Last Updated on April 14, 2026 at 11:44 am
We compare the SIP performance of Axis Small Cap Fund with multiple smallcap and midcap indices like Nifty Smallcap 250, Nifty Midcap 150 etc. All total return indices.
Kindly note although we shall present SIP returns data, we strongly believe a small cap mutual fund is not necessary for investors. Those who fancy it must recognise, as explained earlier, a SIP in Small Cap Mutual Funds is a waste of money and time. As an alternative, a tactical buy and sell method using moving averages lowers risk significantly.
Axis Small Cap Fund started as a five-year closed-ended fund in Nov 2013 with an option to be converted into an open-ended fund on maturity. It became an open-ended fund from Nov 29th 2018.
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Its original benchmark was BSE Small Cap index (source: fund prospectus filed with SEBI) and later when it complied with SEBI categorisation rules (in Nov 2018) changed its benchmark to Nifty Small cap 100 index TRI (Source: latest scheme document)
The fund has been a “proper” smallcap fund for only the last 1.5 years. Prior to that, it was a midcap oriented small-cap fund. This must be kept in mind while comparing returns below.
SIP Performance of Axis Small Cap Fund
We shall consider the last ,2,3,4,5 and 6 year SIP returns (trailing) of Axis Smallcap fund and compare them with the following benchmarks:
- S&P BSE 400 MidSmallCap Index – TRI
- S&P BSE 250 Small Cap – TRI
- S&P BSE 150 MidCap – TRI
- Nifty MidSmallcap 400 Index – TRI
- Nifty Smallcap 50 – TRI
- Nifty Smallcap 250 – TRI
- Nifty Midcap 150 – TRI
- Nifty Smallcap 100 – TRI
- NIFTY 50 – TRI
| Duration | Axis Small Cap Fund(G)-Direct Plan | Nifty Smallcap 50 – TRI | Nifty Smallcap 100 – TRI |
| 1Y | -4.9 | -16.7 | -14.0 |
| 2Y | 2.4 | -19.6 | -17.2 |
| 3Y | 2.8 | -20.8 | -17.6 |
| 4Y | 5.1 | -17.0 | -13.4 |
| 5Y | 7.0 | -12.8 | -9.0 |
| 6Y | 8.0 | -10.3 | -6.6 |
| Duration | Axis Small Cap Fund(G)-Direct Plan | Nifty Smallcap 250 – TRI | S&P BSE 250 Small Cap – TRI |
| 1Y | -4.9 | -8.4 | -8.7 |
| 2Y | 2.4 | -12.9 | -13.2 |
| 3Y | 2.8 | -14.0 | -13.9 |
| 4Y | 5.1 | -10.3 | -9.8 |
| 5Y | 7.0 | -6.3 | -5.7 |
| 6Y | 8.0 | -4.0 | -3.8 |
| Duration | Axis Small Cap Fund(G)-Direct Plan | Nifty Midcap 150 – TRI | S&P BSE 150 MidCap – TRI |
| 1Y | -4.9 | 0.5 | 3.3 |
| 2Y | 2.4 | -3.7 | -2.4 |
| 3Y | 2.8 | -4.1 | -3.5 |
| 4Y | 5.1 | -0.6 | -0.3 |
| 5Y | 7.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| 6Y | 8.0 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| Duration | Axis Small Cap Fund(G)-Direct Plan | S&P BSE 250 Small Cap – TRI |
| 1Y | -4.9 | -8.7 |
| 2Y | 2.4 | -13.2 |
| 3Y | 2.8 | -13.9 |
| 4Y | 5.1 | -9.8 |
| 5Y | 7.0 | -5.7 |
| 6Y | 8.0 | -3.8 |
| Duration | Axis Small Cap Fund(G)-Direct Plan | Nifty MidSmallcap 400 Index – TRI | S&P BSE 400 MidSmallCap Index – TRI |
| 1Y | -4.9 | -2.3 | -0.5 |
| 2Y | 2.4 | -6.6 | -5.8 |
| 3Y | 2.8 | -7.4 | -6.9 |
| 4Y | 5.1 | -3.8 | -3.5 |
| 5Y | 7.0 | -0.3 | -0.2 |
| 6Y | 8.0 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| Duration | Axis Small Cap Fund(G)-Direct Plan | NIFTY 50 – TRI |
| 1Y | -4.9 | -4.0 |
| 2Y | 2.4 | -2.4 |
| 3Y | 2.8 | 0.5 |
| 4Y | 5.1 | 3.4 |
| 5Y | 7.0 | 5.3 |
| 6Y | 8.0 | 5.5 |
Those are without a doubt excellent numbers. However, there are some aspects existing investors and potential new investors in Axis smallcap must keep in mind.
- If you must invest in smallcap fund, do not start SIPs in small cap funds, do this instead
- Axis Small cap does not have much of a history as a smallcap fund. AXIS AMC read the market post-Feb 2018 right. You cannot always expect them to do this
- Attached with a bank, its AUM could swell suddenly if the market picks up. From, just 221 Crores in Jan 2019 it went to 2500+ crores in Feb 2020. That is too much too soon!