How Do Investors Compare Mutual Fund Schemes?

Investing in mutual fund schemes in India may seem a challenging decision. Most of the investors regard fund returns as the only criteria to compare the performance of funds. rnGenerally, mutual fund scheme is made up of investments in equity, debt or a mixture of both. They can be further classified structurally as open-ended or close-ended mutual fund schemes.rnHowever, comparing the performance of mutual fund scheme is not such a simple thing and involves assessing other parameters. 1. BenchmarkrnAnalyze the performance of the fund with respect to the benchmark. While comparing mutual fund schemes one can consider a parameter as a fund which gains more when the market rises and loses less when the market falls. 2. Investment periodrnInvestment horizon relates to the time period within which the investor wishes to invest in the given fund. For instance, equity funds are suitable for a long-term investment period. The fund objective for this period generally would be wealth creation at relatively high risk.rnIf you wish to invest surplus funds for a short term, investors may consider liquid funds as an option for investment. 3. RiskrnAccording to the investment thumb rule, higher the risk higher the chances of reward . Hence, while comparing mutual fund scheme performance, one may use alpha, sharpe and beta ratios to calculate the inherent risk-reward potential of a mutual fund. Sharpe reveals the amount of return per unit of risk. Alpha tells how much extra return the fund achieves over and above the benchmark. rnSuppose two funds Fund A and Fund B have a Sharpe ratio of 1.8 and 2; respectively, here, Fund B depicts higher risk-adjusted returns than Fund A. 4. Expense ratiornIt is an annual fee levied by the fund house on unit holders to manage the portfolio on their behalf. A higher expense ratio reduces the profits earned by the investors. Look for a fund that has the lowest expense ratio in the given category. Direct plans have a lower expense ratio than regular plans because there is no distributor commission. Equity funds have higher expense ratio because of higher transaction costs and brokerage than debt funds. 5. Sector AllocationrnA mutual fund scheme allocates the invested capital according to its investment objective. With reference to asset allocation, SEBI has given a mandate, which every fund in a particular category follows. However, two funds belonging to the same category need not have similar sector allocation. rnFund A might invest more in financial services, whereas Fund B might have major investments in FMCG companies while maintaining SEBI mandate. While comparing two funds, analyse the sector allocations also. Ensure that the fund risk profile aligns with your risk appetite and choose accordingly. Disclaimer: The views expressed here in this Article / Video are for general information and reading purpose only and do not constitute any guidelines and recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader. Quantum AMC / Quantum Mutual Fund is not guaranteeing / offering / communicating any indicative yield on investments made in the scheme(s). The views are not meant to serve as a professional guide / investment advice / intended to be an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial product or instrument or mutual fund units for the reader. The Article / Video has been prepared on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other sources believed to be reliable. Whilst no action has been solicited based upon the information provided herein, due care has been taken to ensure that the facts are accurate and views given are fair and reasonable as on date. Readers of the Article / Video should rely on information/data arising out of their own investigations and advised to seek independent professional advice and arrive at an informed decision before making any investments. None of the Quantum Advisors, Quantum AMC, Quantum Trustee or Quantum Mutual Fund, their Affiliates or Representative shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive or exemplary losses or damages including lost profits arising in any way on account of any action taken basis the data / information / views provided in the Article / video.rnMutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.