📊 Category Deep Dive · Multi Cap Funds

Best Multi Cap Mutual Funds in India 2026 — 5-Year Rolling Returns Compared

Compare the best multicap mutual funds in India 2026 — Nippon India, ICICI Prudential, Kotak, Mahindra Manulife and Franklin India Multi Cap. SEBI mandates 25% each in large, mid and small cap. Live NAV, returns, AAUM and risk from RightAdvise database.

5Funds Compared
₹97.9K CrCombined AAUM
05 Jun 2026Data As Of
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All data pulled live from RightAdvise database  ·  NAV updated daily  ·  AAUM from latest AMFI quarterly filing  ·  Returns calculated from daily NAV history
Comparison

Top 5 Multi Cap Funds — At a Glance

Sorted by 5-year CAGR. Click any fund for full analysis — rolling returns, drawdown chart, NAV history and risk ratios.

1
Nippon India Multi Cap Fund
Nippon India MF  ·  One of India's oldest multi cap funds · Broad diversification across segments
NAV
₹324.01
1Y Return
-0.1%
3Y CAGR
+18.3 % p.a.
5Y CAGR
+20.1 % p.a.
AAUM
₹48.4K Cr
Risk
Very High
Deep Dive →
2
Mahindra Manulife Multi Cap Fund
Mahindra Manulife MF  ·  Focused portfolio approach · Disciplined allocation across market caps
NAV
₹43.06
1Y Return
+8.3%
3Y CAGR
+20.4 % p.a.
5Y CAGR
+18.0 % p.a.
AAUM
₹6.0K Cr
Risk
Very High
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3
ICICI Prudential Multicap Fund
ICICI Prudential MF  ·  Large AUM · Research-driven approach across all market caps
NAV
₹934.21
1Y Return
+6.5%
3Y CAGR
+19.8 % p.a.
5Y CAGR
+17.2 % p.a.
AAUM
₹15.7K Cr
Risk
Very High
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4
Kotak Multicap Fund
Kotak Mahindra MF  ·  Structured diversification · Consistent stock selection across caps
NAV
₹20.70
1Y Return
+6.1%
3Y CAGR
+21.7 % p.a.
5Y CAGR
AAUM
₹23.1K Cr
Risk
Very High
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5
Franklin India Multi Cap Fund
Franklin Templeton MF  ·  Value-oriented · Long track record in multi cap investing
NAV
₹10.50
1Y Return
+4.7%
3Y CAGR
5Y CAGR
AAUM
₹4.8K Cr
Risk
Very High
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Performance

₹1 Lakh Invested — How It Grew

If you had invested ₹1 lakh 5 years ago in each fund, here is how much it would be worth today. Calculated from 5 years of daily NAV in the RightAdvise database.

5-Year Growth of ₹1 Lakh Direct Plan · Growth Option · All funds rebased to ₹1,00,000
Data Table

Full Comparison Table

💡 What is AAUM? AAUM stands for Average Assets Under Management — the average value of all investor money a fund managed during a specific quarter. Reported to SEBI every quarter via AMFI. More reliable than a single-day AUM snapshot.

FundNAVAAUM1Y Return 3Y CAGR 5Y CAGR 10Y CAGR Max Drawdown Sharpe (3Y)
Nippon India Multi Cap Fund ₹324.01 2026-06-04 ₹48.4K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 -0.1% +18.3 % p.a. +20.1 % p.a. +16.4 % p.a. -42.8% 0.99
Mahindra Manulife Multi Cap Fund ₹43.06 2026-06-04 ₹6.0K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 +8.3% +20.4 % p.a. +18.0 % p.a. -34.4% 1.00
ICICI Prudential Multicap Fund ₹934.21 2026-06-04 ₹15.7K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 +6.5% +19.8 % p.a. +17.2 % p.a. +16.1 % p.a. -38.9% 1.15
Kotak Multicap Fund ₹20.70 2026-06-04 ₹23.1K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 +6.1% +21.7 % p.a. -21.0% 1.10
Franklin India Multi Cap Fund ₹10.50 2026-06-04 ₹4.8K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 +4.7% -18.7%
⚠️ Data Note: Returns (what is CAGR?) calculated from daily NAV data in RightAdvise database. AAUM from official AMFI quarterly filings. Max Drawdown calculated over full available NAV history. Sharpe Ratio uses 3-year daily NAV and 6.5% risk-free rate. Educational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
Education

What Are Multi Cap Funds?

As per SEBI, Multi Cap Funds must invest at least 75% of their assets in equity, with a mandatory minimum of 25% each in large cap, mid cap, and small cap stocks. The remaining 25% is at the fund manager's discretion. This mandatory allocation across all three segments is what distinguishes multi cap funds from flexi cap funds.

Multi cap funds are designed to give investors genuine diversification across India's entire listed market — from the biggest blue chip companies down to smaller, high-growth businesses. The SEBI mandate of at least 25% each in large, mid, and small caps ensures the fund cannot abandon any segment even during volatile markets. This structural discipline is what makes the best multicap mutual funds different from flexi cap funds, where the manager has complete discretion.

If you are looking for the best multi cap fund in India 2026 with strong 5-year rolling returns, the five funds on this page are a good starting point. Nippon India Multi Cap is one of India's oldest in this category. Franklin India Multi Cap Fund takes a value-oriented approach. Kotak Multicap, ICICI Prudential Multicap and Mahindra Manulife Multi Cap each bring different stock selection styles. The comparison table shows their 5-year CAGR, Sharpe ratio, max drawdown and AAUM side by side.

✅ Why Consider Multi Cap Funds

  • Genuine diversification across all market cap segments — guaranteed by SEBI regulation
  • Mandatory small cap allocation provides higher long-term growth potential
  • Single fund covers India's entire equity market — no need for separate category funds
  • Structural discipline prevents manager from abandoning any segment during volatility
  • One of the broadest equity mandates available in Indian mutual funds

⚠️ Key Risks to Know

  • Mandatory 25% small cap floor means higher volatility than large cap or flexi cap funds
  • In market corrections, small cap portion can fall sharply — deeper drawdowns
  • Longer recovery time after bear markets compared to large-cap-heavy funds
  • The mandatory allocation cannot be changed even if a segment looks very expensive
  • Newer category — fewer funds have long track records compared to large cap or flexi cap

✅ Suitable For

  • Long-term investors (7+ year horizon) who want exposure across all market segments
  • Those who want guaranteed small cap and mid cap exposure without manager discretion
  • Investors who believe in India's complete equity growth story across all company sizes
  • Those who want a single equity fund covering the full market

❌ May Not Be Suitable For

  • Conservative investors or those with low risk tolerance
  • Those with an investment horizon shorter than 5 years
  • Investors uncomfortable with the mandatory 25% small cap exposure
  • Those who prefer a large-cap-heavy approach — flexi cap or large cap funds are better suited

📊 Multi Cap vs Flexi Cap — Key Difference

The critical difference is allocation discipline. Multi cap funds MUST always maintain at least 25% each in large, mid, and small caps — this is a SEBI rule that cannot be overridden. A flexi cap fund manager can put 90% in large caps or reduce small cap exposure to zero during uncertain markets. Multi cap funds give you predictable, structured diversification; flexi cap funds give the manager full tactical flexibility.

📖 Learn the Metrics
CAGR, Sharpe Ratio, Sortino & Std Dev — Explained
What do these numbers actually mean? Read before you invest.
📖 Learn the Metrics
Drawdown & Rolling Returns — Explained Simply
Why max drawdown and rolling returns reveal more than CAGR.
Common Questions

Multi Cap Fund FAQs

Among the best multicap mutual funds in India 2026: Nippon India Multi Cap Fund is one of India's oldest and most established in this category with broad diversification. Franklin India Multi Cap Fund takes a value-oriented approach with a long track record. ICICI Prudential Multicap and Kotak Multicap are well-established with large AUM. Mahindra Manulife Multi Cap takes a focused, disciplined approach. Compare their 5-year rolling returns, max drawdown and Sharpe ratio in the table on this page before deciding.
For multi cap mutual funds, 5-year rolling returns are a far more reliable measure than recent 1-year returns. Multi cap funds with mandatory 25% small cap exposure can have volatile short-term performance — especially after market corrections. Look at the 5-year CAGR in the comparison table above and compare alongside max drawdown to understand which fund delivered returns with lower risk.
SEBI mandates that multi cap funds invest at least 25% in large-cap stocks (top 100 by market cap), at least 25% in mid-cap stocks (101st to 250th), and at least 25% in small-cap stocks (251st rank onwards). Total equity exposure must be at least 75%. The remaining 25% is at the fund manager's discretion. This rule was introduced in September 2020 to ensure multi cap funds are genuinely diversified across all segments.
A minimum of 7 years is recommended due to the mandatory 25% small cap exposure. Small cap stocks can be very volatile and take 2 to 4 years to recover after corrections. The mandatory allocation means the fund cannot reduce small cap exposure during downturns — so a long investment horizon is essential.
AAUM (Average Assets Under Management) is the average corpus of the fund across an entire quarter, as officially reported to AMFI. All AUM data on RightAdvise is from official AMFI quarterly AAUM disclosures — the same data filed by AMCs with SEBI.
⚠️ RightAdvise.com is NOT registered with SEBI. All content is for educational purposes only. Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully and consult a SEBI-registered investment advisor before investing.
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