Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund vs Kotak Flexi Cap Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund is an ELSS fund and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund is a Flexi Cap fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) returned 10.8% a year and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) returned 11.3% a year. Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund charges 0.85% a year and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund 0.67% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 51.3%: they hold 25 of the same securities.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund
ELSS
- 3 year return
- 10.8%
- Expense ratio
- 0.85%
- NAV
- ₹132.52
Which is better, Kotak ELSS Tax Saver or Kotak Flexi Cap? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- Kotak ELSS Tax Saver returned more over 5 years: 10.8% a year against 9.6%.
- Kotak Flexi Cap returned more over 3 years: 11.3% a year against 10.8%.
- Kotak Flexi Cap costs less: 0.67% a year against 0.85% (Direct plans).
- Kotak ELSS Tax Saver swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 14.3% a year against 14.4%.
- Kotak ELSS Tax Saver fell less in its worst fall since 04-01-2013: −36.4% against −37.3%.
- Kotak Flexi Cap is the larger fund: ₹53,087 Cr against ₹6,071 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 51.3%: 25 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 ELSS Tax Saver Fund | Kotak Flexi Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund | Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund |
| Category | ELSS | Flexi Cap |
| AUM | ₹6,071 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹53,087 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹132.52 (Direct) | ₹91.73 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.85% | 0.67% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.96% | 1.49% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | Nifty 500 TRI | Nifty 500 TRI |
| Launch date | 23-11-2005 | 11-09-2009 |
| Minimum investment | ₹500 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | 3 years | None |
| Fund managers | Harsha Upadhyaya | Harsha Upadhyaya |
| Exit load | Nil | Exit load for units in excess of 10% of the investment,1% will be charged for redemption within 365 days. |
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver vs Kotak Flexi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | −1.48% | −4.54% | −0.03% | −4.31% | +10.76% | +10.84% | +13.65% |
| Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) | −0.85% | −5.55% | −2.99% | −6.88% | +11.29% | +9.58% | +12.69% |
| ELSS average | −2.34% | −5.61% | −1.63% | −5.75% | +10.92% | +10.29% | +13.05% |
| Flexi Cap average | −1.62% | −4.17% | +1.00% | −3.58% | +12.37% | +10.04% | +13.13% |
Category average: the average of the 50 ELSS funds and the 46 Flexi Cap funds, same plan type.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver vs Kotak Flexi Cap: Year-wise Returns
| Year | ELSS Tax SaverKotak ELSS Tax Saver | Flexi CapKotak Flexi Cap | Nifty 500 TRI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −4.13% | −6.91% | −7.51% |
| 2025 | +2.92% | +10.42% | +7.76% |
| 2024 | +23.31% | +17.52% | +16.24% |
| 2023 | +25.20% | +25.31% | +26.91% |
| 2022 | +8.37% | +5.98% | +4.25% |
| 2021 | +35.05% | +26.59% | +31.60% |
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver vs Kotak Flexi Cap: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against Nifty 500 TRI, the benchmark of both
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,666 of them, one for each trading day from 04-01-2016 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.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
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 | Beat benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak ELSS Tax Saver | 1.4 | 3.6 | 7.4 | 23.7 | 29.1 | 24.8 | 9.9 | 17.0% | 17.1% | −4.2% | 34.8% | 90% |
| Kotak Flexi Cap | 1.3 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 27.7 | 40.6 | 14.9 | 7.3 | 16.4% | 16.6% | −4.2% | 31.5% | 70% |
| Nifty 500 TRI | 1.9 | 4.3 | 7.8 | 37.0 | 34.8 | 11.3 | 2.9 | 14.7% | 14.9% | −6.3% | 33.5% | -- |
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 500 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 04-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver vs Kotak Flexi 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 02-01-2013 to 30-10-2026: 166 instalments, ₹16,60,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak ELSS Tax SaverKotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹49,09,343 | ₹32,49,343 | 14.5% |
| Kotak Flexi CapKotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹46,04,697 | ₹29,44,697 | 13.7% |
Kotak ELSS Tax SaverKotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
Kotak Flexi CapKotak Flexi 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.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver vs Kotak Flexi Cap: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −4.31% | −6.88% |
| Standard deviation | 14.54% | 14.78% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.66 | -0.82 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.87 | -1.10 |
| Maximum drawdown | −13.7% (31-03-2026) | −14.2% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.99 | 1.01 |
| Alpha | +2.93% | +0.58% |
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 ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +10.76% | +11.29% |
| Standard deviation | 14.34% | 14.41% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.33 | 0.37 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.44 | 0.49 |
| Maximum drawdown | −19.6% (28-02-2025) | −16.3% (28-02-2025) |
| Beta | 0.98 | 0.99 |
| Alpha | +0.61% | +1.11% |
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 ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +10.84% | +9.58% |
| Standard deviation | 14.18% | 14.44% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.36 | 0.26 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.48 | 0.35 |
| Maximum drawdown | −19.6% (28-02-2025) | −17.8% (20-06-2022) |
| Beta | 0.97 | 0.99 |
| Alpha | +2.13% | +0.81% |
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 ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +14.48% | +14.88% |
| Standard deviation | 15.28% | 15.56% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.55 | 0.57 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.74 | 0.77 |
| Maximum drawdown | −36.4% (23-03-2020) | −37.3% (23-03-2020) |
| Beta | 0.94 | 0.96 |
| Alpha | +2.08% | +2.38% |
From daily NAVs, 02-01-2013 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 ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | −36.4% | 07-02-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 11-11-2020 | 8 months | −7.7% |
| Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) | −37.3% | 24-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 11-11-2020 | 8 months | −9.3% |
| Nifty 500 TRI | −38.1% | 17-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 06-11-2020 | 7 months | −8.8% |
From daily values since 04-01-2013, 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.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 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.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 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.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
Against Nifty 500 TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | 101% | 93% | 4.21% |
| Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (Direct) | 100% | 88% | 3.44% |
From month-end values since 04-01-2013. 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.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver vs Kotak Flexi Cap: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund, September 2026; Kotak Flexi Cap Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 51.3%
- Held by both
- 25
- Only in Kotak ELSS Tax Saver
- 28
- Only in Kotak Flexi Cap
- 31
| Security | % of Kotak ELSS Tax Saver | % of Kotak Flexi Cap |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC BANK LTD. | 7.00% | 5.27% |
| ICICI BANK LTD. | 5.01% | 5.48% |
| STATE BANK OF INDIA. | 4.98% | 4.30% |
| ETERNAL LIMITED | 3.16% | 4.22% |
| BHARTI AIRTEL LTD. | 3.47% | 2.88% |
| Larsen and Toubro Ltd. | 2.48% | 3.54% |
| SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. | 2.39% | 2.14% |
| LENSKART SOLUTIONS LIMITED | 2.26% | 2.08% |
| AXIS BANK LTD. | 2.02% | 3.35% |
| BAJAJ FINANCE LTD. | 2.49% | 1.99% |
| Hero MotoCorp Ltd. | 2.59% | 1.97% |
| Solar Industries India Limited | 1.95% | 3.71% |
| Jindal Steel & Power Ltd | 1.87% | 4.06% |
| Inter Globe Aviation Ltd | 1.85% | 2.53% |
| Ultratech Cement Ltd. | 1.71% | 2.84% |
| RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LTD. | 1.60% | 2.24% |
| KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LTD. | 1.55% | 1.45% |
| Tech Mahindra Ltd. | 3.01% | 1.35% |
| NTPC LTD | 2.76% | 1.28% |
| INDUSIND BANK LTD. | 1.34% | 1.27% |
| BILLIONBRAINS GARAGE VENTURES LIMITED (GROWW) | 1.15% | 1.14% |
| Indus Towers Ltd. | 0.86% | 0.91% |
| SRF LTD. | 0.81% | 2.89% |
| PIRAMAL FINANCE LTD | 1.60% | 0.69% |
| SWIGGY LTD | 1.03% | 0.18% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 51.3% means 51.3% 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 ELSS Tax Saver Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Divis Laboratories Ltd. | 2.68% |
| Dixon Technologies India Ltd | 2.59% |
| HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD. | 2.16% |
| Linde India Ltd. | 2.08% |
| KALPATARU PROJECTS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED | 1.99% |
Largest holdings only in Kotak Flexi Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Bharat Electronics Ltd. | 5.34% |
| BHARAT FORGE LTD. | 2.39% |
| Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. | 2.28% |
| BSE LTD | 1.81% |
| Maruti Suzuki India Limited | 1.80% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Kotak ELSS Tax Saver | Kotak Flexi Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 98.5% | 98.5% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 1.5% | 1.5% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Kotak ELSS Tax Saver | Kotak Flexi Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 60.6% | 69.6% |
| Mid Cap | 21.5% | 25.1% |
| Small Cap | 15.5% | 3.4% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.9% | 0.5% |
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 ELSS Tax Saver | Kotak Flexi Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 23.0% | 22.8% |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology | 7.5% | 6.4% |
| Chemicals and Petrochemicals | 4.8% | 7.0% |
| Retailing | 6.5% | 6.5% |
| Finance | 6.4% | 3.8% |
| Construction | 6.1% | 3.5% |
| Automobiles | 6.0% | 3.8% |
| Aerospace and Defense | 1.3% | 5.3% |
| Cement and Cement Products | 1.7% | 4.9% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver vs Kotak Flexi Cap: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund | Kotak Flexi Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.85% | 0.67% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.63% | 0.53% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.96% | 1.49% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.57% | 1.22% |
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 ELSS Tax Saver with
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund vs Kotak Flexi Cap Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund?
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund is an ELSS fund, Kotak Flexi Cap Fund is a Flexi Cap fund, run by Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 51.3%. Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund charges 0.85% a year and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund 0.67%.
Which has given higher returns, Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund or Kotak Flexi Cap Fund?
Over 1 year: Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund −4.31%, Kotak Flexi Cap Fund −6.88%. Over 3 years: Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund +10.76% a year, Kotak Flexi Cap Fund +11.29% a year. Over 5 years: Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund +10.84% a year, Kotak Flexi Cap Fund +9.58% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund or Kotak Flexi Cap Fund?
Kotak Flexi Cap Fund charges less: 0.67% a year against 0.85%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund overlap?
51.3%. They hold 25 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being HDFCBANK, ICICIBANK, SBIN. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund or Kotak Flexi Cap Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund is rated Very High and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 14.34% and 14.41% a year.
Which is better for SIP, Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund or Kotak Flexi Cap Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,64,967 in Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund (XIRR 8.9% a year) and ₹7,58,747 in Kotak Flexi Cap Fund (XIRR 8.5% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund?
Yes. 51.3% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so a large part of the two investments would move together.
Who manages Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund and Kotak Flexi Cap Fund?
Kotak ELSS Tax Saver Fund: Harsha Upadhyaya. Kotak Flexi Cap Fund: Harsha Upadhyaya.
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.