Mutual fund categories that matter for investors in 2026

Mutual fund categories that matter for investors in 2026

Markets have been choppy for more than a year now. Returns are increasingly driven by select pockets rather than broad-based rallies.

Global geopolitical tensions, shifting interest rate expectations, and uneven earnings growth have kept volatility elevated. This is unlikely to change meaningfully in 2026.

Thus, mutual fund selection has become critical to building portfolios that can navigate volatility without compromising long-term return potential.

In this environment, choosing the right mix of mutual funds matters as much as staying invested.

Here are five types of mutual funds you can keep on your portfolio watchlist.

As per the Association of Mutual Funds of India, Flex Cap funds invest at least 65% of their assets in equity and equity-related instruments. These funds can invest across market caps, with no minimum or maximum limits on large, mid, or small-cap stocks.

This gives fund managers flexibility to position the portfolio dynamically based on their assessment of market conditions, valuations, and economic trends.

These funds can be heavily tilted toward large caps and gradually increase exposure to mid and small-cap stocks as opportunities arise.

Flexi Cap funds, for practical understanding, often sit between large-cap and mid-cap funds.

In real-world portfolios, they are usually tilted towards large-cap stocks, with selective exposure to mid- and small-cap names.

This balance allows fund managers to manage downside risk while still participating in growth. It makes Flexi-cap funds capable of tackling any market condition.

Large-cap funds are open-ended equity mutual funds that invest at least 80% of their assets in large-cap companies, which are defined as the top 100 companies by full market capitalisation.

These funds tend to invest in companies with established business models, strong balance sheets, and predictable earnings.

These are firms that dominate their industries and often benefit from pricing power, brand recall, and access to capital.

In recent years, large-cap funds have become less attractive as mid and small-cap stocks have delivered superior returns.

However, this relative underperformance has also made large caps more attractive on valuation grounds.

Nifty 50 is trading at a price-to-earnings (PE) multiple of 22.4 compared to Nifty Smallcap (28.6) and Nifty Midcap 150 (33).

As the market is in a selective phase, earnings consistency is likely to matter more than aggressive growth projections. This is where large-cap funds fit in. They provide stability, help cushion portfolios during corrections, and reduce overall volatility.

These funds ensure that investors' portfolios remain grounded in quality businesses even when market sentiment becomes uncertain.

Midcap funds are open-ended equity mutual funds that invest at least 65% of their assets in mid-cap companies ranked 101-250 by market capitalisation.

These funds occupy a unique space in the equity landscape between large-cap and small-cap funds. The companies they invest in, are often past their early survival phase but still have substantial room to grow.

Many midcap companies benefit from niche leadership, expanding addressable markets, and improving operating leverage. However, the post-2020 rally widened their valuation premium, as seen in the Nifty Midcap 150 valuation. Therefore, companies' valuations are reverting to the mean.

This is during such times that midcap funds can be added gradually, as they tend to deliver higher returns in the long run. However, this approach is best suited for investors with a high risk appetite.

This makes fund selection critical. For investors, midcap exposure should be meaningful but balanced. It works best for those with a long investment horizon and the ability to stay invested during declines.

Small-cap funds invest at least 65% of their assets in small-cap companies that fall outside the top 250 companies by full market capitalisation.

Small-cap funds invest in the least researched and most volatile segment of the market. These companies often operate in niche areas and can deliver strong growth if their business models succeed.

At the same time, they carry high business risk, low liquidity, and are sensitive to economic cycles.

In recent years, small-cap funds have delivered strong returns, attracting a wave of retail inflows.

However, that has made valuations of the small-cap universe demanding and with earnings down, small-cap stocks are facing a sharp correction. This is why small-cap funds should be approached with a long-term horizon of at least five years.

You should also be ready for high drawdowns and long-term consolidation in small-cap funds.

Accordingly, allocations must be aligned strictly with risk tolerance and time horizon. They are best suited for investors with surplus capital and the ability to remain invested for extended periods. When used prudently, small-cap funds can enhance portfolio returns. When overused, they can amplify volatility.

Multi-cap funds are required to invest at least 75% of their AUM in equity and equity-related instruments at all times. Of this 75%, at least 25% must be allocated to large, mid, and small-cap stocks.

The remaining portion can be allocated freely. In this way, multi-cap funds offer the best of all worlds. The strict allocation framework limits the fund manager's ability to shift portfolio allocations in response to changing market conditions and valuation signals.

This way, these funds reduce the risk of overexposure to any single market segment and encourage disciplined participation across cycles. However, this structure also limits flexibility.

These funds cannot significantly reduce exposure to overheated segments even if valuations appear stretched. As a result, they may underperform more flexible strategies in certain phases.

Hence, they offer investors greater diversification and long-term wealth-creation potential, but only over the long term. In the short term, they can be highly volatile, as at least 50% of the portfolio remains exposed to mid and small-cap stocks.

These funds are best suited for investors with a high risk appetite and a long-term investment horizon.

They work particularly well for long-term investors building portfolios through systematic investments and who value consistency over tactical outperformance.

PSU Bank Funds invest predominantly in public sector banks and financial institutions, making them a concentrated play on the domestic credit cycle and government-owned lenders.

These funds typically allocate around 80% of their AUM to PSU banks, leaving the portfolio fully exposed to a single sector. This concentrated exposure limits the fund manager's ability to diversify across sectors when conditions become unfavourable.

As a result, PSU bank funds can experience prolonged phases of underperformance when the banking cycle weakens or when private banks and non-banking lenders gain market share.

Currently, PSU banks are undergoing a structural shift driven by rising credit, falling non-performing assets, declining credit costs, and rising profitability. The came after a decade of underperformance.

With a price-to-book multiple of 1.5 times, the Nifty PSU Banking index is also undervalued compared to the Nifty Private Bank (2.26).

As the credit cycle expands, PSU banks are well placed to capture the uptrend in the Indian economy. This makes PSU banking funds a way to participate in the uptrend.

They are best suited for investors with a high risk appetite who understand sector cycles and are willing to stay invested through volatility.

They work better as tactical or satellite allocations rather than core portfolio holdings, especially for long-term investors seeking diversification.

Metal Funds invest predominantly in companies engaged in steel, aluminium, copper, zinc, and other base metals, making them a direct play on global commodity cycles.

They also invest 80% of AUM in metal-exposed companies. This high exposure amplifies volatility. Metal funds often experience sharp rallies during upcycles, followed by sharp drawdowns when the cycle turns.

Despite this volatility, the current environment offers supportive tailwinds. A weakening US dollar historically benefits metal prices, as commodities are priced in dollars and become more affordable for global buyers when the dollar softens.

In addition, improving liquidity conditions tends to support commodity demand.

On the supply side, years of underinvestment in mining capacity have constrained supply, while infrastructure spending and energy-transition themes continue to support demand for base metals.

Thus, the metal theme should be on investors' watchlists.

However, these structural and macro tailwinds do not eliminate cyclicality. Metal funds remain vulnerable to global slowdowns, sharp moves in commodity prices, and policy changes in large economies. Returns tend to be uneven and heavily dependent on timing.

Like other thematic funds, metal funds are also best suited for investors with a high risk appetite who understand commodity cycles and can tolerate significant interim volatility. They work best as tactical or satellite allocations rather than core portfolio holdings.

India's defence theme has moved decisively from a policy aspiration to a measurable, long-term investment opportunity. The shift is visible not just in intent, but in budgetary allocations, procurement patterns, and order execution on the ground.

In the Union Budget FY26, the government allocated over Rs 6.8 trillion to defence, marking one of the highest absolute allocations. With geopolitical tensions remaining elevated and India's strategic priorities expanding, defence spending is expected to remain high, with increases likely over the next few years.

More importantly, the composition of spending has changed. Domestic procurement now accounts for nearly 75% of defence capital expenditure, up from less than 60% five years ago.

This reflects a clear policy push towards indigenisation under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework, directly benefiting Indian defence manufacturers across aerospace, electronics, and shipbuilding. Order inflows for listed defence and aerospace companies have expanded sharply.

Large players are reporting multi-year order books, supported not only by domestic contracts but also by rising exports.

India's defence exports reached Rs 236.2 billion (bn) in FY25, and the government has set a target of Rs 500 bn by FY30. This export push adds an additional growth lever beyond domestic demand. This structural shift has increasingly reflected in equity markets.

Defence-linked stocks have delivered strong returns over the past three years, driven by improving execution, operating leverage, and higher investor confidence in long-term cash flows.

The market has begun to price defence companies better, viewing them less as PSU extensions and more as manufacturing and technology-led businesses.

While near-term valuations can be sensitive to sentiment and order flow updates, the underlying theme remains structural. Defence funds are a long-term investment opportunity closely tied to India's evolving geopolitical role, manufacturing ambitions, and policy continuity.

Beyond the three thematic funds, consumption and auto mutual fund schemes can also be tracked. They are likely to benefit from rising consumption after the tax cuts in 2025.

As markets evolve in 2026, mutual fund investing will demand clarity rather than conviction. Each fund category serves a distinct purpose, and no single type can meet every objective.

Flexicap funds offer adaptability, largecap funds provide stability, midcap funds drive measured growth, smallcap funds add long-term optionality, and multicap funds ensure balance. Thematic funds, on the other hand, give exposure to a structural theme.

Investors who align these categories thoughtfully with their goals and risk appetite will be better positioned to navigate volatility and build sustainable wealth over time.

Source: Msn

Source: OfficeNewz
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