Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund vs Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund are both Small Cap funds. In the year to 30-10-2026, Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 6.3% and Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 10.6%. Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund charges 0.93% a year and Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund 0.87% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 8.6%: they hold 10 of the same securities.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund
Small Cap
- 1 year return
- 6.3%
- Expense ratio
- 0.93%
- NAV
- ₹22.39
Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund
Small Cap
- 1 year return
- 10.6%
- Expense ratio
- 0.87%
- NAV
- ₹16.47
Which is better, Mahindra Manulife Small Cap or Motilal Oswal 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.
- Motilal Oswal Small Cap returned more over 1 year: 10.6% against 6.3%.
- Motilal Oswal Small Cap costs less: 0.87% a year against 0.93% (Direct plans).
- Motilal Oswal Small Cap fell less in its worst fall since 29-12-2023: −23.7% against −26.0%.
- Mahindra Manulife Small Cap holds more in large companies: 12.6% of the fund in large caps against 2.5%.
- Motilal Oswal Small Cap is the larger fund: ₹8,298 Cr against ₹5,373 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 8.6%: 10 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 | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund | Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund | Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund |
| Category | Small Cap | Small Cap |
| AUM | ₹5,373 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹8,298 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹22.39 (Direct) | ₹16.47 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.93% | 0.87% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 2.21% | 1.93% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Not available |
| Benchmark | BSE 250 Smallcap TRI | Not available |
| Launch date | 12-12-2020 | Not available |
| Minimum investment | ₹1,000 | Not available |
| Lock in | None | Not available |
| Fund managers | Vishal Jajoo, $ Mr. Neelesh Dhamnaskar, Krishna Sanghavi | Not available |
| Exit load | Exit load of 1% if redeemed within 3 months | Not available |
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −4.59% | −1.41% | +7.45% | +6.31% | +18.00% | -- | -- |
| Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −5.03% | −2.60% | +11.24% | +10.62% | -- | -- | -- |
| Small Cap average | −5.86% | −3.28% | +5.03% | +3.00% | -- | -- | -- |
Category average: the average of the 36 Small Cap funds, same plan type.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Small Cap: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Mahindra ManulifeMahindra Manulife Small Cap | Motilal OswalMotilal Oswal Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +9.80% | +14.91% |
| 2025 | −1.29% | −4.09% |
| 2024 | +29.97% | +48.16% |
| 2023 | +60.03% | -- |
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Small Cap: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI, the benchmark of Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund
Rolling returns
Every 1-year holding period, 454 of them, one for each trading day from 30-12-2024 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.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
to
Feb 2025Jun 2024
to
Jun 2025Oct 2024
to
Oct 2025Jan 2025
to
Jan 2026May 2025
to
May 2026Sept 2025
to
Sept 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahindra Manulife Small Cap | 28.2 | 20.0 | 16.5 | 18.1 | 12.3 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 6.1% | 5.4% | −10.2% | 30.0% | 83% |
| Motilal Oswal Small Cap | 9.1 | 13.0 | 12.8 | 19.0 | 19.9 | 12.1 | 14.1 | 13.9% | 14.1% | −8.0% | 51.2% | 98% |
| BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI | 40.5 | 30.2 | 21.6 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.5% | 1.2% | −11.1% | 25.9% | -- |
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 29-12-2023. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal 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 01-12-2023 to 30-10-2026: 35 instalments, ₹3,50,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahindra Manulife Small CapMahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹3,50,000 | ₹4,02,109 | ₹52,109 | 9.5% |
| Motilal Oswal Small CapMotilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹3,50,000 | ₹4,33,492 | ₹83,492 | 14.9% |
Mahindra Manulife Small CapMahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Small CapMotilal Oswal 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.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Small Cap: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.31% | +10.62% |
| Standard deviation | 17.52% | 17.28% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.06 | 0.31 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.08 | 0.44 |
| Maximum drawdown | −15.2% (23-03-2026) | −16.5% (23-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.94 | 0.91 |
| Alpha | +10.89% | +13.01% |
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 | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +23.03% | +18.87% |
| Standard deviation | 16.94% | 17.20% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.99 | 0.75 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.33 | 1.03 |
| Maximum drawdown | −26.0% (03-03-2025) | −23.7% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 0.93 | 0.84 |
| Alpha | +9.56% | +11.96% |
From daily NAVs, 14-12-2022 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.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −26.0% | 01-10-2024 | 03-03-2025 | 19-06-2026 | 16 months | −8.7% |
| Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −23.7% | 17-12-2024 | 03-03-2025 | 07-05-2026 | 14 months | −7.9% |
| BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI | −26.2% | 23-09-2024 | 03-03-2025 | Not yet | -- | −11.5% |
From daily values since 29-12-2023, 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.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
Against BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 106% | 83% | 5.41% |
| Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 110% | 66% | 6.54% |
From month-end values since 29-12-2023. 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.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Small Cap: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund, September 2026; Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 8.6%
- Held by both
- 10
- Only in Mahindra Manulife Small Cap
- 75
- Only in Motilal Oswal Small Cap
- 48
| Security | % of Mahindra Manulife Small Cap | % of Motilal Oswal Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited | 4.62% | 1.72% |
| Karur Vysya Bank Limited | 1.47% | 3.02% |
| Asahi India Glass Limited | 1.43% | 2.04% |
| DCB Bank Limited | 1.25% | 1.71% |
| Gabriel India Limited | 0.72% | 1.40% |
| Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited | 0.57% | 1.01% |
| Symbiotec Pharmalab Limited | 0.55% | 1.32% |
| Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited | 0.42% | 0.99% |
| Dixon Technologies (India) Limited | 0.38% | 1.49% |
| Gokaldas Exports Limited | 0.13% | 1.30% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 8.6% means 8.6% 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 Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Divi's Laboratories Limited | 4.54% |
| Jindal Saw Ltd | 3.17% |
| Garware Hi-Tech Films Limited | 2.91% |
| Supreme Petrochem Limited | 2.50% |
| Voltamp Transformers Limited | 2.46% |
Largest holdings only in Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Rubicon Research Limited | 3.84% |
| VA Tech Wabag Limited | 3.82% |
| CCL Products (India) Limited | 3.49% |
| Aditya Infotech Limited | 3.38% |
| Dr Agarwals Health Care Limited | 2.92% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 99.2% | 91.9% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 0.8% | 8.1% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 12.6% | 2.5% |
| Mid Cap | 19.7% | 7.4% |
| Small Cap | 66.3% | 77.0% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.6% | 5.1% |
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 | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Small Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Products | 15.3% | 0.8% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 15.2% | 6.1% |
| Consumer Durables | 4.7% | 9.3% |
| Industrial Manufacturing | 1.9% | 8.7% |
| Auto Components | 8.7% | 7.6% |
| Retailing | 0.6% | 8.7% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 8.2% | 2.4% |
| Healthcare Services | 0.5% | 7.4% |
| Banks | 6.1% | 6.6% |
| Textiles & Apparels | 4.9% | 1.7% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Small Cap: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund | Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.93% | 0.87% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.48% | 0.56% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 2.21% | 1.93% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.60% | 1.53% |
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 Mahindra Manulife Small Cap with
Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund vs Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund?
Both are Small Cap funds, run by Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund and Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 8.6%. Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund charges 0.93% a year and Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund 0.87%.
Which has given higher returns, Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund or Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund?
Over 1 year: Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund +6.31%, Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund +10.62%. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund or Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund?
Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund charges less: 0.87% a year against 0.93%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund overlap?
8.6%. They hold 10 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being MCX, KARURVYSYA, ASAHIINDIA. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Can I invest in both Mahindra Manulife Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund?
Yes. 8.6% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so the two hold mostly different investments.
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.