Best Equity Mutual Funds - Consider the best performing equity mutual funds to invest in 2024 with Scripbox.com. Find the list of best equity funds in India on the basis of Returns, Latest Nav, Ratings, Performance etc.
Mirae Asset ELSS Tax Saver Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 29.0%, a 3 Years return of 16.4% and a 5 Years return of 21.8%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.6% and an AUM of ₹24896 crores as of 2024-12-04. It was Launched on 2015-12-28. The minimum SIP investment is ₹500 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹500. The fund allocates 98.98% to equities, 0.00% to debt and 1.02% to other assets.
2. ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund Direct (G)
ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 30.5%, a 3 Years return of 23.9% and a 5 Years return of 26.5%. The fund has an expense ratio of 1.0% and an AUM of ₹49104 crores as of 2024-12-04.The minimum SIP investment is ₹1000 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹5000. The fund allocates 85.74% to equities, 1.02% to debt and 13.24% to other assets.
3. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund Direct (G)
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 29.7%, a 3 Years return of 17.7% and a 5 Years return of 26.0%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.6% and an AUM of ₹81919 crores as of 2024-12-04. It was Launched on 2013-05-24. The minimum SIP investment is ₹1000 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹5000. The fund allocates 79.51% to equities, 19.88% to debt and 0.61% to other assets.
4. ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund Direct (G)
ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 28.2%, a 3 Years return of 18.6% and a 5 Years return of 20.1%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.9% and an AUM of ₹63670 crores as of 2024-12-04.The minimum SIP investment is ₹1000 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹5000. The fund allocates 90.00% to equities, 0.49% to debt and 9.51% to other assets.
5. DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund Direct (G)
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 35.7%, a 3 Years return of 20.7% and a 5 Years return of 22.8%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.7% and an AUM of ₹16841 crores as of 2024-12-04. It was Launched on 2013-01-01. The minimum SIP investment is ₹500 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹500. The fund allocates 96.72% to equities and 3.28% to other assets.
6. HDFC Large and Mid Cap Fund Direct (G)
HDFC Large and Mid Cap Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 29.5%, a 3 Years return of 22.3% and a 5 Years return of 24.3%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.8% and an AUM of ₹23485 crores as of 2024-12-04. It was Launched on 2013-01-01. The minimum SIP investment is ₹1000 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹5000. The fund allocates 97.42% to equities and 2.21% to other assets.
7. ICICI Prudential Technology Fund Direct (G)
ICICI Prudential Technology Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 36.6%, a 3 Years return of 10.6% and a 5 Years return of 32.2%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.9% and an AUM of ₹13495 crores as of 2024-12-04.The minimum SIP investment is ₹1000 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹5000. The fund allocates 95.47% to equities, 0.43% to debt and 4.09% to other assets.
8. Franklin India Focused Equity Fund Direct (G)
Franklin India Focused Equity Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 29.0%, a 3 Years return of 18.9% and a 5 Years return of 21.1%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.9% and an AUM of ₹12068 crores as of 2024-12-04.The minimum SIP investment is ₹1000 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹5000. The fund allocates 97.05% to equities and 2.95% to other assets.
9. HDFC Small Cap Fund Direct (G)
HDFC Small Cap Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 27.5%, a 3 Years return of 25.6% and a 5 Years return of 30.8%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.7% and an AUM of ₹33504 crores as of 2024-12-04. It was Launched on 2013-01-01. The minimum SIP investment is ₹1000 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹5000. The fund allocates 93.25% to equities and 6.75% to other assets.
10. SBI Magnum Global Fund Direct (G)
SBI Magnum Global Fund Direct (G) is a Equity fund that has delivered a 1 Year return of 12.0%, a 3 Years return of 9.8% and a 5 Years return of 16.8%. The fund has an expense ratio of 1.2% and an AUM of ₹6550 crores as of 2024-12-04.The minimum SIP investment is ₹1000 and the minimum lump sum investment is ₹5000. The fund allocates 94.86% to equities and 5.14% to other assets.
Things to Consider Before Investing in Equity Funds
Equity mutual funds invest in the shares of companies. The very nature of equity mutual funds makes them volatile and potentially high risk. Therefore, before adding one such fund to the investment portfolio, every investor needs to consider the following aspects.
Fund Objective: The differentiating factor in choosing the right category among different equity mutual funds depends on the fund objective. Best equity mutual funds are structured to accumulate wealth through strategic investments. Each fund manager has his style of stock picking. It can be either growth investing or value investing. Therefore, aligning both investment objectives and fund objectives is essential.
Fund Type: The different types of equity mutual funds are large cap, mid cap, small cap, and multi cap. Each of these categories serves a different objective. Large cap funds invest in the top 100 companies by market capitalisation. They hence are least risky amongst other equity funds categories. Small and mid cap funds carry the highest risk, while also offering high returns. On the other hand, Multi cap funds invest across market capitalisations and provide a more diversified option for the investor.
Investment Objective: Always linking investment to a financial goal is the best way of investing. Equity mutual funds are ideal for long term goals. Identify long term goals and pick the best-suited equity mutual fund as they can generate wealth during the period.
Investment Horizon: Equity mutual funds are only for long term investment horizons. These funds are highly volatile in the short run. Thus, to earn good returns, the investor has to stay invested for a minimum of 5 years. The long haul averages out the risk and has an excellent potential to earn a higher return.
Risk: Mutual fund investments are subject to market risk. Amongst all the categories of mutual funds, equity mutual funds are the riskiest. Equity funds are affected by NIFTY and Sensex movements. The market fluctuations have a very high impact on the funds. Only with a long term investment horizon, this risk can be minimized.
Cost: For actively managed equity mutual funds, SEBI has capped the total expense ratio at 2.5%. Fund houses also charge exit load for redeeming investments before a specific period. For equity, it is mostly one year, and 1% is charged for all withdrawals before one year.
Expense ratio: The expense ratio of the fund is calculated as a percentage of the NAV. The returns of the fund are affected. Hence investors have to be careful while choosing a fund. Choose a fund with a lower expense ratio.
Analyze Fund performance: Analysing the fund’s performance is very important. Investors invest in good returns. Fund return is all that they look at. The fund should be able to earn returns that are consistently outperforming the benchmark and its peers over a period of 5 years.
Fund history: Investing in a fund that comes from an old and reputed fund house is essential. This builds investor confidence that the fund house can handle the performance of the fund in any market condition. The fund house should have a clean business with no track of any fraud.
Identify how comfortable you are with risk: Investors need to access how they will react to slight fluctuations in the market. Will they be okay with losses in the short term? Will they be willing to invest for longer horizons despite drastic market movements?
Taxation: Equity mutual funds are taxed based on the holding period of the investment. In the short term (less than one year), the gains are taxable at 15% (plus 4% cess). In the long run, the gains above INR 1,00,000 are taxable at 10% (plus 4% cess). Effective from 1st April 2020, dividends are taxable in the hands of investors at the income tax slab rate. And dividends above INR 5,000 are subject to TDS of 10%. Equity mutual funds are subject to securities transaction tax of 0.001% if investors sell the units. Investors should take advantage of investing for longer horizons and earn higher returns and enjoy tax benefits.
How to Invest in Equity Funds Through Scripbox
Investing in equity mutual funds in India can be done directly or through an agent. You can invest online through the direct method by logging on to the fund houses’ website and investing in the fund. On the other hand, you can invest through offline mode by visiting the nearest branch of the fund house. Investing through an intermediary can be done both online and offline.
There are multiple online platforms to invest in the best equity funds, and one of them is Scripbox. Scripbox allows investors to invest in the best equity funds carefully picked after thorough research using their robotic technology.
You can invest in Scripbox’s recommended best equity mutual funds in India by following the below-mentioned steps:
Begin your investment journey by choosing ‘A plan to invest in’ or ‘I want to choose my own funds’
Select the mode of investment, i.e., monthly SIP, one-time or STP
Enter the amount of investment
Based on the amount of investment, the recommended funds will be provided. You can change the funds and the distribution of the amount.
Select the payment mode and complete the transaction to set up your investment.
Overview of the Top 10 Equity Funds (Direct Plan) in India
Fund Name
3 Year Returns
5 Year Returns
ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund Direct Plan Growth
20.8%
26.2%
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund Direct Plan Growth
16.2%
25.6%
ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund Direct Plan Growth
15.6%
19.6%
HDFC Large and Mid Cap Fund Direct Plan Growth
18.6%
23.9%
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund Direct Plan Growth
17.3%
22.4%
Franklin India Focused Equity Fund Direct Plan Growth
15.3%
21.6%
HDFC Small Cap Fund Direct Plan Growth
22.3%
29.7%
ICICI Prudential Technology Fund Direct Plan Growth
9%
30.6%
SBI Magnum Global Fund Direct Plan Growth
8.2%
16.3%
HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund Direct Plan Growth
24.8%
29.2%
Overview of the Top 10 Equity Funds (Regular Plan) in India
Fund Name
3 Year Returns
5 Year Returns
Mirae Asset ELSS Tax Saver Fund Regular Plan Growth
14.10%
20.30%
HDFC Large and Mid Cap Fund Regular Plan Growth
20.40%
23.50%
ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund Regular Plan Growth
17.10%
19.60%
ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund Regular Plan Growth
22.50%
25.90%
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund Regular Plan Growth
18.60%
21.80%
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund Regular Plan Growth
16.30%
24.70%
SBI Magnum Global Fund Regular Plan Growth
9.00%
15.10%
Invesco India PSU Equity Fund Regular Plan Growth
32.60%
27.20%
ICICI Prudential Infrastructure Fund Regular Plan Growth
33.10%
30.80%
Edelweiss Recently Listed IPO Fund Regular Plan Growth
9.60%
21.70%
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should one invest in equity mutual funds?
Always attach a monetary value to the goals; this will help in deciding the amount to invest. Since equity mutual funds are risky, staying invested for longer durations will help in earning higher returns. Therefore, attaching a monetary value and staying invested for long durations will help in understanding the amount that needs to be invested in equity mutual funds.
Which equity fund is the best to buy?
Fund selection is always a subjective choice and differs from investor to investor. However, the best equity funds are the ones that have been offering consistent returns in the past with proper fund management and low cost of acquisition.
Where can I find the best equity mutual funds to invest in?
Multiple online portals use algorithms to fund the best mutual funds to invest in. Scripbox is one such portal that suggests the best funds based on the investor’s profile.
Which is the best equity fund for SIP?
Every investor is unique. What is best for one might not be best for the other. Hence investors have to find a fund that best suits their goals and investment horizon.