ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund is an Index fund and Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF is a mutual fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct) returned 22.5% a year and Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct) returned 22.9% a year. ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund charges 0.51% a year and Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF 0.23% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 99.9%: they hold 20 of the same securities.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund
Index
- 3 year return
- 22.5%
- Expense ratio
- 0.51%
- NAV
- ₹21.00
Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF
- 3 year return
- 22.9%
- Expense ratio
- 0.23%
- NAV
- ₹27.89
Which is better, ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index or Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF? 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 Nifty Pharma ETF returned more over 3 years: 22.9% a year against 22.5%.
- Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF returned more over 1 year: 22.1% against 21.8%.
- Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF costs less: 0.23% a year against 0.51% (Direct plans).
- ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 15.0% a year against 15.1%.
- Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF fell less in its worst fall since 15-12-2022: −16.6% against −16.6%.
- Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF is the larger fund: ₹1,736 Cr against ₹163 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 99.9%: 20 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 | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund | Nippon India Mutual Fund |
| Category | Index | Not available |
| AUM | ₹163 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹1,736 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹21.00 (Direct) | ₹27.89 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.51% | 0.23% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.13% | Not available |
| Riskometer | Not available | Not available |
| Benchmark | Nifty Pharma TRI | Not available |
| Launch date | 14-12-2022 | Not available |
| Minimum investment | ₹1,000 | Not available |
| Lock in | None | Not available |
| Fund managers | Nishit Patel, Ashwini Bharucha, Venus Ahuja | Not available |
| Exit load | Nil | Not available |
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct) | +2.56% | +2.91% | +16.72% | +21.78% | +22.52% | -- | -- |
| Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct) | +2.58% | +2.95% | +16.84% | +22.08% | +22.94% | +14.91% | -- |
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF: Year-wise Returns
| Year | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma IndexICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETFNippon India Nifty Pharma ETF | Nifty Pharma TRI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +19.57% | +19.82% | +20.06% |
| 2025 | −2.59% | −2.46% | −2.25% |
| 2024 | +38.82% | +39.59% | +40.03% |
| 2023 | +32.85% | +34.44% | +34.76% |
| 2022 | -- | −10.86% | −10.73% |
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against Nifty Pharma TRI, the benchmark of both
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 215 of them, one for each trading day from 15-12-2025 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.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct)
Nifty Pharma TRI
to
Jan 2026Mar 2023
to
Mar 2026Apr 2023
to
Apr 2026Jun 2023
to
Jun 2026Aug 2023
to
Aug 2026Oct 2023
to
Oct 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.1 | 81.4 | 6.5 | 22.0% | 21.7% | 18.9% | 26.9% | 0% |
| Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.6 | 82.9 | 11.6 | 22.6% | 22.3% | 19.3% | 27.7% | 0% |
| Nifty Pharma TRI | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 83.3 | 14.9 | 22.9% | 22.6% | 19.6% | 28.0% | -- |
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 Nifty Pharma 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 15-12-2022. Past returns do not promise future returns.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF: 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 15-12-2022 to 30-10-2026: 47 instalments, ₹4,70,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma IndexICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct) | ₹4,70,000 | ₹6,87,283 | ₹2,17,283 | 19.8% |
| Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETFNippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct) | ₹4,70,000 | ₹6,92,848 | ₹2,22,848 | 20.2% |
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma IndexICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETFNippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (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 Nifty Pharma Index vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +21.78% | +22.08% |
| Standard deviation | 14.11% | 14.13% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.17 | 1.19 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.83 | 1.86 |
| Maximum drawdown | −7.5% (02-02-2026) | −7.5% (01-02-2026) |
| Beta | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | −0.56% | −0.28% |
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 | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +22.52% | +22.94% |
| Standard deviation | 15.03% | 15.07% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.10 | 1.12 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.59 | 1.63 |
| Maximum drawdown | −16.6% (28-02-2025) | −16.6% (28-02-2025) |
| Beta | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | −0.72% | −0.30% |
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 | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +21.29% | +13.22% |
| Standard deviation | 14.33% | 15.07% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.05 | 0.50 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.55 | 0.72 |
| Maximum drawdown | −16.6% (28-02-2025) | −21.0% (13-03-2023) |
| Beta | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | −0.92% | −0.26% |
From daily NAVs, 15-12-2022 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.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct)
Nifty Pharma TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct) | −16.6% | 09-10-2024 | 28-02-2025 | 06-05-2026 | 14 months | −0.3% |
| Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct) | −16.6% | 09-10-2024 | 28-02-2025 | 06-05-2026 | 14 months | −0.3% |
| Nifty Pharma TRI | −16.5% | 09-10-2024 | 28-02-2025 | 05-05-2026 | 14 months | −0.2% |
From daily values since 15-12-2022, 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.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct)
Nifty Pharma 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.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct)
Nifty Pharma TRI
Against Nifty Pharma TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (Direct) | 98% | 101% | 0.25% |
| Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (Direct) | 99% | 101% | 0.03% |
From month-end values since 15-12-2022. 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.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund, September 2026; Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 99.9%
- Held by both
- 20
- Only in ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index
- 0
- Only in Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF
- 0
| Security | % of ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index | % of Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | 19.50% | 19.50% |
| Divi's Laboratories Ltd. | 11.97% | 11.97% |
| Laurus Labs Ltd. | 7.82% | 7.82% |
| Cipla Ltd. | 7.68% | 7.68% |
| Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. | 7.62% | 7.62% |
| Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | 7.16% | 7.16% |
| Lupin Ltd. | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. | 4.68% | 4.69% |
| Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | 3.56% | 3.56% |
| Alkem Laboratories Ltd. | 3.16% | 3.16% |
| Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. | 2.92% | 2.92% |
| Mankind Pharma Ltd. | 2.88% | 2.88% |
| IPCA Laboratories Ltd. | 2.71% | 2.71% |
| Biocon Ltd. | 2.62% | 2.62% |
| Gland Pharma Ltd. | 2.34% | 2.34% |
| Sai Life Sciences Ltd. | 2.14% | 2.14% |
| Wockhardt Ltd. | 1.77% | 1.77% |
| Ajanta Pharma Ltd. | 1.67% | 1.67% |
| Abbott India Ltd. | 1.43% | 1.43% |
| Piramal Pharma Ltd. | 1.30% | 1.30% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 99.9% means 99.9% 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 Nifty Pharma Index Fund
Every holding of this fund is also held by the other.
Largest holdings only in Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF
Every holding of this fund is also held by the other.
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 46.3% | 46.3% |
| Mid Cap | 46.1% | 46.1% |
| Small Cap | 7.5% | 7.5% |
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 | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 99.9% | 99.9% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund | Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.51% | 0.23% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.32% | 0.18% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.13% | Not available |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 0.85% | 0.00% |
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.
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund vs Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund and Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF?
ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund is an Index fund, Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF is a mutual fund, run by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund and Nippon India Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 99.9%. ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund charges 0.51% a year and Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF 0.23%.
Which has given higher returns, ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund or Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF?
Over 1 year: ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund +21.78%, Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF +22.08%. Over 3 years: ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund +22.52% a year, Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF +22.94% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund or Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF?
Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF charges less: 0.23% a year against 0.51%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund and Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF overlap?
99.9%. They hold 20 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being SUNPHARMA, DIVISLAB, LAURUSLABS. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is better for SIP, ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund or Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF?
Over the last 3 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 03-10-2023 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹4,78,655 in ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund (XIRR 17.0% a year) and ₹4,80,883 in Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF (XIRR 17.3% a year). Both received 37 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund and Nippon India Nifty Pharma ETF?
Yes. 99.9% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so a large part of the two investments would move together.
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.