Mutual Fund Unlocked: 8 Major Subcategories of Equity Mutual Funds

Re-categorization of mutual funds was one of the big events that happened in the mutual fund industry for the benefit of investors. So, it becomes important for investors to know what are the subcategories of the major category of equity.

Large-cap funds
The fund is deemed to be a large-cap fund when the fund has a minimum of 80 per cent invested in equity or equity-related instruments of large companies. Large-cap funds are less risky as compared to other funds in the equity mutual fund category. Though the return also would be lower than other funds in the equity mutual fund category.

Multi-cap funds
Multi-cap funds are the funds that would invest a minimum of 65 per cent in equity or equity-related instruments across market capitalization. This fund gives a mix of three funds viz. large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap. The scope for diversification is more in multi-cap funds.

Large and mid-cap funds
This is a new category that has been introduced. In this, minimum 35 per cent of investment must be in equity and equity-related instruments of large-cap companies and minimum 35 per cent of investment must be in equity and equity-related instruments of mid-cap companies. This may generate better returns than large-cap but with little more risk.

Mid-cap funds
Mid-cap funds must invest a minimum 65 per cent in equity and equity-related instruments of mid-cap companies. Investment in these can be riskier but not as risky as small-cap funds. Though the returns generated are generally better than large-cap funds.

Small-cap funds
Small-cap funds must invest a minimum of 65 per cent in equity and equity-related instruments of small-cap companies. This is riskier than large-cap and mid-cap fund categories. But returns generated may be better.

Sectoral/Thematic Funds
This kind of mutual funds must have a minimum of 80 per cent investment in equity or equity-related instruments of a particular sector/theme. This can be a risky bet as in these funds there is low scope available for diversification.

Focused Funds
Focused funds are the funds which are focused on the number of stocks (Maximum 30) with a minimum 65 per cent investment in equity and equity-related instruments. These are the least diversified funds as compared to other funds in the equity mutual fund category.

ELSS (Equity-Linked Saving Schemes)
ELSS must have a minimum investment of 80 per cent in equity or equity-related instruments (in accordance with Equity-Linked Savings Scheme, 2005 notified by Ministry of Finance). These come with a lock-in period of 3 years. ELSS usually give good returns for the risk taken.