Updated: 24 Oct 2025
Quick snapshot
- Fund name: ICICI Prudential Smallcap Fund — Growth (Regular / Direct plans)
- Category: Equity — Small Cap
- Inception date: 18 Oct 2007.
- Latest NAV (Growth): ₹87.88 (as on 24-Oct-2025).
- Expense ratio: ~1.78% (reported).
- Risk: Very High — small-cap equity volatility.
History & inception — how the fund started
ICICI Prudential Smallcap Fund was launched on 18 October 2007 as an open-ended equity scheme focused predominantly on small-cap stocks. Over the years it has been managed by ICICI Prudential AMC and positioned as a long-term wealth creation vehicle for investors willing to take higher volatility in exchange for potentially higher returns.
Investment objective & strategy
The fund aims for capital appreciation by investing majorly in small-cap companies. The manager typically picks companies with scalable business models, improving growth metrics and attractive valuations — though by nature small-caps carry higher business & market risk.
Historical performance & CAGR (returns)
Below are the headline returns (Growth plan) — update these numbers regularly if you show them on the blog.
| Period | Scheme Return | Benchmark / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year | ~0.4% | Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI ≈ -0.7%. |
| 3-Year (CAGR) | ~17.8% p.a. | Category average & benchmark shown in factsheet. |
| 5-Year (CAGR) | ~27.1% p.a. | Outperformed category in some periods. |
| Since inception (annualised) | ~12.8% p.a. (since Oct 2007) | Source: ICICI Prudential / factsheets. |
NAV movement (recent)
Example recent NAV: ₹87.88 (Growth) — 24 Oct 2025. For historical daily NAVs and a table you can embed a dynamic chart or link to the NAV history page.
Expense ratio & fund house data
The fund’s expense ratio is reported around 1.78% (can vary between Direct and Regular plans). Check the latest factsheet for the exact direct plan expense ratio before you publish price-sensitive comparisons.
Fund management & AUM
Fund house: ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. The fund has been managed by the AMC team (names and roles listed on fact-sheets) — managers noted in recent sources include Anish Tawakley (and co-managers). AUM and manager details change — always cross-check the monthly factsheet.
Who should invest?
This fund is suitable for investors who: have a high risk appetite, are investing for 7–10+ years, and want concentrated exposure to smaller companies for potential higher returns. Not for short-term parking or low-risk investors.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Long track record since 2007 — established small-cap strategy.
- Strong multi-year returns in several periods (3y/5y).
- Backed by ICICI Prudential AMC (large AMC with robust processes).
- SIP option to average volatility over time.
Cons / Risks
- Very high volatility — smallcap stocks can fall sharply in downturns.
- Concentrated portfolio and higher stock-specific risk vs large-cap funds.
- Expense ratio higher than index funds — affects net returns.
- Performance can lag benchmark in certain market cycles.
Tax liabilities (for Indian investors)
As an equity mutual fund:
- Short Term Capital Gains (STCG): If units sold within 12 months — taxed at 15%.
- Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG): If units sold after 12 months — gains above ₹1,00,000 in a financial year taxed at 10% without indexation. (Example: ₹1.2L gain → ₹20k taxed at 10% = ₹2k tax.)
- Dividend payouts: Dividends (if chosen) are taxable in the hands of the investor as per their slab; dividend option availability varies.
(Tax rules can change — consult your tax advisor.)
How to invest (links)
Buy options:
- Direct / Online (AMC): ICICI Prudential official scheme page and factsheet.
- Through platforms: Groww, Zerodha Coin, Kuvera, Paytm Money, NJ E-Wealth — compare expense ratio & plan type (Direct vs Regular).
- Offline: ICICI Prudential distributors / branches.
Suggested internal links (for SEO & user flow)
- SIP Calculator — FinancialRelease (embed near the SIP CTA)
- Best Smallcap Funds — Comparison (internal comparison page)
- How to Start a SIP — Step by Step
External source links (recommended citations)
- ICICI Prudential AMC — Scheme page.
- Morningstar factsheet — ICICI Prudential Smallcap Fund.
- ValueResearch — Scheme page.
- Moneycontrol — NAV & returns.
Visuals & image suggestions (for this post)
Recommended images to upload to your WordPress Media Library and insert above/inline:
- Featured: “icici-smallcap-feature.jpg” — small-cap stocks collage / upward bar chart (alt: “ICICI Smallcap Fund growth illustration”).
- Fund manager photo: “fund-manager-anish.jpg” — (if publicly available from AMC press kit) (alt: “Fund manager Anish Tawakley”).
- Performance chart: “icici-smallcap-performance.png” — 5-year NAV chart (alt: “ICICI Smallcap Fund 5-year NAV performance”).
- Table snapshot: “smallcap-key-metrics.png” — expense ratio, AUM, inception (alt: “ICICI Smallcap key metrics”).
Tip: export the fund’s monthly factsheet chart from the AMC site or Morningstar and upload as ‘performance’ image for authenticity.
Thinking of starting a SIP in ICICI Prudential Smallcap Fund?
Use our SIP Calculator to estimate how much your SIP can grow — or compare it with other smallcap funds here.
Quick checklist before you invest
- Are you comfortable with high volatility and a long horizon (≥7–10 years)?
- Prefer SIP to average out volatility rather than lump sum at market peaks.
- Choose Direct plan if you want lower expense ratio and invest via AMC or platforms that support direct plans.
- Check the latest factsheet for manager changes, expense ratio & AUM. [oai_citation:20‡icicipruamc.com](https://www.icicipruamc.com/mutual-fund/equity-funds/icici-prudential-smallcap-fund/
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Consult a certified financial advisor or tax consultant before investing.
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