HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities gave much better returns than its category's

HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities has a five-year annualised return of 25.74 per cent, compared with the category's 20.84 per cent.

FUND FACTS

INCEPTION: June 2006
CATEGORY: Equity Mid and Small Cap
TYPE: Open-ended
AUM: Rs 2,587.94
BENCHMARK INDEX: CNX Midcap

WHAT IT COSTS

NAV: Rs 18.32 (G), Rs 15.39 (D)
MIN INVESTMENT: Rs 5,000
MIN SIP AMOUNT: NA
EXPENSE RATIO: 2.47 per cent
EXIT LOAD: 1 per cent for redemption within 365 days



WHY INVEST IN IT?

HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities fund provides a heavily diversified portfolio. The average allocation to a stock is only 3 per cent, resulting in a portfolio of 67 stocks. Mid-cap stocks get 58 per cent allocation while the rest is in small-caps. The fund has outperformed its category five years of the past six, including during the crash of 2008 and the market slowdown in 2011. The fund makes up for small-cap losses by picking solid mid-cap scrips, the best being IPCA Labs, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Lupin and Bata India. The low expense ratio, stable management and ability to curtail losses in a tough market make it a good investment, but be aware of the risk you're taking on.

MEET THE FUND MANAGER

Chirag Setalvad has been at the helm of HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities since May 2007. He has an experience of 10 years in fund management and equity research. Stable management is one reason why this fund has performed so well despite investing in mid-cap and small-cap stocks, which bring some inherentl risk.

(Data and analysis of the fund have been sourced from Value Research)