Two funds walk into a table. Only the numbers talk.
Kotak Corporate Bond Fund vs Franklin India Corporate Bond 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.
- AKotak Corporate Bond Fund
Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund- Corporate Bond Fund
- Direct plan
- Moderate Risk
NAV ₹4,220.81 on 13 Nov 2026
- BFranklin India Corporate Bond Fund
Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund- Corporate Bond Fund
- Direct plan
- Low to Moderate Risk
NAV ₹116.84 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
BFranklin India Corporate Bond Fund
Franklin India Corporate Bond Fund returned 7.5% a year over 10 years, against 7.2% for Kotak Corporate Bond Fund. ₹1 lakh invested 10 years ago would be about ₹2.06 Lakh today, against ₹2 Lakh.
Fell less in a crash
AKotak Corporate Bond Fund
At its worst, Kotak Corporate Bond Fund fell 1.9% from its peak, against 3.7% for Franklin India Corporate Bond Fund. On ₹1 lakh, that's a dip to ₹96,275 at the bottom for Franklin India Corporate Bond Fund. Could you have held on?
Costs less
BFranklin India Corporate Bond Fund
Franklin India Corporate Bond Fund charges 0.26% a year, against 0.36% for Kotak Corporate Bond Fund. On ₹1 lakh that's ₹260 a year against ₹360, taken quietly from the NAV.
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.
- AKotak Corporate Bond Fund₹13,647 from ₹10,000(6.4% a year)
- BFranklin India Corporate Bond Fund₹13,851 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%.
AKotak Corporate Bond Fund
- Strength: Fell less than its category in the worst crash
- Strength: Low cost: 0.36% a year
BFranklin India Corporate Bond Fund
- Strength: In the top quarter of its category over 5 years (#2 of 17)
- Strength: Low cost: 0.26% a year
- Watch out: Fell harder than its category in the worst crash
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 | AKotak Corporate Bond Fund | BFranklin India Corporate Bond Fund |
|---|---|---|
| ReturnsHow much the fund grew. Beyond a year, this is per year (annualised). | ||
| 1 yearLast 12 months, the most noisy figure | 4.3%#10 of 21 · avg 4.3% | 5.4%Best#2 of 21 · avg 4.3% |
| 3 yearsPer year, over a full market mood swing | 7.2%#6 of 21 · avg 7.1% | 7.8%Best#1 of 21 · avg 7.1% |
| 5 yearsPer year, the fairest single test | 6.4%#5 of 17 · avg 6.3% | 6.7%Best#2 of 17 · avg 6.3% |
| 10 yearsPer year, across bull and bear markets | 7.2%#5 of 11 · avg 7% | 7.5%Best#1 of 11 · avg 7% |
| 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 | 1.1%Bestcategory avg 1.1% | 1.2%category avg 1.1% |
| Worst fallThe biggest drop from a peak in 10 years. Lower is better | −1.9%Bestcategory avg −2.7% | −3.7%category avg −2.7% |
| Best 12 monthsIts strongest year | 11.1% | 12.1%Best |
| Worst 12 monthsIts weakest year | 2.7%Best | 2.6% |
| 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 | 0.36% | 0.26%Best |
| Fund sizeMoney managed (AUM). Neither better nor worse | ₹14,791 Cr | ₹1,409 Cr |
| Minimum SIPSmallest monthly amount | ₹100Best | ₹500 |
| Lock-inTime before you can withdraw | None | None |
“Best” is not a recommendation: a fund that returned more usually took more risk to do it.
Which one fits you?
There is no best fund, only a better fit for what you need the money to do.
AKotak Corporate Bond Fund
Might suit you if…
- a smoother ride matters more to you than the top return
BFranklin India Corporate Bond Fund
Might suit you if…
- you want the stronger long-run growth and can sit through sharper falls
- you care about keeping costs low, which adds up over decades