0.05% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 11.1% means 11.1% 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 Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Firstsource Solutions Ltd. | 3.68% |
| Gabriel India Ltd. | 3.09% |
| Bank of Baroda | 2.65% |
| Indian Bank | 1.91% |
| PEARL GLOBAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED | 1.90% |
Largest holdings only in Nippon India Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| TD Power Systems Limited | 1.88% |
| Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited | 1.77% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | 1.75% |
| Acme Solar Holdings Ltd | 1.33% |
| Karur Vysya Bank Limited | 1.28% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | HDFC Small Cap | Nippon India Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 90.1% | 97.4% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 9.9% | 2.6% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | HDFC Small Cap | Nippon India Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 6.5% | 14.3% |
| Mid Cap | 9.2% | 13.1% |
| Small Cap | 74.1% | 66.6% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.3% | 3.5% |
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 Small Cap | Nippon India Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Components | 11.8% | 7.7% |
| Electrical Equipment | 3.0% | 9.5% |
| Banks | 8.8% | 7.6% |
| Commercial Services & Supplies | 8.3% | 1.4% |
| Healthcare Services | 8.2% | 3.6% |
| Industrial Products | 3.9% | 6.8% |
| Consumer Durables | 4.4% | 5.4% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 2.5% | 5.4% |
| Transport Services | 5.4% | 1.3% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
HDFC Small Cap vs Nippon India Small Cap: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | HDFC Small Cap Fund | Nippon India Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.80% | 0.69% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.65% | 0.53% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.57% | 1.41% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.30% | 1.14% |
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 HDFC Small Cap with
HDFC Small Cap Fund vs Nippon India Small Cap Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HDFC Small Cap Fund and Nippon India Small Cap Fund?
Both are Small Cap funds, run by HDFC Mutual Fund and Nippon India Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 11.1%. HDFC Small Cap Fund charges 0.80% a year and Nippon India Small Cap Fund 0.69%.
Which has given higher returns, HDFC Small Cap Fund or Nippon India Small Cap Fund?
Over 1 year: HDFC Small Cap Fund −9.85%, Nippon India Small Cap Fund −0.23%. Over 3 years: HDFC Small Cap Fund +8.90% a year, Nippon India Small Cap Fund +12.97% a year. Over 5 years: HDFC Small Cap Fund +13.07% a year, Nippon India Small Cap Fund +17.08% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, HDFC Small Cap Fund or Nippon India Small Cap Fund?
Nippon India Small Cap Fund charges less: 0.69% a year against 0.80%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do HDFC Small Cap Fund and Nippon India Small Cap Fund overlap?
11.1%. They hold 31 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being APARINDS, VOLTAMP, ECLERX. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, HDFC Small Cap Fund or Nippon India Small Cap Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, HDFC Small Cap Fund is rated Very High and Nippon India Small Cap Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 15.83% and 16.46% a year.
Which is better for SIP, HDFC Small Cap Fund or Nippon India Small Cap Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,87,811 in HDFC Small Cap Fund (XIRR 10.0% a year) and ₹8,66,032 in Nippon India Small Cap Fund (XIRR 13.8% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both HDFC Small Cap Fund and Nippon India Small Cap Fund?
Yes. 11.1% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages HDFC Small Cap Fund and Nippon India Small Cap Fund?
HDFC Small Cap Fund: Chirag Setalvad, Gopal Agrawal, Bhagyesh Kagalkar. Nippon India Small Cap Fund: Samir Rachh.
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.