Franklin India Prima Plus Fund

One of the oldest in the large and midcap category, this fund has held on to a 4 star rating for much of its 20 year history. While its year to year performance has been a little uneven, it scores high in the category on 5, 7 as well as 10 years returns.

Strategy: Franklin India Prima Plus tends to hold higher allocations to mid-cap stocks in its portfolio than its peers. In the last one year for instance, the fund has held 58-65 per cent of its portfolio in large-caps, with mid-cap allocations at 28 to 37 per cent. The mid-cap exposures are 6-10 percentage points higher than the category. Despite its mid-cap leanings, the fund has been good at protecting the downside given its penchant for quality. The fund largely sticks to a market cap mix and does not unduly change its allocations with the market mood.

Not a fund to take cash calls, 95-96 per cent of the fund is in equities irrespective of market swings. A bottom-up and growth oriented fund, the fund's strategy and market cap biases are well set. This is a function of a stable management team.

Performance: Usually a steady performer, the fund has recorded a chart topping performance in the last one year with its 50.3 per cent return, 14.4 percent ahead of the benchmark and 8.7 per cent ahead of the category. This has lifted its 5 year returns to 15.1 per cent on a CAGR basis. The fund has delivered a handsome return of 2.4 per cent over the past 10-yaers. In the past the fund has protected downside nicely in falling markets but just about matched the category in bull years like 2007, 2009 and 2012. This reflects its conservative stock selection which usually does not follow the market flavor.

What we don't like: While the fund's cumulative record is impressive, its tends to lag the benchmark in a raging bull markets.

Why Invest? Mid-cap stocks can create a lot of long term wealth and this fund delivers them to you in a carefully selected package along with large-caps.