SBI Contra Fund vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 29-10-2026
SBI Contra Fund is a Value and Contra fund and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund is an ELSS fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, SBI Contra Fund (Direct) returned 10.4% a year and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) returned 13.2% a year. SBI Contra Fund charges 0.87% a year and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund 1.23% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 41.3%: they hold 32 of the same securities.
SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund
ELSS
- 3 year return
- 13.2%
- Expense ratio
- 1.23%
- NAV
- ₹441.93
Which is better, SBI Contra or SBI ELSS Tax Saver? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- SBI Contra returned more over 5 years: 13.5% a year against 13.2%.
- SBI ELSS Tax Saver returned more over 3 years: 13.2% a year against 10.4%.
- SBI Contra costs less: 0.87% a year against 1.23% (Direct plans).
- SBI Contra swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 12.5% a year against 13.1%.
- SBI ELSS Tax Saver fell less in its worst fall since 02-01-2013: −38.2% against −44.7%.
- SBI Contra holds 2.4% of the fund in foreign stocks; SBI ELSS Tax Saver 0.0%.
- SBI ELSS Tax Saver holds more in large companies: 63.3% of the fund in large caps against 50.2%.
- SBI Contra is the larger fund: ₹45,068 Cr against ₹30,027 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 41.3%: 32 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 | SBI Contra Fund | SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | SBI Mutual Fund | SBI Mutual Fund |
| Category | Value and Contra | ELSS |
| AUM | ₹45,068 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹30,027 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹393.34 (Direct) | ₹441.93 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.87% | 1.23% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.62% | 1.85% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | BSE 500 TRI | BSE 500 TRI |
| Launch date | 05-07-1999 | 31-03-1993 |
| Minimum investment | ₹5,000 | ₹500 |
| Lock in | None | 3 years |
| Fund managers | Dinesh Balachandran | Dinesh Balachandran |
| Exit load | Exit load of 0.25% if redeemed within 30 days and 0.10% if redeemed after 30 days but on or before 90 days. | Nil |
SBI Contra vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI Contra Fund (Direct) | −1.16% | −5.77% | −4.40% | −9.28% | +10.39% | +13.53% | +14.70% |
| SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | −0.50% | −7.18% | −4.75% | −8.94% | +13.23% | +13.15% | +13.59% |
| Value and Contra average | −2.09% | −5.76% | −3.23% | −5.72% | +11.83% | +11.08% | +12.63% |
| ELSS average | −2.34% | −5.61% | −1.63% | −5.75% | +10.92% | +10.29% | +13.05% |
Category average: the average of the 30 Value and Contra funds and the 50 ELSS funds, same plan type.
SBI Contra vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver: Year-wise Returns
| Year | ContraSBI Contra | ELSS Tax SaverSBI ELSS Tax Saver | BSE 500 TRI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −10.04% | −10.21% | −7.54% |
| 2025 | +7.02% | +7.28% | +7.63% |
| 2024 | +19.94% | +28.61% | +15.81% |
| 2023 | +39.53% | +41.00% | +26.55% |
| 2022 | +13.63% | +7.58% | +4.77% |
| 2021 | +50.98% | +31.86% | +31.63% |
SBI Contra vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against BSE 500 TRI, the benchmark of both
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,676 of them, one for each trading day from 04-01-2016 to 29-10-2026: the yearly return (CAGR) of each, plotted on the day it ended. One lucky or unlucky start day cannot flatter or hide a fund.
SBI Contra Fund (Direct)
SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
BSE 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI Contra | 6.0 | 6.1 | 13.3 | 17.5 | 13.3 | 16.2 | 27.6 | 17.9% | 17.9% | −10.2% | 49.2% | 68% |
| SBI ELSS Tax Saver | 3.3 | 6.7 | 15.1 | 17.3 | 19.9 | 17.2 | 20.6 | 16.6% | 17.6% | −8.2% | 35.7% | 54% |
| BSE 500 TRI | 1.8 | 4.2 | 8.0 | 36.8 | 34.3 | 11.6 | 3.3 | 14.8% | 14.9% | −6.2% | 33.9% | -- |
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 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 02-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
SBI Contra vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver: 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 29-10-2026: 166 instalments, ₹16,60,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI ContraSBI Contra Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹53,27,449 | ₹36,67,449 | 15.6% |
| SBI ELSS Tax SaverSBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹48,67,692 | ₹32,07,692 | 14.4% |
SBI ContraSBI Contra Fund (Direct)
SBI ELSS Tax SaverSBI ELSS Tax Saver 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.
SBI Contra vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | SBI Contra Fund (Direct) | SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −9.28% | −8.94% |
| Standard deviation | 12.23% | 13.24% |
| Sharpe ratio | -1.19 | -1.07 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.53 | -1.41 |
| Maximum drawdown | −13.4% (31-03-2026) | −14.3% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.84 | 0.91 |
| Alpha | −3.54% | −2.40% |
From daily NAVs, 29-10-2025 to 29-10-2026. 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 | SBI Contra Fund (Direct) | SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +10.39% | +13.23% |
| Standard deviation | 12.51% | 13.11% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.35 | 0.55 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.46 | 0.75 |
| Maximum drawdown | −15.8% (03-03-2025) | −15.8% (07-04-2025) |
| Beta | 0.86 | 0.90 |
| Alpha | +0.83% | +3.72% |
From daily NAVs, 27-10-2023 to 29-10-2026. 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 | SBI Contra Fund (Direct) | SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +13.53% | +13.15% |
| Standard deviation | 12.57% | 13.35% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.62 | 0.55 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.82 | 0.74 |
| Maximum drawdown | −15.8% (03-03-2025) | −16.7% (20-06-2022) |
| Beta | 0.85 | 0.91 |
| Alpha | +5.27% | +4.76% |
From daily NAVs, 29-10-2021 to 29-10-2026. 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 | SBI Contra Fund (Direct) | SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +14.64% | +14.52% |
| Standard deviation | 14.70% | 15.05% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.58 | 0.56 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.78 | 0.76 |
| Maximum drawdown | −44.7% (23-03-2020) | −38.2% (23-03-2020) |
| Beta | 0.88 | 0.93 |
| Alpha | +2.58% | +2.18% |
From daily NAVs, 02-01-2013 to 29-10-2026. 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.
SBI Contra Fund (Direct)
SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
BSE 500 TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI Contra Fund (Direct) | −44.7% | 23-01-2018 | 23-03-2020 | 02-12-2020 | 8 months | −10.7% |
| SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | −38.2% | 23-01-2018 | 23-03-2020 | 17-11-2020 | 8 months | −10.8% |
| BSE 500 TRI | −38.1% | 17-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 06-11-2020 | 7 months | −9.4% |
From daily values since 02-01-2013, 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.
SBI Contra Fund (Direct)
SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
BSE 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.
SBI Contra Fund (Direct)
SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
BSE 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.
SBI Contra Fund (Direct)
SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
BSE 500 TRI
Against BSE 500 TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBI Contra Fund (Direct) | 100% | 91% | 5.37% |
| SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | 102% | 93% | 3.77% |
From month-end values since 02-01-2013. 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.
SBI Contra vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: SBI Contra Fund, September 2026; SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 41.3%
- Held by both
- 32
- Only in SBI Contra
- 59
- Only in SBI ELSS Tax Saver
- 57
| Security | % of SBI Contra | % of SBI ELSS Tax Saver |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | 4.79% | 5.92% |
| Reliance Industries Ltd. | 4.67% | 4.65% |
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | 4.36% | 6.45% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. | 3.15% | 6.76% |
| Torrent Power Ltd. | 2.48% | 2.33% |
| Tech Mahindra Ltd. | 1.79% | 1.92% |
| FSN E-Commerce Ventures Ltd. | 1.58% | 1.92% |
| Axis Bank Ltd. | 1.33% | 1.80% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | 1.23% | 1.79% |
| Hindalco Industries Ltd. | 1.18% | 1.44% |
| Cipla Ltd. | 1.15% | 2.13% |
| Tata Motors Ltd. | 1.16% | 1.12% |
| Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd. | 1.21% | 1.09% |
| Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. | 1.04% | 1.20% |
| ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd. | 1.08% | 1.02% |
| Tata Steel Ltd. | 2.13% | 0.91% |
| Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. | 1.20% | 0.90% |
| One 97 Communications Ltd. | 1.02% | 0.84% |
| Larsen & Toubro Ltd. | 0.84% | 2.84% |
| Delhivery Ltd. | 1.26% | 0.82% |
| JSW Energy Ltd. | 0.83% | 0.74% |
| Bandhan Bank Ltd. | 1.46% | 0.71% |
| Grindwell Norton Ltd. | 0.66% | 1.25% |
| Infosys Ltd. | 0.61% | 0.88% |
| Biocon Ltd. | 3.29% | 0.50% |
| Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd. | 0.51% | 0.48% |
| Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. | 0.42% | 0.92% |
| GAIL (India) Ltd. | 2.33% | 0.40% |
| Lupin Ltd. | 0.45% | 0.29% |
| Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. | 0.18% | 0.84% |
| Timken India Ltd. | 0.25% | 0.17% |
| 364 DAY T-BILL 19.11.26 | 0.03% | 0.13% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 41.3% means 41.3% 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 SBI Contra Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Punjab National Bank | 2.91% |
| Indus Towers Ltd. | 2.66% |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd. | 1.95% |
| ITC Ltd. | 1.81% |
| State Bank of India | 1.60% |
Largest holdings only in SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Adani Enterprises Ltd. | 2.93% |
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | 2.65% |
| HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd. | 1.77% |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | 1.65% |
| Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Co. Ltd. | 1.40% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | SBI Contra | SBI ELSS Tax Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 90.9% | 95.5% |
| Debt | 2.2% | 0.2% |
| Cash and others | 6.8% | 4.3% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | SBI Contra | SBI ELSS Tax Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 50.2% | 63.3% |
| Mid Cap | 24.5% | 16.9% |
| Small Cap | 13.8% | 15.2% |
| Foreign stocks | 2.4% | 0.0% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.0% | 0.1% |
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 | SBI Contra | SBI ELSS Tax Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 20.2% | 23.4% |
| Finance | 1.9% | 8.6% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Petroleum Products | 5.8% | 4.7% |
| Power | 5.0% | 4.1% |
| IT - Software | 3.6% | 4.1% |
| Auto Components | 1.4% | 4.1% |
| Automobiles | 3.9% | 3.2% |
| Telecom - Services | 3.9% | 2.7% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
SBI Contra vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | SBI Contra Fund | SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.87% | 1.23% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.63% | 0.82% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.62% | 1.85% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.27% | 1.35% |
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 SBI Contra with
SBI Contra Fund vs SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SBI Contra Fund and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund?
SBI Contra Fund is a Value and Contra fund, SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund is an ELSS fund, run by SBI Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 41.3%. SBI Contra Fund charges 0.87% a year and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund 1.23%.
Which has given higher returns, SBI Contra Fund or SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund?
Over 1 year: SBI Contra Fund −9.28%, SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund −8.94%. Over 3 years: SBI Contra Fund +10.39% a year, SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund +13.23% a year. Over 5 years: SBI Contra Fund +13.53% a year, SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund +13.15% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, SBI Contra Fund or SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund?
SBI Contra Fund charges less: 0.87% a year against 1.23%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do SBI Contra Fund and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund overlap?
41.3%. They hold 32 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being HDFCBANK, RELIANCE, ICICIBANK. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, SBI Contra Fund or SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, SBI Contra Fund is rated Very High and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 12.51% and 13.11% a year.
Which is better for SIP, SBI Contra Fund or SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 29-10-2026 grew to ₹7,77,119 in SBI Contra Fund (XIRR 9.5% a year) and ₹8,05,884 in SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund (XIRR 10.9% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both SBI Contra Fund and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund?
Yes. 41.3% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so a large part of the two investments would move together.
Who manages SBI Contra Fund and SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund?
SBI Contra Fund: Dinesh Balachandran. SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund: Dinesh Balachandran.
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.