Short-duration mutual funds, a.k.a. short-term funds, are debt funds that invest in debt and money market securities with a portfolio duration of one to three years. These funds offer a great alternative to traditional investment options for investors.
List of the top-performing short duration mutual funds sorted by returns with their AUM and Expense Ratio.
Sort by
AUM ₹120 Cr •
Expense 0.45%
AUM ₹2566 Cr •
Expense 0.42%
AUM ₹8068 Cr •
Expense 0.37%
AUM ₹20858 Cr •
Expense 0.45%
AUM ₹14208 Cr •
Expense 0.4%
AUM ₹6232 Cr •
Expense 0.37%
AUM ₹9726 Cr •
Expense 0.36%
AUM ₹16681 Cr •
Expense 0.38%
AUM ₹202 Cr •
Expense 0.31%
AUM ₹2834 Cr •
Expense 0.37%
AUM ₹9674 Cr •
Expense 0.33%
AUM ₹347 Cr •
Expense 0.25%
AUM ₹204 Cr •
Expense 0.38%
AUM ₹13959 Cr •
Expense 0.4%
AUM ₹3230 Cr •
Expense 0.34%
AUM ₹828 Cr •
Expense 0.35%
AUM ₹111 Cr •
Expense 0.35%
AUM ₹3688 Cr •
Expense 0.27%
AUM ₹334 Cr •
Expense 0.43%
AUM ₹67 Cr •
Expense 0.4%
As the name suggests, short-term mutual funds invest in short-term debt securities. According to the regulatory guidelines set by SEBI for mutual fund schemes, short-duration funds are required to allocate their investments in debt and money market instruments so that the portfolio's Macaulay duration falls within a one to three-year range.
The Macaulay duration is an indicator of how sensitive the investment portfolio is to fluctuations in interest rates, which can affect the value of debt securities as market rates shift.
These funds primarily invest in short-term debt instruments like certificates of deposit (CDs), commercial papers (short-term corporate IOUs), and government treasury bills. These instruments offer regular interest payments and return your principal investment upon maturity.
The shorter maturity of the underlying securities in short-term funds indicates lower risk compared to long-duration debt funds. Since short-term securities are less sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, the potential for price swings in the fund is also minimised.
Compared to equity funds, short-term funds generally offer lower potential returns. However, they typically provide steadier and more predictable returns than other debt funds with longer maturities.
Please Note: While short-duration funds aim to provide stability, it's essential to remember that the value of fund units can fluctuate based on market conditions. Investors should carefully consider their risk tolerance and financial goals before investing.
Benefits | Risks |
Relatively stable income | Lower potential returns than long-duration funds |
Moderate risk profile | Credit risk (risk of issuer default) |
High liquidity | Interest rate risk (though lower than long-duration funds) |
In the past six months, the ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund Direct Plan Growth Option has emerged as the leader in AUM growth, witnessing an impressive addition of ₹908.88 crore. This positions it as one of the top-performing Short Term mutual funds in terms of investor interest and fund growth.
Over the last 6 months, Short Term category has seen increased allocation towards Industrial, Basic Materials sectors and allocation in Securitize, Energy, Consumer Cyclical sectors has decreased
Calculate your Mutual Funds Lumpsum & SIP Returns for free with INDmoney Calculators