Axis Bluechip Fund: Delivering Superior Performance

Mar 18, 2021

Listen to Axis Bluechip Fund: Delivering Superior Performance

00:00 00:00

The second wave of COVID-19 is gripping India, sparking fears about renewed restrictions to curb the spread of outbreak. In addition, India is still lagging behind many other nations in the inoculation drive given its size and density of population. This may hamper the economic recovery process and consequently, the equity markets have turned volatile.

Large-cap funds are known to provide stability to the investment portfolio during such volatile and uncertain times. They can also generate decent returns over the long term at a relatively lower risk. Thus, it is very important that you hold a significant portion of your portfolio in large caps that should preferably find a place among your core portfolio holdings.

Given the current market conditions, it is important to be cautious about your investment approach. It is advisable to opt for the SIP mode to stagger your investment and mitigate the impact of volatility.

Axis Bluechip Fund (ABCF) is among the top performers in the large-cap funds category that has clearly outscored its peers and the benchmark over the last few years and rewarded investors with superior risk-adjusted returns.

Graph 1: Growth of Rs 10,000 if invested in Axis Bluechip Fund 5 years ago

ABCF is a large-cap fund that has caught the attention of investors with its extra-ordinary performance registered over the last few years. The fund endeavours to invest in a diversified portfolio predominantly consisting of equity and equity related securities of Large Cap companies i.e. top 100 companies on full market capitalisation basis. Over the last couple of years where prominent large-cap funds have found it difficult to keep pace with the indices, ABCF managed to outperform the benchmark Nifty 50 - TRI and the category peers by a significant margin. Despite large caps tumbling significantly due to the Covid-19 crisis, ABCF managed to limit downside and has generated a 5-year CAGR of around 18.5% as compared to 15.9% CAGR delivered by the benchmark Nifty 50 – TRI index, thus rewarding investors with an alpha of around 2.5 percentage points.

Graph 1
Data as on March 17, 2021
(Source: ACE MF)
 

Table: Axis Bluechip Fund's performance vis-à-vis category peers

Scheme Name Corpus (Cr.) 1 Year (%) 2 Year (%) 3 Year (%) 5 Year (%) 7 Year (%) Std Dev Sharpe
Canara Rob Bluechip Equity Fund 1,837 59.42 21.68 18.32 18.59 16.70 19.42 0.201
Axis Bluechip Fund 23,496 44.94 19.50 18.11 18.45 17.22 18.10 0.209
BNP Paribas Large Cap Fund 1,015 54.35 18.81 14.73 15.50 16.73 19.07 0.159
Kotak Bluechip Fund 2,207 64.92 17.77 14.45 15.76 16.13 21.68 0.142
Edelweiss Large Cap Fund 228 59.28 16.93 14.42 16.03 15.79 21.16 0.146
Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund 23,353 61.20 15.35 14.31 17.95 18.55 21.57 0.139
UTI Mastershare 7,503 60.35 16.22 13.66 15.21 15.13 20.60 0.136
Baroda Large Cap Fund 41 55.36 15.48 13.33 14.77 14.45 20.18 0.132
LIC MF Large Cap Fund 481 43.09 15.70 13.24 14.31 13.74 19.64 0.135
IDBI India Top 100 Equity Fund 411 56.68 17.67 13.01 14.15 14.71 20.44 0.127
Nifty 50 - TRI 66.01 14.77 14.41 15.85 13.75 21.95 0.142
Returns are point to point and in %, calculated using Direct Plan - Growth option. Those depicted over 1-Yr are compounded annualised.
Data as on March 17, 2021
(Source: ACE MF)
*Please note, this table only represents the best performing funds based solely on past returns and is NOT a recommendation. Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully. Past performance is not an indicator for future returns. The percentage returns shown are only for indicative purposes.
 

In terms of performance, ABCF has done exceedingly well over the last couple of years, that has helped scale up its returns across time periods. The fund has outperformed its benchmark index and the category peers by a noticeable margin, generating significant alpha for its investors. Over the longer time period of 5-years and 7-years, the fund's lead over the benchmark and category average has been in the range of 3% to 4% CAGR.

Moreover, the volatility registered by the fund is the lowest in the category while its risk-adjusted return as denoted by Sharpe Ratio is currently the best in the category and significantly ahead of its benchmark. Overall, ABCF has been a clear outperformer and has rewarded investors with superior risk-adjusted returns.

Investment strategy of Axis Bluechip Fund

Categorised under large-cap funds, ABCF is mandated to hold over 80% allocation to large caps, while the remaining can be in mid and small-caps. However, the fund maintains almost zero exposure to mid and small-caps. It aims to outperform the benchmark Nifty 50-TRI while undertaking lower risk than the benchmark. ABCF is a growth-oriented large-cap biased fund that primarily follows the bottom-up approach to stock picking, while some tactical and structural calls are taken to benefit from price corrections.

Belonging to a process-driven fund house, ABCF focuses on investing in high quality stocks in the large cap segment having potential to grow cash flows over the medium to long term. Its portfolio is built utilising the bottom-up approach, focusing on appreciation potential of individual stocks from a fundamental perspective. It employs a `Fair value based' research process to analyse the growth potential of stocks. The stocks are carefully selected to include companies having robust business models and enjoying sustainable competitive advantage as compared to their competitors.

Unlike its peers that hold 45-50 stocks, ABCF holds a compact portfolio of just around 30 stocks. Rather than adding too many names, the fund management believes in staying with known quality names and look for corporate governance, strong management, scalable and secular business model where they can invest for at least 3 to 5 years, ROE and Cash flow.

Graph 2: Top portfolio holdings in Axis Bluechip Fund

Graph 2 Graph 2
Holding in (%) as on February 28, 2021
(Source: ACE MF)
 

Following long term investment philosophy, the fund focuses on growth and high-quality stocks. As of February 28, 2021, ABCF held a compact portfolio of 32 stocks. Names like HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Infosys, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and ICICI Bank currently figure among top holdings in the fund's portfolio with an allocation in the range of 6.5% to 10% each. Avenue Supermarts, TCS, HDFC Ltd., Reliance Industries, HUL, etc. stood among the other top holdings in the fund's portfolio.

ABCF's performance has been driven by some of its top stock holdings like Infosys, HDFC Bank, Avenue Supermarts, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, Asian Paints, TCS, etc. It has also benefited immensely from its holdings in stocks like Ultratech Cement, HDFC Ltd., Divi's Laboratories, Kotak Mahindra Bank, etc. that stood among other top gainers in the portfolio.

ABCF's portfolio is majorly exposed to Banking and Finance stocks with an allocation of around 40.5%, followed by Infotech, Consumption, and Pharma adding another 30.7% to its portfolio allocation. The remaining part of the portfolio is diversified across Retail, Petroleum Products, Cement, Auto/Auto Ancillaries, Telecom, and Chemicals.

Suitability

ABCF's performance over the last few years has been extra-ordinary. The fund avoids benchmarking the index and focuses on high conviction stock ideas, where the investments are made typically at the conviction of the fund manager, irrespective of their weightage in the index. Certainly, the performance of the fund may deviate significantly from the benchmark.

ABCF holds a compact portfolio concentrated towards few selected sectors like financials and stocks within those sectors. The concentrated nature of the fund may result in high volatility if any of the underlying stock or sector come under pressure. This makes the fund suitable only for investors having higher risk appetite, looking for capital appreciation over a longer time period of 5 years or more.

Warm Regards,
Divya Grover
Research Analyst

 

PS:  Here's a high potential opportunity that can multiply wealth you. Get access to  PersonalFN's high-return generating Alpha Funds Report 2021 that could potentially boost your portfolio returns significantly over the next few years.

PersonalFN's research team has developed a 'SMART Alpha Score' model that has additional parameters to select the top equity mutual funds.

With optimum weightage to each parameter, which we consider important in identifying fundamentally strong funds with the potential to generate alpha, this model helps zero in on quality names that have the ability to outperform the benchmark and generate alpha returns for its long term investors.

Subscribe to The Alpha Funds Report -2021 today!

Note:  This write up is for information purpose and does not constitute any kind of investment advice or a recommendation to Buy / Hold / Sell a fund. Returns mentioned herein are in no way a guarantee or promise of future returns. As an investor, you need to pick the right fund to meet your financial goals. If you are not sure about your risk appetite, do consult your investment consultant/advisor. Mutual Fund Investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

 

Join Now: PersonalFN is now on Telegram. Join FREE Today to get ‘Daily Wealth Letter’ and Exclusive Updates on Mutual Funds

 

DISCLOSURE AS PER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA (RESEARCH ANALYSTS) REGULATIONS, 2014

About the Company including business activity

Quantum Information Services Private Limited (QIS) was incorporated on December 19, 1989.

QIS was promoted by Mr Ajit Dayal with an objective of providing value-based information/views on news related to equity markets, the economy in general, sector analysis, budget review and various personal products and investments options available to the Public. It was the first company to start equity research on an institutional level.

'PersonalFN' is a service brand of QIS and was started in the year 1999. In 1999, the Company registered the Domain name www.personalfn.com for providing information on mutual funds and personal financial planning, financial markets in general, etc. and services related to financial planning and research in various financial instruments including mutual funds, insurance and fixed income products to customers. It offers asset allocation and researched investment recommendations through its financial planning services.

Quantum Information Services Private Limited (QIS) is registered as Investment Adviser under SEBI (Investment Adviser) Regulations, 2013 and having Registration No.: INA000000680. In terms of the second proviso to Regulation 3 (1) of SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations, 2014 the Company is not required to obtain Certificate of registration from SEBI.

Disciplinary history

There are no outstanding litigations against the Company, its subsidiaries and its Directors.

Terms and condition on which its offer research report

For the terms and condition for research report click here.

Details of associates

  1. Money Simplified Services Private Limited;

  2. PersonalFN Insurance Services India Private Limited;

  3. Equitymaster Agora Research Private Limited;

  4. Common Sense Living Private Limited;

  5. Quantum Advisors Private Limited;

  6. Quantum Asset Management Company Private Limited;

  7. HelpYourNGO.com India Private Limited;

  8. HelpYourNGO Foundation;

  9. Natural Streets for Performing Arts Foundation;

  10. Primary Real Estate Advisors Private Limited;

  11. HYNGO India Private Limited;

  12. Suresh Lulla;

  13. I V Subramaniam.

Disclosure with regard to ownership and material conflicts of interest
  1. ‘subject company’ is a scheme on which a buy/sell/hold view or target price is given/changed in this Research Report;

  2. Neither QIS, it's Associates, Research Analyst or his/her relative have any financial interest in the subject Company;

  3. Neither QIS, it's Associates, Research Analyst or his/her relative have actual/beneficial ownership of one per cent or more securities of the subject Company, at the end of the month immediately preceding the date of publication of the research report;

  4. Neither QIS, it's Associates, Research Analyst or his/her relative has any other material conflict of interest at the time of publication of the research report except that QIS (PersonalFN) is, as per SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations 1996, an associate / group Company of Quantum Asset Management Company Private Limited and Trustees and Sponsor of Quantum Mutual Fund (QMF) and to that extent there may be conflict of interest while recommending any schemes of QMF. However, any such recommendation or reference made is based on the standard evaluation and selection process, which applies uniformly for all Mutual Fund Schemes. The payment of commission (upfront / annualized & trail), if any, for any Schemes by QMF to QIS (PersonalFN) is also at arm's length and as per prevailing market practices.

Disclosure with regard to receipt of Compensation
 
  1. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have received any compensation from the subject Company in the past twelve months;

  2. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have managed or co-managed public offering of securities for the subject Company;

  3. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have received any compensation for investment banking or merchant banking or brokerage services from the subject Company;

  4. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have received any compensation for products or services other than investment banking or merchant banking or brokerage services from the subject company in the past twelve months.

  5. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have received any compensation or other benefits from the subject Company or third party in connection with the research report

General disclosure
  1. The Research Analyst has not served as an officer, director or employee of the subject Company.

  2. QIS or the Research Analyst has not been engaged in market making activity for the subject Company.

Click here to read PersonalFN's Mutual Fund Rating Methodology

Subject Company means Mutual Fund Schemes

Quantum Information Services Private Limited CIN: U65990MH1989PTC054667 Regd. & Corp. Office: 103, Regent Chambers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400 021

Email:info@personalfn.com Website: www.personalfn.com Tel.: 022 61361200 Fax.: 022 61361222 SEBI-registered Investment Adviser. Registration No. INA000000680, SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulation, 2013

PersonalFN' requests your view! Post a comment on "Axis Bluechip Fund: Delivering Superior Performance". Click here!

Most Related Articles

JM Flexi Cap Fund: Rewarding Investors with Robust Returns JM Flexi Cap Fund is a lesser-known Flexi Cap Fund that has turned out to be a category outperformer by delivering superior gains in recent years. 

Apr 10, 2025

HDFC Large Cap Fund: Benefitting from Fundamentally Strong Large-cap Stocks HDFC Large Cap Fund is a popular Large Cap Fund known for its strong performance during bull markets.

Mar 27, 2025

Tata Small Cap Fund: Targeting Growth at Reasonable Valuations Tata Small Cap Fund is a growth-oriented scheme in the Small Cap Fund category that has exhibited a noteworthy track record since its inception.

Mar 20, 2025

SBI Long Term Equity Fund: Tapping Opportunities through Value-conscious Approach SBI Long Term Equity Fund is among the oldest and most well-known schemes in the ELSS category, that has effectively tapped into the recent broad-based market rally. 

Mar 06, 2025

HDFC Focused 30 Fund: Excelling through High Conviction Stocks HDFC Focused 30 Fund is a high-conviction Focused Fund that has demonstrated a strong rebound after a period of subdued performance, through its high conviction bets  

Feb 27, 2025

Most Popular

Manufacturing Mutual Funds Shine. Are they Worthy of Your Investment Portfolio?Currently contributing around 17% to the GDP, the manufacturing sector is expected to grow to 21% in the next 6-7 years.

May 06, 2024

6 Equity Mutual Funds to Benefit from India’s Defence SectorThe potential to benefit by sensibly taking exposure to defence sector stocks is huge!

Apr 17, 2024

Top 5 Mutual Funds with High Exposure to EV RevolutionThis article will evaluate the top mutual funds to invest in 2024 that have a high allocation to EV stocks.

Feb 06, 2024

Top Manufacturing Mutual Funds in India to Boost Your PortfolioThis article will evaluate the top mutual funds to invest in 2024 that have a high allocation to Manufacturing stocks.

Oct 28, 2024

HDFC Mutual Fund launches HDFC Manufacturing FundHDFC Mutual Fund launches HDFC Manufacturing Fund

May 08, 2024