Every metric on this site, explained simply
47 terms — what each number means, how to read it, and what it doesn’t tell you. For the formula behind any of them, see Methodology.
Returns
What the fund made, and over what stretch of time.
- Absolute return
Plain point-to-point growth over a period under a year, not annualized.
2 guides · Read the full definition →
- CAGRalso: Compound Annual Growth Rate
The steady yearly rate that would have taken the start NAV to the end NAV.
7 guides · Read the full definition →
- YTDalso: Year to date
Return from 1 January of the current calendar year to the latest NAV.
- Rolling returns
The same holding period measured from every possible start date, not just today's.
2 guides · Read the full definition →
- Since inception
Annualized return over the fund's whole available NAV history.
1 guide · Read the full definition →
- XIRR
The annualized return of a series of cash flows on different dates.
4 guides · Read the full definition →
- Benchmark
The market index a fund's mandate says it is trying to beat.
10 guides · Read the full definition →
Risk
How rough the ride was — the half of the story a return number hides.
- Standard deviationalso: Volatility
How much daily returns scatter around their average, annualized. Trailing 3 years.
10 guides · Read the full definition →
- Maximum drawdownalso: Max DD
The largest peak-to-trough fall the fund has ever had, over its full history.
24 guides · Read the full definition →
- Sortino ratio
Like Sharpe, but only downside moves count as risk.
2 guides · Read the full definition →
- Riskometer
A six-step risk label from Low to Very High, in SEBI's format.
11 guides · Read the full definition →
Benchmark-relative
How the fund behaved against its index. All computed from 36 monthly returns, so a fund needs about three years of history to show any of them.
- Alphaalso: Jensen's alpha
Annualized return above what the fund's market exposure alone would predict.
2 guides · Read the full definition →
- Beta
How hard the fund moves when the index moves. 1 = in step.
3 guides · Read the full definition →
- R²
How much of the fund's movement the benchmark explains, 0–100%.
7 guides · Read the full definition →
- Treynor ratio
Excess return per unit of beta rather than per unit of total volatility.
1 guide · Read the full definition →
- Information ratio
Return above the benchmark, per unit of tracking error.
3 guides · Read the full definition →
- Tracking error
How far the fund's returns typically stray from the benchmark's, annualized.
7 guides · Read the full definition →
- Upside capture
The share of the index's gains the fund captured in months the index rose. 100 = matched it.
- Downside capture
The share of the index's losses the fund took in months the index fell. Lower is better.
2 guides · Read the full definition →
Portfolio
What the fund actually holds, aggregated from its published holdings.
- AUMalso: Assets Under Management
The total money the scheme currently manages.
7 guides · Read the full definition →
- P/E ratioalso: Price to earnings
The weighted-average P/E of the fund's equity holdings.
3 guides · Read the full definition →
- P/B ratioalso: Price to book
The weighted-average price-to-book of the fund's equity holdings.
2 guides · Read the full definition →
- Average market cap
The weighted-average size of the companies the fund holds.
1 guide · Read the full definition →
- Large / mid / small cap split
How the equity portfolio divides across the three SEBI size bands.
8 guides · Read the full definition →
- ASMalso: Additional Surveillance Measure
An NSE flag on a stock showing unusual price or volume activity.
Costs & scheme terms
What you pay, and the rules attached to buying and selling units.
- Expense ratioalso: TER, Total Expense Ratio
The fund's annual running cost, as a percentage of assets.
31 guides · Read the full definition →
- Direct vs Regular plan
The same portfolio, sold with or without distributor commission built in.
13 guides · Read the full definition →
- Growth vs IDCW option
Whether gains stay invested or get paid out.
7 guides · Read the full definition →
- Exit load
A fee charged when you redeem within a stated period.
21 guides · Read the full definition →
- Lock-in
A period in which units cannot be redeemed at all.
11 guides · Read the full definition →
- Stamp duty
A flat 0.005% government levy on every mutual fund purchase.
2 guides · Read the full definition →
- Minimum SIP / lumpsum
The smallest instalment and the smallest one-time amount the scheme accepts.
5 guides · Read the full definition →
- NFOalso: New Fund Offer
A scheme's initial subscription window, before it starts trading.
5 guides · Read the full definition →
Tax
Indian capital-gains treatment as it applies to mutual fund redemptions. Rates are FY 2026-27 and exclude surcharge, cess and STT.
- STCGalso: Short-term capital gains
Gains on units sold before the holding period for long-term treatment is met.
19 guides · Read the full definition →
- LTCGalso: Long-term capital gains
Gains on units held past the long-term threshold — 12.5% where it applies.
36 guides · Read the full definition →
- Equity-oriented fund
A fund holding at least 65% Indian equity — the test that decides its tax treatment.
12 guides · Read the full definition →
- FIFOalso: First in, first out
The order units are treated as sold in when computing capital gains.
16 guides · Read the full definition →
Ratings & classification
How funds are grouped and scored here.
- Star rating
Our own 1–5 stars: 60% performance, 15% risk, 10% cost, 15% downside.
4 guides · Read the full definition →
- Peer group
The funds a rating or rank is measured against — same sub-category, plan and option.
15 guides · Read the full definition →
- Category & sub-category
SEBI's scheme classification — what the fund is allowed to hold.
10 guides · Read the full definition →
Ways of investing
The transaction types the calculators model.
- SIPalso: Systematic Investment Plan
A fixed amount invested on a fixed date, usually monthly.
15 guides · Read the full definition →
- Step-up SIPalso: Top-up SIP
A SIP whose instalment rises by a set percentage each year.
8 guides · Read the full definition →
- Lumpsum
A single one-time investment.
3 guides · Read the full definition →
- SWPalso: Systematic Withdrawal Plan
A fixed amount redeemed on a schedule — a SIP in reverse.
10 guides · Read the full definition →
- STPalso: Systematic Transfer Plan
A scheduled move from one scheme to another within the same fund house.
4 guides · Read the full definition →