Two funds walk into a table. Only the numbers talk.
Mahindra Manulife 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.
- AMahindra Manulife Short Term Fund
Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund- Short Duration Fund
- Direct plan
- Low to Moderate Risk
NAV ₹14.34 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 5 years all of them have been around.
Grew faster
BAxis Short Term Fund
Axis Short Term Fund returned 6.8% a year over 5 years, against 6.6% for Mahindra Manulife Short Term Fund. ₹1 lakh invested 5 years ago would be about ₹1.39 Lakh today, against ₹1.38 Lakh.
Fell less in a crash
No fair winner yet
At its worst, Mahindra Manulife Short Term Fund fell 1.1% from its peak, against 2.6% for Axis Short Term Fund. On ₹1 lakh, that's a dip to ₹97,402 at the bottom for Axis Short Term Fund. Could you have held on?
Not a fair fight: we only have data for Mahindra Manulife Short Term Fund (from Feb 2021), so it has not been through the 2020 crash the others fell in.
Costs less
AMahindra Manulife Short Term Fund
Mahindra Manulife Short Term Fund charges 0.35% a year, against 0.4% for Axis Short Term Fund. On ₹1 lakh that's ₹350 a year against ₹400, 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.
- AMahindra Manulife Short Term Fund₹13,764 from ₹10,000(6.6% 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%.
AMahindra Manulife Short Term Fund
- Strength: Low cost: 0.35% a year
- Watch out: Small fund (₹79 Cr), often newer or less tested
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 | AMahindra Manulife 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 | 5.1%#5 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%#5 of 22 · avg 7.3% | 7.7%Best#1 of 22 · avg 7.3% |
| 5 yearsPer year, the fairest single test | 6.6%#6 of 20 · avg 6.7% | 6.8%Best#4 of 20 · avg 6.7% |
| 10 yearsPer year, across bull and bear markets | – | 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 | −1.1%data from 25 Feb 2021 only | −2.6%category avg −3.2% |
| Best 12 monthsIts strongest year | 10.3%data from 25 Feb 2021 only | 12.8% |
| Worst 12 monthsIts weakest year | 2.5%data from 25 Feb 2021 only | 3% |
| Odds of a gainShare of all 1-year holding periods that ended in profit | 100%data from 25 Feb 2021 only | 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 | 0.35%Best | 0.4% |
| Fund sizeMoney managed (AUM). Neither better nor worse | ₹79 Cr | ₹7,425 Cr |
| Minimum SIPSmallest monthly amount | ₹500 | ₹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.
AMahindra Manulife Short Term Fund
Might suit you if…
- you care about keeping costs low, which adds up over decades
BAxis Short Term Fund
Might suit you if…
- you want the stronger long-run growth and can sit through sharper falls