Two funds walk into a table. Only the numbers talk.
Tata 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.
- ATata Short Term Fund
Tata Mutual Fund- Short Duration Fund
- Direct plan
- Moderate Risk
NAV ₹56.69 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
BAxis Short Term Fund
Axis Short Term Fund returned 7.4% a year over 10 years, against 6.3% for Tata Short Term Fund. ₹1 lakh invested 10 years ago would be about ₹2.04 Lakh today, against ₹1.85 Lakh.
Fell less in a crash
BAxis Short Term Fund
At its worst, Axis Short Term Fund fell 2.6% from its peak, against 5.1% for Tata Short Term Fund. On ₹1 lakh, that's a dip to ₹94,881 at the bottom for Tata Short Term Fund. Could you have held on?
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.
- ATata Short Term Fund₹13,582 from ₹10,000(6.3% 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%.
ATata Short Term Fund
- Strength: Low cost: 0.37% a year
- Watch out: Fell harder than its category in the worst crash
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 | ATata 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 | 4.5%#18 of 22 · avg 4.7% | 5.2%Best#2 of 22 · avg 4.7% |
| 3 yearsPer year, over a full market mood swing | 7%#20 of 22 · avg 7.3% | 7.7%Best#1 of 22 · avg 7.3% |
| 5 yearsPer year, the fairest single test | 6.3%#14 of 20 · avg 6.7% | 6.8%Best#4 of 20 · avg 6.7% |
| 10 yearsPer year, across bull and bear markets | 6.3%#14 of 16 · avg 6.9% | 7.4%Best#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%category avg 1% | 1%Bestcategory avg 1% |
| Worst fallThe biggest drop from a peak in 10 years. Lower is better | −5.1%category avg −3.2% | −2.6%Bestcategory avg −3.2% |
| Best 12 monthsIts strongest year | 12.1% | 12.8%Best |
| Worst 12 monthsIts weakest year | -1.2% | 3%Best |
| Odds of a gainShare of all 1-year holding periods that ended in profit | 99% | 100%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 | 0.37%Best | 0.4% |
| Fund sizeMoney managed (AUM). Neither better nor worse | ₹2,912 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.
ATata 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
BAxis Short Term 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