Two funds walk into a table. Only the numbers talk.
ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund vs Axis Short Term Fund
Pick two or three funds. We’ll tell you in plain words which grew faster, which was calmer, which costs less and what your money would have become. Figures are for the Direct plan, Growth option, where a fund has one.
- AICICI Prudential Short Term Fund
ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund- Short Duration Fund
- Direct plan
- Low to Moderate Risk
NAV ₹71.04 on 13 Nov 2026
- BAxis Short Term Fund
Axis Mutual Fund- Short Duration Fund
- Direct plan
- Low to Moderate Risk
NAV ₹36.51 on 13 Nov 2026
The short version
Who comes out ahead on each measure, over the 10 years all of them have been around.
Grew faster
AICICI Prudential Short Term Fund
ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund returned 7.7% a year over 10 years, against 7.4% for Axis Short Term Fund. ₹1 lakh invested 10 years ago would be about ₹2.09 Lakh today, against ₹2.04 Lakh.
What your money would have become
The same amount, put into each fund on the same day.
The dashed line is the ₹10,000 you put in. Above it is profit, below it is loss.
- AICICI Prudential Short Term Fund₹14,067 from ₹10,000(7.1% a year)
- BAxis Short Term Fund₹13,892 from ₹10,000(6.8% a year)
A one-time ₹10,000 put in 5 years ago, valued at the latest NAV. This is what happened, not what will.
Strengths and watch-outs
Each fund judged against its own category, and against a 5-year SBI FD at 6.05%.
AICICI Prudential Short Term Fund
- Strength: In the top quarter of its category over 5 years (#2 of 20)
- Strength: Beat a 5-year SBI FD: 7.1% a year over 5 years, against 6.05%
- Strength: Fell less than its category in the worst crash
- Strength: Low cost: 0.45% a year
BAxis Short Term Fund
- Strength: In the top quarter of its category over 5 years (#4 of 20)
- Strength: Fell less than its category in the worst crash
- Strength: Low cost: 0.4% a year
All the numbers
The stronger figure in each row is marked Best. Under each return is the fund’s rank in its category and the category average.
| Measure | AICICI Prudential Short Term Fund | BAxis Short Term Fund |
|---|---|---|
| ReturnsHow much the fund grew. Beyond a year, this is per year (annualised). | ||
| 1 yearLast 12 months, the most noisy figure | 5.2%#3 of 22 · avg 4.7% | 5.2%Best#2 of 22 · avg 4.7% |
| 3 yearsPer year, over a full market mood swing | 7.6%#4 of 22 · avg 7.3% | 7.7%Best#1 of 22 · avg 7.3% |
| 5 yearsPer year, the fairest single test | 7.1%Best#2 of 20 · avg 6.7% | 6.8%#4 of 20 · avg 6.7% |
| 10 yearsPer year, across bull and bear markets | 7.7%Best#1 of 16 · avg 6.9% | 7.4%#2 of 16 · avg 6.9% |
| RiskHow bumpy the ride was. This is what decides whether you stay invested. | ||
| Ups and downsVolatility: how far it swings in a typical year. Lower is calmer | 1%Bestcategory avg 1% | 1%category avg 1% |
| Worst fallThe biggest drop from a peak in 10 years. Lower is better | −2.4%Bestcategory avg −3.2% | −2.6%category avg −3.2% |
| Best 12 monthsIts strongest year | 12.5% | 12.8%Best |
| Worst 12 monthsIts weakest year | 3%Best | 3% |
| Odds of a gainShare of all 1-year holding periods that ended in profit | 100% | 100% |
| Cost and sizeThe fee comes out of your returns every year, whether the fund does well or not. | ||
| Expense ratioYearly fee. Lower keeps more for you | 0.45% | 0.4%Best |
| Fund sizeMoney managed (AUM). Neither better nor worse | ₹18,890 Cr | ₹7,425 Cr |
| Minimum SIPSmallest monthly amount | ₹500 | ₹100Best |
| Lock-inTime before you can withdraw | None | None |
| What it holdsWhere the money sits. Equity is shares, debt is bonds, cash is waiting to be invested. | ||
| In bondsDebt | 95.7% | – |
| In cashNot yet invested | 4% | – |
| HoldingsNumber of investments | 162 | – |
“Best” is not a recommendation: a fund that returned more usually took more risk to do it.
Top 10 holdings
Marked Both where another fund here holds it too.
AICICI Prudential Short Term Fund
- NABARD **4.7%
- LIC Housing Finance Ltd. **3.9%
- Vedanta Ltd. **3.1%
- Shivshakti Securitisation Trust **3.1%
- NABARD **2.8%
- Siddhivinayak Securitisation Trust **2.7%
- Small Industries Development Bank Of India2.3%
- Cholamandalam Investment And Finance Company Ltd. **1.6%
- Summit Digitel Infrastructure Private Ltd. **1.5%
- Small Industries Development Bank Of India. **1.4%
As on 31 Jul 2026
BAxis Short Term Fund
Holdings are not available for this fund yet.
Which one fits you?
There is no best fund, only a better fit for what you need the money to do.
AICICI Prudential Short Term Fund
Might suit you if…
- you want the stronger long-run growth and can sit through sharper falls
BAxis Short Term Fund
Might suit you if…
- you prefer its fund house or approach. On these numbers it is not the stand-out on any one measure