Kotak Arbitrage Fund vs Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Kotak Arbitrage Fund and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund are both Arbitrage funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) returned 7.4% a year and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct) returned 6.4% a year. Kotak Arbitrage Fund charges 2.31% a year and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund 1.15% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 27.4%: they hold 34 of the same securities.
Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund
Arbitrage
- 3 year return
- 6.4%
- Expense ratio
- 1.15%
- NAV
- ₹13.90
Which is better, Kotak Arbitrage or Mahindra Manulife 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 5.9%.
- Kotak Arbitrage returned more over 3 years: 7.4% a year against 6.4%.
- Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage costs less: 1.15% 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 25-08-2020: −0.5% against −0.5%.
- Kotak Arbitrage is the larger fund: ₹75,275 Cr against ₹138 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 27.4%: 34 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 | Kotak Arbitrage Fund | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund | Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund |
| Category | Arbitrage | Arbitrage |
| AUM | ₹75,275 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹138 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹43.60 (Direct) | ₹13.90 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 2.31% | 1.15% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 2.89% | 1.91% |
| Riskometer | Low | Low |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 Arbitrage Index | Nifty 50 Arbitrage TRI |
| Launch date | 29-09-2005 | 24-08-2020 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹1,000 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Hiten Shah | Mitul Doshi, Navin Matta, Rahul Pal |
| Exit load | Exit load of 0.25% if redeemed within 30 days | Exit load of 0.25%, if redeemed within 30 days. |
Kotak Arbitrage vs Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | +0.55% | +1.55% | +3.29% | +6.75% | +7.43% | +6.98% | +6.46% |
| Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | +0.56% | +1.45% | +3.03% | +6.26% | +6.42% | +5.89% | -- |
| Arbitrage average | +0.56% | +1.52% | +3.20% | +6.62% | +7.18% | +6.68% | -- |
Category average: the average of the 39 Arbitrage funds, same plan type.
Kotak Arbitrage vs Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage: Year-wise Returns
| Year | KotakKotak Arbitrage | Mahindra ManulifeMahindra Manulife Arbitrage |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +5.53% | +5.07% |
| 2025 | +7.06% | +6.20% |
| 2024 | +8.47% | +6.97% |
| 2023 | +8.01% | +6.65% |
| 2022 | +5.14% | +4.04% |
| 2021 | +4.56% | +3.67% |
Kotak Arbitrage vs Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 781 of them, one for each trading day from 25-08-2023 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.
Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
to
Nov 2023Jun 2021
to
Jun 2024Dec 2021
to
Dec 2024Jul 2022
to
Jul 2025Jan 2023
to
Jan 2026Jul 2023
to
Jul 2026
How the periods spread
| Fund | Below 0% | 0-5% | 5-10% | 10-15% | 15-20% | 20-25% | Above 25% | Mean | Median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak Arbitrage | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.1% | 7.4% | 5.5% | 8.0% |
| Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage | 0.0 | 13.7 | 86.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.9% | 6.1% | 4.4% | 6.7% |
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 25-08-2020. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Kotak Arbitrage vs Mahindra Manulife 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
₹10,000 on the first trading day of every month, from 03-08-2020 to 30-10-2026: 75 instalments, ₹7,50,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak ArbitrageKotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | ₹7,50,000 | ₹9,36,940 | ₹1,86,940 | 7.0% |
| Mahindra Manulife ArbitrageMahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | ₹7,50,000 | ₹9,07,433 | ₹1,57,433 | 6.0% |
Kotak ArbitrageKotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife ArbitrageMahindra Manulife 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.
Kotak Arbitrage vs Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.75% | +6.26% |
| Standard deviation | 1.38% | 1.45% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.09 | 0.70 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.65 | 1.06 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.5% (06-08-2026) | −0.5% (06-08-2026) |
| 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 | Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.43% | +6.42% |
| Standard deviation | 1.10% | 1.14% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.28 | 0.35 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.96 | 0.51 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.5% (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.
| Measure | Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.98% | +5.89% |
| Standard deviation | 1.01% | 1.07% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.16 | 0.08 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.78 | 0.12 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.5% (06-08-2026) | −0.5% (06-08-2026) |
| 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 | Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.07% | +5.47% |
| Standard deviation | 1.02% | 1.05% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.00 | 0.16 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.52 | 0.23 |
| Maximum drawdown | −0.6% (03-06-2020) | −0.5% (06-08-2026) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
From daily NAVs, 07-01-2013 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.
Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | −0.5% | 03-08-2026 | 06-08-2026 | 24-08-2026 | 18 days | −0.0% |
| Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct) | −0.5% | 03-08-2026 | 06-08-2026 | 01-09-2026 | 26 days | 0.0% |
From daily values since 25-08-2020, 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.
Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage 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.
Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage 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.
Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
Kotak Arbitrage vs Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Kotak Arbitrage Fund, September 2026; Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 27.4%
- Held by both
- 34
- Only in Kotak Arbitrage
- 160
- Only in Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage
- 3
| Security | % of Kotak Arbitrage | % of Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI BANK LTD. | 4.17% | 5.99% |
| RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LTD. | 3.06% | 2.98% |
| AXIS BANK LTD. | 2.94% | 4.68% |
| HDFC BANK LTD. | 2.03% | 5.53% |
| Tata Steel Ltd. | 1.53% | 2.80% |
| BHARTI AIRTEL LTD. | 1.45% | 3.28% |
| STATE BANK OF INDIA. | 1.35% | 1.88% |
| Hindalco Industries Ltd. | 1.31% | 4.22% |
| BAJAJ FINANCE LTD. | 1.20% | 4.81% |
| ITC Ltd. | 0.85% | 1.02% |
| Indus Towers Ltd. | 0.65% | 1.11% |
| NTPC LTD | 0.64% | 0.70% |
| APL Apollo Tubes Ltd | 0.61% | 1.39% |
| CANARA BANK | 0.55% | 2.70% |
| IDFC FIRST BANK LIMITED | 0.47% | 2.97% |
| KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LTD. | 0.47% | 3.40% |
| Lupin Ltd. | 0.59% | 0.44% |
| AMBUJA CEMENTS LTD. | 0.44% | 0.52% |
| Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. | 0.35% | 0.76% |
| JIO FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD | 0.34% | 1.59% |
| Larsen and Toubro Ltd. | 0.29% | 2.68% |
| LIC HOUSING FINANCE LTD. | 0.27% | 1.50% |
| Tata Power Company Ltd. | 0.25% | 4.09% |
| Bajaj Finserv Ltd. | 0.25% | 0.72% |
| TITAN COMPANY LTD. | 0.31% | 0.23% |
| Inter Globe Aviation Ltd | 0.34% | 0.22% |
| HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd | 0.33% | 0.21% |
| Life Insurance Corporation Of India | 0.20% | 0.64% |
| INDIAN HOTELS CO LTD | 0.52% | 0.16% |
| Ultratech Cement Ltd. | 0.16% | 1.00% |
| Infosys Ltd. | 1.25% | 0.14% |
| Bharat Electronics Ltd. | 0.12% | 0.76% |
| Asian Paints(India) Ltd. | 0.08% | 0.61% |
| JSW Steel Ltd. | 0.74% | 0.06% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 27.4% means 27.4% 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 Kotak Arbitrage Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Kotak Money Market Fund Direct Growth | 9.78% |
| Kotak Savings Fund Direct Growth | 4.98% |
| Kotak Ultra Short to Short Term Fund | 3.86% |
| Kotak Liquid Direct Growth | 3.13% |
| HDFC BANK LTD. | 1.94% |
Largest holdings only in Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Mahindra Manulife Utra Short to Short Term Fund Direct Plan -Growth | 14.76% |
| Mahindra Manulife Liquid Fund -Direct Plan -Growth | 10.48% |
| IndusInd Bank Limited | 1.24% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Kotak Arbitrage | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 71.1% | 67.0% |
| Debt | 5.8% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 23.1% | 33.0% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Kotak Arbitrage | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 52.1% | 59.3% |
| Mid Cap | 16.4% | 6.2% |
| Small Cap | 2.6% | 1.5% |
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 | Kotak Arbitrage | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 14.4% | 28.4% |
| Finance | 5.7% | 8.6% |
| Power | 3.9% | 4.8% |
| Petroleum Products | 4.6% | 3.0% |
| Telecom - Services | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology | 4.2% | 0.0% |
| Non - Ferrous Metals | 2.0% | 4.2% |
| IT - Software | 3.8% | 0.1% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Kotak Arbitrage vs Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Kotak Arbitrage Fund | Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 2.31% | 1.15% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.33% | 0.30% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 2.89% | 1.91% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 0.83% | 0.95% |
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 Kotak Arbitrage with
Kotak Arbitrage Fund vs Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Kotak Arbitrage Fund and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund?
Both are Arbitrage funds, run by Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund and Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 27.4%. Kotak Arbitrage Fund charges 2.31% a year and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund 1.15%.
Which has given higher returns, Kotak Arbitrage Fund or Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund?
Over 1 year: Kotak Arbitrage Fund +6.75%, Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund +6.26%. Over 3 years: Kotak Arbitrage Fund +7.43% a year, Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund +6.42% a year. Over 5 years: Kotak Arbitrage Fund +6.98% a year, Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund +5.89% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Kotak Arbitrage Fund or Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund?
Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund charges less: 1.15% a year against 2.31%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Kotak Arbitrage Fund and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund overlap?
27.4%. They hold 34 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being ICICIBANK, RELIANCE, AXISBANK. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, Kotak Arbitrage Fund or Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, Kotak Arbitrage Fund is rated Low and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund Low. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 1.10% and 1.14% a year.
Which is better for SIP, Kotak Arbitrage Fund or Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,34,378 in Kotak Arbitrage Fund (XIRR 7.2% a year) and ₹7,16,129 in Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund (XIRR 6.3% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Kotak Arbitrage Fund and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund?
Yes. 27.4% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages Kotak Arbitrage Fund and Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund?
Kotak Arbitrage Fund: Hiten Shah. Mahindra Manulife Arbitrage Fund: Mitul Doshi, Navin Matta, Rahul Pal.
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.