Large-Cap Mutual Funds – An Introduction

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Understanding the basics of Large-cap Funds.

Key Takeaways

• Large-cap Fund is a type of Equity Fund.
• This fund invests in Large-cap companies with an excellent track record.
• It is a low-risk fund with steady returns.
• The returns are consistent but can be lower than mid-cap and small-cap funds.
• The expense ratio limit is 2.50%, as per SEBI.

Introduction

Investing in mutual funds comes with its own set of benefits and risk factors. However, if you choose a suitable scheme and fund for you, they are a great investment vehicle. The Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has categorised mutual funds into five broad types, with equity funds being one of the categories. SEBI further classifies equity funds into 11 sub-types; one of them is the large-cap fund. This article details the basics of large-cap funds, their features and investment criteria.

What is a Large-Cap Mutual Fund?

According to the SEBI, companies with a significantly high market capitalisation, i.e., around INR 20,000 crores, are listed as large-cap companies. When mutual fund managers invest funds in these companies, those funds are termed large-cap funds.

These companies have an exemplary track record and have shown to generate wealth for their investors over a long period. Due to their well-established nature of generating returns, they are low-risk and have a long-term investment horizon.

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Factors to Consider When Investing in Large-Cap Funds

• Risk

  Large-cap equity funds are typically influenced by market conditions but in a conservative way. The Net Asset Value (NAV) fluctuates at a low level, thus providing stability to your investment portfolio. This attribute makes them a considerably low-risk investment when compared to mid or small-cap funds.

• Returns

  Large-cap funds generate consistent, average returns, even during volatile market conditions. In comparison, the returns caused by mid-cap and small-cap funds are more volatile – they can be higher during a bullish market and fall significantly when the market falls into a bearish slump.

• Cost of Investment

  Large-cap funds are actively managed by fund managers who charge a minimal rate for their work, also known as the Expense Ratio. SEBI has mandated that this expense ratio must not exceed 2.50%. Asset Management Companies survive the growing competition of attracting investors by charging lower expense rates. Therefore, you should look out for lower expense ratio schemes to maximise your returns and eventually compensate for the expense charges.

• Taxation

  A large-cap fund is a type of equity fund, and the rate of taxation depends on the holding period. Short-term capital gains (redeemed within a holding period of one year) attract 15% tax. Long term capital gains (redeemed after a holding period of one year) up to INR 1,00,000 are tax-exempted. Any gains above INR 1 Lakh will attract a 10% tax.

Who Should Invest in Large-Cap Mutual Funds?

As mentioned above, large-cap funds are meant to provide steady and consistent returns with low risk. Therefore, these investments are ideal for conservative to medium-risk investors who can stay invested for a minimum of five to seven years. Investors willing to lock away their investments for this horizon are likely to benefit from investing in large-cap mutual funds.

Conclusion

Large-cap equity funds are funds of companies that have stood the test of time on the stock exchanges during stable and volatile markets. These equity funds invest in low-risk large-cap companies and offer steady returns when held for an extended period. If you wish to maintain a diversified investment portfolio with funds offering stable returns, you should consider investing in large-cap funds.

Are you interested in securing your financial future? If yes, then download the digibank by DBS app and start investing in mutual funds. You can choose from over 200 of the top-rated schemes* Also, open your savings account with us.

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*Disclaimer: This article is for information only. We recommend you get in touch with your income tax advisor or CA for expert advice.

DBS Bank offers Mutual Funds that are instant, paperless, signatureless – even transaction fee-less! What’s more? You get to choose from 250+ Mutual Funds across 15 top-performing asset management companies. So why wait? Login to digibank (app or internet banking) and start investing in a flash with instant Mutual Funds on DBS Bank.

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Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.