Two funds walk into a table. Only the numbers talk.
LIC MF Small Cap Fund vs BANDHAN Small Cap 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.
- ALIC MF Small Cap Fund
LIC Mutual Fund- Small Cap Fund
- Direct plan
- Very High Risk
NAV ₹40.01 on 13 Nov 2026
- BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund
Bandhan Mutual Fund- Small Cap Fund
- Direct plan
- Very High Risk
NAV ₹57.08 on 13 Nov 2026
The short version
Who comes out ahead on each measure, over the 3 years all of them have been around.
Grew faster
BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund
BANDHAN Small Cap Fund returned 22.4% a year over 3 years, against 17.6% for LIC MF Small Cap Fund. ₹1 lakh invested 3 years ago would be about ₹1.83 Lakh today, against ₹1.63 Lakh.
Smoother ride
BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund
BANDHAN Small Cap Fund swung the least: about 17.5% a year either way, against 19.5% for LIC MF Small Cap Fund. Lower means fewer scary days.
Fell less in a crash
BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund
At its worst, BANDHAN Small Cap Fund fell 24.3% from its peak, against 27% for LIC MF Small Cap Fund. On ₹1 lakh, that's a dip to ₹72,987 at the bottom for LIC MF Small Cap Fund. Could you have held on?
More consistent
BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund
Pick any day in the past and hold for a year: BANDHAN Small Cap Fund ended up in profit 84% of the time, against 70% for LIC MF Small Cap Fund.
Costs less
BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund
BANDHAN Small Cap Fund charges 0.61% a year, against 1.32% for LIC MF Small Cap Fund. On ₹1 lakh that's ₹610 a year against ₹1,320, 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.
- ALIC MF Small Cap Fund₹16,027 from ₹10,000(17.1% a year)
- BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund₹18,087 from ₹10,000(21.9% a year)
A one-time ₹10,000 put in 3 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%.
ALIC MF Small Cap Fund
- Strength: Ahead of its category: 17.6% a year over 3 years, against a category average of 14.4%
- Strength: In the top quarter of its category over 3 years (#6 of 25)
- Strength: Beat a 5-year SBI FD: 17.6% a year over 3 years, against 6.05%
- Watch out: Swings more than most funds in its category
BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund
- Strength: Ahead of its category: 19.3% a year over 5 years, against a category average of 14.5%
- Strength: In the top quarter of its category over 5 years (#2 of 21)
- Strength: Beat a 5-year SBI FD: 19.3% a year over 5 years, against 6.05%
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 | ALIC MF Small Cap Fund | BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund |
|---|---|---|
| ReturnsHow much the fund grew. Beyond a year, this is per year (annualised). | ||
| 1 yearLast 12 months, the most noisy figure | 17.7%Best#7 of 30 · avg 11% | 9.3%#16 of 30 · avg 11% |
| 3 yearsPer year, over a full market mood swing | 17.6%#6 of 25 · avg 14.4% | 22.4%Best#1 of 25 · avg 14.4% |
| 5 yearsPer year, the fairest single test | – | 19.3%#2 of 21 · avg 14.5% |
| 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 | 19.5%category avg 17.1% | 17.5%Bestcategory avg 17.1% |
| Worst fallThe biggest drop from a peak in 10 years. Lower is better | −27%category avg −31.2% | −24.3%Bestcategory avg −31.2% |
| Best 12 monthsIts strongest year | 60.3% | 114.9%Best |
| Worst 12 monthsIts weakest year | -16.4% | -9.9%Best |
| Odds of a gainShare of all 1-year holding periods that ended in profit | 70% | 84%Best |
| 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 | 1.32% | 0.61%Best |
| Fund sizeMoney managed (AUM). Neither better nor worse | ₹841 Cr | ₹35,856 Cr |
| Minimum SIPSmallest monthly amount | ₹200 | ₹100Best |
| 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.
ALIC MF Small Cap 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
BBANDHAN Small Cap Fund
Might suit you if…
- you want the stronger long-run growth and can sit through sharper falls
- a smoother ride matters more to you than the top return
- you may need the money at short notice and want better odds of being in profit
- you care about keeping costs low, which adds up over decades