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    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund vs Kotak Arbitrage Fund

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

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund and Kotak Arbitrage Fund are both Arbitrage funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct) returned 7.3% a year and Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) returned 7.4% a year. ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund charges 1.63% a year and Kotak Arbitrage Fund 2.31% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 50.6%: they hold 165 of the same securities.

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund

    Arbitrage

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

    Kotak Arbitrage Fund

    Arbitrage

    3 year return
    7.4%
    Expense ratio
    2.31%
    NAV
    ₹43.60
    See Kotak Arbitrage Fund

    Which is better, ICICI Prudential Arbitrage or Kotak Arbitrage? Key differences

    It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.

    • Kotak Arbitrage returned more over 5 years: 7.0% a year against 6.8%.
    • Kotak Arbitrage returned more over 3 years: 7.4% a year against 7.3%.
    • ICICI Prudential Arbitrage costs less: 1.63% a year against 2.31% (Direct plans).
    • Kotak Arbitrage swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 1.1% a year against 1.1%.
    • Kotak Arbitrage fell less in its worst fall since 08-01-2013: −0.6% against −0.6%.
    • Kotak Arbitrage is the larger fund: ₹75,275 Cr against ₹35,576 Cr.
    • Their portfolios overlap 50.6%: 165 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

    FactICICI Prudential Arbitrage FundKotak Arbitrage Fund
    Fund houseICICI Prudential Mutual FundKotak Mahindra Mutual Fund
    CategoryArbitrageArbitrage
    AUM₹35,576 Cr (30-09-2026)₹75,275 Cr (30-09-2026)
    NAV₹40.00 (Direct)₹43.60 (Direct)
    Expense ratio (Direct)1.63%2.31%
    Expense ratio (Regular)2.16%2.89%
    RiskometerNot availableLow
    BenchmarkNifty 50 Arbitrage IndexNifty 50 Arbitrage Index
    Launch date30-12-200629-09-2005
    Minimum investment₹500₹100
    Lock inNoneNone
    Fund managersArchana Nair, Nikhil Kabra, Ajaykumar Solanki, Darshil DedhiaHiten Shah
    Exit load0.25% 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 allotmentExit load of 0.25% if redeemed within 30 days

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage vs Kotak 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
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)+0.50%+1.50%+3.24%+6.62%+7.27%+6.77%+6.33%
    Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)+0.55%+1.55%+3.29%+6.75%+7.43%+6.98%+6.46%
    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.

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage vs Kotak Arbitrage: Year-wise Returns

    YearICICI PrudentialICICI Prudential ArbitrageKotakKotak Arbitrage
    2026to date+5.40%+5.53%
    2025+7.02%+7.06%
    2024+8.21%+8.47%
    2023+7.77%+8.01%
    2022+4.79%+5.14%
    2021+4.40%+4.56%

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage vs Kotak Arbitrage: Rolling Returns

    Every holding period of both funds

    Rolling returns

    Every 3-year holding period, 2,662 of them, one for each trading day from 08-01-2016 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.

    0%2%4%6%8%10%
    Nov 2013
    to
    Nov 2016
    Sept 2015
    to
    Sept 2018
    Jul 2017
    to
    Jul 2020
    May 2019
    to
    May 2022
    Mar 2021
    to
    Mar 2024
    Dec 2022
    to
    Dec 2025
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)

    How the periods spread

    FundBelow 0%0-5%5-10%10-15%15-20%20-25%Above 25%MeanMedianLowestHighest
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage0.011.288.80.00.00.00.06.6%6.8%4.5%9.2%
    Kotak Arbitrage0.08.791.30.00.00.00.06.7%6.8%4.7%9.2%

    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 08-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage vs Kotak 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 08-01-2013 to 30-10-2026: 166 instalments, ₹16,60,000 in all.

    InvestmentInvestedValue nowGainReturn a year
    ICICI Prudential ArbitrageICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct) ₹16,60,000 ₹26,66,264 ₹10,06,264 6.6%
    Kotak ArbitrageKotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) ₹16,60,000 ₹26,92,834 ₹10,32,834 6.7%
    ₹0₹10.0 L₹20.0 L₹30.0 L
    2014201620182020202220242026
    ICICI Prudential ArbitrageICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)Kotak ArbitrageKotak 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.

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage vs Kotak Arbitrage: Risk and Drawdowns

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

    Risk and return

    MeasureICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
    Return (CAGR)+7.27%+7.43%
    Standard deviation1.10%1.10%
    Sharpe ratio1.131.28
    Sortino ratio1.741.96
    Maximum drawdown−0.4% (06-08-2026)−0.5% (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.

    −0.6%−0.5%−0.4%−0.3%−0.2%−0.1%0%
    2014201620182020202220242026
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
    FundWorst fallHigh before itBottomBack at the highTime to climb backBelow its high today
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)−0.6%29-05-202003-06-202020-08-20203 months−0.1%
    Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)−0.6%29-05-202003-06-202014-08-20202 months−0.0%

    From daily values since 08-01-2013, 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 3-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.

    0%0.5%1%1.5%
    20172019202120232025
    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (Direct)Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage vs Kotak Arbitrage: Portfolio Overlap

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

    Holdings in common

    Overlap
    50.6%
    Held by both
    165
    Only in ICICI Prudential Arbitrage
    27
    Only in Kotak Arbitrage
    29
    Security% of ICICI Prudential Arbitrage% of Kotak Arbitrage
    Reliance Industries Ltd.4.44%3.06%
    Axis Bank Ltd.2.94%2.94%
    HDFC Bank Ltd.3.36%2.03%
    Tata Steel Ltd.1.47%1.53%
    Bharti Airtel Ltd.2.04%1.45%
    HDFC Bank Ltd.1.37%1.94%
    State Bank Of India2.35%1.35%
    Vodafone Idea Ltd.2.99%1.30%
    Bajaj Finance Ltd.1.63%1.20%
    Coal India Ltd.1.65%1.18%

    Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 50.6% means 50.6% 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 ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund

    Security% of fund
    ICICI Prudential Money Market Fund - Direct Plan - Growth14.97%
    Union Bank Of India1.92%
    Union Bank Of India1.78%
    Small Industries Development Bank Of India.1.10%
    Multi Commodity Exchange Of India Ltd.0.89%

    Largest holdings only in Kotak Arbitrage Fund

    Security% of fund
    Kotak Money Market Fund Direct Growth9.78%
    Kotak Savings Fund Direct Growth4.98%
    Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund3.86%
    Kotak Liquid Direct Growth3.13%
    SMALL INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT BANK OF INDIA1.36%

    Asset and sector split

    Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio

    Asset allocation

    AssetICICI Prudential ArbitrageKotak Arbitrage
    Equity71.1%71.1%
    Debt11.9%5.8%
    Cash and others17.0%23.1%

    Market cap of stocks

    Market capICICI Prudential ArbitrageKotak Arbitrage
    Large Cap54.2%52.1%
    Mid Cap14.7%16.4%
    Small Cap2.2%2.6%

    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

    SectorICICI Prudential ArbitrageKotak Arbitrage
    Banks14.4%14.4%
    Finance6.1%5.7%
    Telecom - Services5.4%3.4%
    Petroleum Products5.1%4.6%
    Power4.5%3.9%
    Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology0.0%4.2%
    IT - Software0.0%3.8%
    Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology3.7%0.0%

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

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage vs Kotak Arbitrage: Expense Ratio

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

    ChargeICICI Prudential Arbitrage FundKotak Arbitrage Fund
    Total expense ratio (Direct)1.63%2.31%
    Base expense ratio (Direct)0.34%0.33%
    Total expense ratio (Regular)2.16%2.89%
    Base expense ratio (Regular)0.79%0.83%

    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

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

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

    Both are Arbitrage funds, run by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund and Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 50.6%. ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund charges 1.63% a year and Kotak Arbitrage Fund 2.31%.

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

    Over 1 year: ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund +6.62%, Kotak Arbitrage Fund +6.75%. Over 3 years: ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund +7.27% a year, Kotak Arbitrage Fund +7.43% a year. Over 5 years: ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund +6.77% a year, Kotak Arbitrage Fund +6.98% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.

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

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund charges less: 1.63% a year against 2.31%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.

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

    50.6%. They hold 165 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being RELIANCE, AXISBANK, HDFCBANK. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.

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

    Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,31,362 in ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year) and ₹7,34,378 in Kotak Arbitrage Fund (XIRR 7.2% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.

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

    Yes. 50.6% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so a large part of the two investments would move together.

    Who manages ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund and Kotak Arbitrage Fund?

    ICICI Prudential Arbitrage Fund: Archana Nair, Nikhil Kabra, Ajaykumar Solanki, Darshil Dedhia. Kotak Arbitrage Fund: Hiten Shah.

    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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