Two funds walk into a table. Only the numbers talk.
Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund vs HDFC Defence 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.
- ANippon India Taiwan Equity Fund
Nippon India Mutual Fund- Sectoral / Thematic Fund
- Direct plan
- Very High Risk
NAV ₹28.76 on 13 Nov 2026
- BHDFC Defence Fund
HDFC Mutual Fund- Sectoral / Thematic Fund
- Direct plan
- Very High Risk
NAV ₹30.42 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
ANippon India Taiwan Equity Fund
Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund returned 46.5% a year over 3 years, against 33.6% for HDFC Defence Fund. ₹1 lakh invested 3 years ago would be about ₹3.15 Lakh today, against ₹2.39 Lakh.
Smoother ride
BHDFC Defence Fund
HDFC Defence Fund swung the least: about 25.9% a year either way, against 38.1% for Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund. Lower means fewer scary days.
Fell less in a crash
BHDFC Defence Fund
At its worst, HDFC Defence Fund fell 34.5% from its peak, against 44.8% for Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund. On ₹1 lakh, that's a dip to ₹55,225 at the bottom for Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund. Could you have held on?
More consistent
BHDFC Defence Fund
Pick any day in the past and hold for a year: HDFC Defence Fund ended up in profit 99% of the time, against 86% for Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund.
Costs less
BHDFC Defence Fund
HDFC Defence Fund charges 0.89% a year, against 1.06% for Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund. On ₹1 lakh that's ₹890 a year against ₹1,060, 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.
- ANippon India Taiwan Equity Fund₹30,587 from ₹10,000(45.3% a year)
- BHDFC Defence Fund₹22,810 from ₹10,000(31.8% 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%.
ANippon India Taiwan Equity Fund
- Strength: Ahead of its category: 46.5% a year over 3 years, against a category average of 15%
- Strength: In the top quarter of its category over 3 years (#1 of 139)
- Strength: Beat a 5-year SBI FD: 46.5% a year over 3 years, against 6.05%
- Watch out: Swings more than most funds in its category
BHDFC Defence Fund
- Strength: Ahead of its category: 33.6% a year over 3 years, against a category average of 15%
- Strength: In the top quarter of its category over 3 years (#2 of 139)
- Strength: Beat a 5-year SBI FD: 33.6% a year over 3 years, against 6.05%
- Watch out: Swings more than most funds in its category
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 | ANippon India Taiwan Equity Fund | BHDFC Defence Fund |
|---|---|---|
| ReturnsHow much the fund grew. Beyond a year, this is per year (annualised). | ||
| 1 yearLast 12 months, the most noisy figure | 60.6%Best#1 of 226 · avg 6.1% | 20.3%#19 of 226 · avg 6.1% |
| 3 yearsPer year, over a full market mood swing | 46.5%Best#1 of 139 · avg 15% | 33.6%#2 of 139 · avg 15% |
| 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 | 38.1%category avg 15.8% | 25.9%Bestcategory avg 15.8% |
| Worst fallThe biggest drop from a peak in 10 years. Lower is better | −44.8%category avg −25.5% | −34.5%Bestcategory avg −25.5% |
| Best 12 monthsIts strongest year | 279.5%Best | 147% |
| Worst 12 monthsIts weakest year | -33.6% | -1.5%Best |
| Odds of a gainShare of all 1-year holding periods that ended in profit | 86% | 99%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 | 1.06% | 0.89%Best |
| Fund sizeMoney managed (AUM). Neither better nor worse | ₹1,147 Cr | ₹11,493 Cr |
| Minimum SIPSmallest monthly amount | – | ₹100 |
| 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.
ANippon India Taiwan Equity Fund
Might suit you if…
- you want the stronger long-run growth and can sit through sharper falls
BHDFC Defence Fund
Might suit you if…
- 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