EquitySectoral/ ThematicDirectGrowthVery High

HDFC Defence Fund

Q: What is the NAV of HDFC Defence Fund?

As of 20 Aug 2026, the NAV of HDFC Defence Fund is ₹31.60 per unit. NAV (net asset value) is the fund's per-unit price, published once each business day.

Q: What returns has HDFC Defence Fund delivered?

HDFC Defence Fund has returned +32.71% over 1 year, +41.54% per year over 3 years and +42.95% per year since inception. Figures beyond one year are annualised (CAGR) and are computed from AMFI NAV history, so they may differ slightly from other portals.

Q: What is the expense ratio of HDFC Defence Fund?

HDFC Defence Fund charges an expense ratio of 0.89% per year. This annual fee is already deducted from the NAV, so the returns you see are net of it.

Q: What are the top holdings of HDFC Defence Fund?

Its largest holdings are Bharat Electronics Ltd (14.9%), Bharat Forge Ltd (14.6%), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (11.3%), Solar Industries India Ltd (11.3%) and Astra Microwave Products Ltd (6.9%). Holdings are disclosed monthly and change over time.

Q: How risky is HDFC Defence Fund?

It is rated very high on SEBI's risk-o-meter, its trailing-3Y volatility (annualised) is 25.9% and its worst peak-to-trough fall in our sample was -34.5%. Higher volatility means the NAV swings more; the drawdown shows how far it has fallen from a peak historically.

Q: What does the Sharpe ratio of 1.35 mean?

The Sharpe ratio is return earned per unit of total risk, above a 6.5% risk-free rate. HDFC Defence Fund's 1.35 means it has rewarded its volatility with excess return. Higher is better.

Q: What is the benchmark of HDFC Defence Fund?

HDFC Defence Fund is benchmarked against the Nifty India Defence Total Return Index. Its alpha and beta on this page are measured against that index.

Q: Who manages HDFC Defence Fund?

HDFC Defence Fund is managed by Dhruv Muchhal, Rahul Baijal and Priya Ranjan at HDFC.

Q: How is HDFC Defence Fund taxed?

HDFC Defence Fund is an equity-oriented fund, so its capital gains get concessional rates: short-term gains (units held under 1 year) are taxed at 20%, and long-term gains (held 1 year or more) at 12.5% above a ₹1.25 lakh per-year exemption. These rates apply on redemption and don't add to your income-tax slab.

HDFC Mutual Fund · Best Sectoral & Thematic Mutual Funds

NAV

₹31.60

+0.02% 1D

as of 20 Aug 2026

Compare SIP calculator

Performance

+31.77%CAGR

52-week rangePrev NAV ₹31.59

Latest ₹31.60

Low ₹22.4895th percentile of its 52-week rangeHigh ₹32.08

Scorecard

★★★★☆4/5 vs 143 of 251 Sectoral/ Thematic peers

Performance 60%
Risk 15%
Cost 10%
Downside 15%

How this is computed

Each verdict is computed from this fund's own metrics against its sub-category — the number behind it is shown, not a black-box rating. The stars weight the same ground 60/15/10/15 (performance/risk/cost/downside) across every fund in the peer group. Ranked within Sectoral/ Thematic (same plan and option). 143 of the 251 Sectoral/ Thematic funds in this cohort carry the full record the stars need, so they are the ones ranked against.

PerformanceStrong

3Y CAGR +41.54% · ranks 2 of 251 Sectoral/ Thematic funds

RiskHigh

Volatility 25.9% vs 15.7% category avg

CostLow

0.9% expense vs 1.2% category avg

ConsistencyHigh

100% of rolling 3Y windows were positive

Strengths & concerns

Generated from this fund's own numbers against its sub-category — each point names the figure behind it.

Strengths

Ahead of the Sectoral/ Thematic average on 1M/3M/6M/1Y — 1Y by 23.66pp
3-year return (+41.54%) beats the Sectoral/ Thematic average (+17.01%)
Ranks #4 of 251 on 1-year return in its Sectoral/ Thematic cohort
Stronger risk-adjusted returns — Sharpe 1.35 vs 0.48 Sectoral/ Thematic average
Low expense ratio (0.89%) vs the Sectoral/ Thematic average of 1.24%

Concerns

More volatile than its Sectoral/ Thematic peers (25.9% vs 15.7%)

Key Metrics

Annual fee charged by the fund, already deducted from NAV

Category 1.24%

Portfolio-weighted harmonic mean P/E across the fund's equity holdings

Category 29.07

Excess return per unit of total volatility (rf = 6.5%)

1.35

Category 0.48▲0.87

Scheme Info

Definitions

Plan

Direct · Growth

Period before units can be redeemed — 3 years for ELSS, none for most open-ended funds

Exit Load

Statutory levy on every mutual-fund purchase since 1 Jul 2020 (SEBI / Govt of India) — the same for every scheme

0.005%

SIP Inv.

Smallest recurring SIP instalment the scheme accepts

Smallest one-time (lumpsum) investment the scheme accepts

Benchmark

Start of our NAV history for this plan. Direct plans begin 1 Jan 2013, so this is the plan's inception — not necessarily the scheme's original launch date.

02 Jun 2023

Period returns (<1Y, absolute — not annualized)

Definitions

Absolute return over the last 1 month (not annualized)

+4.97%

Absolute return over the last 3 months (not annualized)

+12.53%

Absolute return over the last 6 months (not annualized)

+25.89%

Absolute return since 1 Jan of this year (not annualized)

+31.65%

Annualized returns (≥1Y — CAGR)

Definitions

1-year point-to-point return, annualized (CAGR)

+32.71%

3-year annualized return (CAGR)

+41.54%

5-year annualized return (CAGR)

—

10-year annualized return (CAGR)

—

Annualized return (CAGR) since the fund's inception

+42.95%

Advanced metrics — risk and benchmark ratios

Risk (trailing 3Y)

Definitions

Annualized standard deviation of daily returns

25.93%

Excess return per unit of total volatility (rf = 6.5%)

1.35

Excess return per unit of downside deviation — upside swings aren't penalized (rf = 6.5%)

1.86

Largest peak-to-trough decline over full history

-34.54%

Benchmark ratios (vs Nifty 500 · 36 monthly returns)

Definitions

Jensen's alpha (annualized): return above what CAPM predicts for the fund's beta vs Nifty 500

21.68%

Sensitivity to Nifty 500 moves; 1 = moves with the index

1.61

How much of the fund's movement Nifty 500 explains

62.4%

Excess return per unit of beta (market risk)

19.73

Active return over the benchmark per unit of tracking error

1.26

Annualized std dev of fund-minus-benchmark returns

21.22%

Fund's share of benchmark gains in up months (100 = matches index)

193.2%

Fund's share of benchmark losses in down months (lower is better)

111.0%

Computed vs the Nifty 500 price index — the closest match to this fund's mandate. Needs ~3 years of history; a low R² means the fund tracks the index loosely.

Fund vs category average (Sectoral/ Thematic)

Period	Fund	Category avg.	Diff
1M abs	+4.97%	+2.63%	+2.34%
3M abs	+12.53%	+7.53%	+5.00%
6M abs	+25.89%	+7.69%	+18.20%
1Y CAGR	+32.71%	+9.05%	+23.66%
3Y CAGR	+41.54%	+17.01%	+24.53%
5Y CAGR	—	+15.07%	—

Category average across peers in Sectoral/ Thematic (up to 251 funds with data), same plan and option, excluding this fund. Under-1-year figures are absolute; 1Y and beyond are annualised (CAGR).

Not sure what a figure means? The glossary explains every metric, and the methodology shows the formulas.

Category rank

Vs 251 peers in Sectoral/ Thematic

1Y return

+32.71%

Beats 98.7% · rank #4

3Y return

+41.54%

Beats 99.3% · rank #2

5Y return

—

Sharpe

1.35

Beats 98.7% · rank #4

Sortino

1.86

Beats 98.2% · rank #5

Rolling returns

Return for every possible 1Y holding period, not just today’s

This fundNifty 500

Average

+37.3%

Median

+22.8%

Best

+136.3%

Worst

+5.0%

Positive periods

100.0%

27 overlapping 1Y windows, sampled monthly across the fund’s history.

Worst falls, and the wait to get back

How far this fund has dropped from a high, and how long it took to reclaim it.

-34.5%08 Jul 2024 → 28 Feb 2025
Fell over 8 months, back to the old high on 27 May 2025 — 3 months under water after the low.
-15.4%23 Jun 2025 → 31 Mar 2026
Fell over 9 months, back to the old high on 16 Apr 2026 — 16 days under water after the low.
-14.5%03 Jun 2024 → 04 Jun 2024
Fell over 1 day, back to the old high on 14 Jun 2024 — 10 days under water after the low.

Measured on this fund’s own NAV history, peak to trough to the day it regained the peak. Falls shallower than 5% are left out. A recovery date is when the NAV got back, not when any particular investor did — that depends on when they bought.

Calendar-year returns

What the fund actually returned in each year, not the smoothed average.

Year	Fund	Nifty 500	Diff
2026part	+31.30%	-1.50%	+32.80%
2025	+10.75%	+6.69%	+4.06%
2024	+41.88%	+15.16%	+26.72%
2023part	+53.02%	—	—

January–December, from this fund's NAV history. Absolute return, not annualised. “part” marks a year the fund didn't run end to end — its first year, the current year so far, or one it stopped reporting in; those years show no benchmark comparison.

Fund size over time

Quarterly average AUM · AMFI

₹9,371Cr

April - June 2026

+21%

since January - March 2026

At or near its largest, ₹9,371Cr in April - June 2026. Size matters most where the mandate is narrow — a large small-cap or a very large flexi-cap book is harder to move without moving the price.

Backtest this fund

What a SIP or one-time investment would have grown to over this fund’s real NAV history.

Monthly investment (₹)

Period

Invested

₹3.60L

Current value

₹5.51L

Absolute

+52.98%

XIRR

+31.32%

Value vs. invested

36 monthly installments of ₹10,000 into HDFC Defence Fund, valued at the latest NAV. XIRR annualizes for each installment’s timing.

History points

791

Expense ratio

AUM

Portfolio turnover

Exit load

P/E ratio

P/B ratio

Avg market cap

Taxation

Taxed as equity

This is an equity-oriented fund (≥65% in Indian equities), so gains get the concessional capital-gains rates below — they do not add to your income-tax slab.

Short-term (STCG)

20%

Held under 1 year

Flat, on the whole gain

Long-term (LTCG)

12.5%

Held 1 year or more

On gains above ₹1.25 L per financial year

Applies to capital gains on redemption. Excludes IDCW/dividend tax, STT, surcharge and cess, and pre-2018 equity grandfathering. For research only — consult a tax advisor before filing.

Peer comparison · Sectoral/ Thematic

Compare all


HDFC Defence FundThis fund HDFC	★★★★☆	+32.71%	+41.54%	—	65.66	0.89%	₹9,371Cr
Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund Nippon India	★★★★☆	+148.38%	+59.09%	—	—	1.13%	₹1,110Cr
HDFC Transportation and Logistics Fund HDFC	★★★★★	+18.85%	+28.42%	—	37.61	1.07%	₹1,685Cr
LIC MF Infrastructure Fund LIC	★★★☆☆	+15.18%	+26.71%	+24.24%	15.39	1.34%	₹1,062Cr
ICICI Prudential Transportation and Logistics Fund ICICI Prudential	★★★★☆	+18.35%	+26.37%	—	26.15	1.21%	₹3,013Cr
Bank of India Manufacturing & Infrastructure Fund Bank of India	★★★★☆	+21.97%	+25.10%	+22.81%	23.38	1.03%	₹893.08Cr

Market-cap allocation · AMFI bands, Jul 2026

Equity holdings by company size — 100% of the equity sleeve priced.

Large cap45.5%
Mid cap22.3%
Small cap32.2%

🚩Holdings under NSE surveillance (ASM)

5 holdings — 17.05% of the portfolio — sit in stocks NSE currently lists under its Additional Surveillance Measure. ASM is an exchange response to unusual price or volume activity (higher margins, and trade-for-trade settlement at stage II), not a view on the company or on this fund.

Astra Microwave Products LimitedLong-term · Stage I6.89%
Mtar Technologies LimitedLong-term · Stage IV5.43%
Premier Explosives LimitedLong-term · Stage I3.57%
Aequs LimitedLong-term · Stage I0.89%
JNK India LimitedLong-term · Stage I0.27%

Source: NSE ASM list, matched to holdings by company name — a holding whose name differs from NSE's spelling may not be matched. BSE's separate list is not covered.

HDFC in the news

Headlines about the fund house, not this scheme in particular — highlights only; tap through to read the full story at the source.

Run SIP calculator Add to compare

Returns and risk are computed from NAV history and may differ slightly from other portals due to methodology (rolling vs point-to-point, dividend treatment). For research only — not investment advice.

About Equity funds

Equity funds invest mainly in company shares. They carry the highest growth potential over long horizons and the largest short-term swings, so they suit goals several years away.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NAV of HDFC Defence Fund?

As of 20 Aug 2026, the NAV of HDFC Defence Fund is ₹31.60 per unit. NAV (net asset value) is the fund's per-unit price, published once each business day.

What returns has HDFC Defence Fund delivered?

HDFC Defence Fund has returned +32.71% over 1 year, +41.54% per year over 3 years and +42.95% per year since inception. Figures beyond one year are annualised (CAGR) and are computed from AMFI NAV history, so they may differ slightly from other portals.

What is the expense ratio of HDFC Defence Fund?

HDFC Defence Fund charges an expense ratio of 0.89% per year. This annual fee is already deducted from the NAV, so the returns you see are net of it.

What are the top holdings of HDFC Defence Fund?

Its largest holdings are Bharat Electronics Ltd (14.9%), Bharat Forge Ltd (14.6%), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (11.3%), Solar Industries India Ltd (11.3%) and Astra Microwave Products Ltd (6.9%). Holdings are disclosed monthly and change over time.

How risky is HDFC Defence Fund?

It is rated very high on SEBI's risk-o-meter, its trailing-3Y volatility (annualised) is 25.9% and its worst peak-to-trough fall in our sample was -34.5%. Higher volatility means the NAV swings more; the drawdown shows how far it has fallen from a peak historically.

What does the Sharpe ratio of 1.35 mean?

The Sharpe ratio is return earned per unit of total risk, above a 6.5% risk-free rate. HDFC Defence Fund's 1.35 means it has rewarded its volatility with excess return. Higher is better.

What is the benchmark of HDFC Defence Fund?

HDFC Defence Fund is benchmarked against the Nifty India Defence Total Return Index. Its alpha and beta on this page are measured against that index.

Who manages HDFC Defence Fund?

HDFC Defence Fund is managed by Dhruv Muchhal, Rahul Baijal and Priya Ranjan at HDFC.

How is HDFC Defence Fund taxed?

HDFC Defence Fund is an equity-oriented fund, so its capital gains get concessional rates: short-term gains (units held under 1 year) are taxed at 20%, and long-term gains (held 1 year or more) at 12.5% above a ₹1.25 lakh per-year exemption. These rates apply on redemption and don't add to your income-tax slab.