The fund provides a blend of growth and value style of investing, with an average equity investment of 90 per cent. Owing to the tribulations in the market over the last few years, the fund's focus has shifted to large cap stocks in lookout for stability. The large cap exposure has touched 75 per cent now. At the same time, mid caps continue to find favour, though the stock needs to be really compelling.

Talking about individual stock allocation, the highest currently is 6 per cent in ITC, which had touched 11 per cent not so long ago. Otherwise, it has less than 1.5 per cent of its assets in a trail of stocks. As on March 31, 2013 the number of such stocks was 35.

It has investments in almost all the sectors even though it might not be significant. It entered the FMCG sector in 2010 which coincided with the fund manager change and its allocation to the same has been on an uptrend since then. Higher allocation to defensive sectors have aided its performance during economic slowdown.

Performance

The fund underperformed in its first 2 years. But steadied itself thereafter as its returns have surpassed the category average regularly since 2006. The year 2009 stands out as it was the year when it outperformed the category average by over 12 per cent and has been one of the top performing funds in its category for the past 5 years.

Pertinently, the fund does well in both bull and bear phases of the market owing to the fact that it is largely well diversified across market capitalisation and sectors. It fell by only 15 per cent while the category average fell by 23.19 per cent in the market crash of 2011. The fund's trailing returns are also attractive as it has generated a 5-year annualised return of 11.85 per cent while the category average is 5.86 per cent.

Frequent change of fund managers, though, sticks out as a sore thumb in an otherwise well-performing fund.

Why invest?

The ability to pick winner stocks individually without paying too much heed to the sector performance has served the fund brilliantly. Though tilted towards large caps, selective mid caps help it punch above its weight.

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