Axis Bluechip Fund: Soaring High in Uncertain Times

Oct 08, 2020

Listen to Axis Bluechip Fund: Soaring High in Uncertain Times

00:00 00:00

The equity market has recovered most of the losses since its lows of March. S&P BSE Sensex, the bellwether index, has now reclaimed 40,000 levels for the first time since February. Anticipation of better Q2 corporate earnings, improvement in business activities, US stimulus package hopes, among others have been the encouraging factors for the markets.

That said, the Indian economy is still facing challenges on many fronts and therefore, the market movement remains unpredictable. Amid this, investors who want to invest in relatively safe avenues and earn better returns can consider investing in large cap funds.

Large caps are established and quality companies that have the potential to generate steady returns for those looking for decent returns but want to assume relatively lesser risk. But do note that not all large cap funds have the potential to reward its investors with healthy returns over the long term.

Axis Bluechip Fund (ABCF) is one such large cap fund 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. In the recent corrective phase where most large cap funds have found it difficult to keep pace with prime large cap 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 COVID-19 crisis, ABCF managed to limit downside. It has generated a 5-year CAGR of around 12% as compared to 8.9% CAGR delivered by the benchmark Nifty 50 – TRI index. Thus, it has rewarded investors with an alpha of around 3 percentage points.

Graph 1
Data as on October 07, 2020
(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
Axis Bluechip Fund 16,764 6.38 13.86 11.09 11.96 15.31 17.10 0.093
Canara Rob Bluechip Equity Fund 702 14.89 14.44 10.54 11.40 14.27 18.55 0.081
BNP Paribas Large Cap Fund 844 6.28 12.12 7.05 8.70 14.27 18.47 0.035
Edelweiss Large Cap Fund 193 7.86 8.95 7.02 8.89 13.27 20.47 0.045
Kotak Bluechip Fund 1,653 10.53 10.84 6.85 8.90 14.29 21.06 0.036
Invesco India Largecap Fund 236 9.13 9.45 6.71 9.17 14.19 20.14 0.035
UTI Mastershare 6,475 9.45 8.18 6.58 8.12 12.92 19.74 0.031
Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund 18,386 8.72 9.61 6.53 11.13 17.54 21.16 0.039
JM Large Cap Fund 381 9.98 7.09 5.71 7.01 12.44 9.84 -0.010
IDFC Large Cap Fund 515 11.89 9.38 5.67 9.74 11.70 19.96 0.025
NIFTY 50 - TRI 6.59 7.88 6.85 8.84 11.65 21.20 0.038
Returns are point to point and in %, calculated using Direct Plan - Growth option. Those depicted over 1-Yr are compounded annualised.
Data as on October 07, 2020
(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 2 years, that has helped scale up its returns across time periods. 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 percentage points CAGR. Thus, the fund has outperformed its benchmark index and the category peers by a noticeable margin across time periods, generating significant alpha for its investors.

Moreover, 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.

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.

Unlike its peers that hold 45-50 stocks, ABCF holds a compact portfolio of just around 20-25 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 August 31, 2020
(Source: ACE MF)

ABCF holds just around 25 high conviction stocks in the investment portfolio. As on August 31, 2020, ABCF held a compact portfolio of 28 stocks. Names like HDFC Bank, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, Reliance Industries, and Kotak Mahindra Bank currently figure among top holdings in the fund's portfolio with an allocation in the range of 6% to 10% each. TCS, ICICI Bank, Avenue Supermarts, HUL, Bharti Airtel, etc. stood among the other top holdings in the fund's portfolio.

ABCF's performance in the last one year has been driven by some of its top stock holdings like Reliance Industries, Avenue Supermarts, Infosys, Divi's Laboratories, Nestle India, Asian Paints, etc. It has also benefited immensely from its holdings in stocks like Bajaj Finance, HUL, Maruti Suzuki India, Bharti Airtel, etc. that stood among other top gainers in the portfolio.

Around 34% of ABCF's portfolio is exposed to Banking and Finance stocks, followed by Infotech and Consumption adding another 28% to its portfolio allocation. The remaining portion is diversified across Pharma, Petroleum, Retailing, Telecom Services, Petroleum Products, Auto, Cement and Chemicals.

Suitability

ABCF has performed exceptionally well, especially in the last couple of years, and has rewarded investors with superior risk-adjusted returns. ABCF 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 and an investment horizon of 5 years or more.

 

Warm Regards,
Divya Grover
Research Analyst

 

Editor's note: The last few years have not been among the best for equity mutual funds. While most funds have underperformed or are struggling to match the returns of the benchmark, there are few funds that have the potential to constantly generate alpha for its investors. And we have identified five such high alpha generating funds, in our latest report 'The Alpha Funds Report 2020'. Do not miss our latest research finding. Get your access to this exclusive report, right here!

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: Soaring High in Uncertain Times". 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