Since Dhanteras 2025: Five Mutual Funds That Delivered Strong Returns

An investment in different mutual fund schemes around Dhanteras last year would have produced different results. In the five Regular Plan Growth schemes selected for this comparison, the stated point-to-point returns range from 19.2% to 64.9%. Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund leads the group at 64.9%, while the other four funds focus on pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses. The comparison covers funds with different investment approaches and should not be read as a ranking of the five best-performing schemes across the entire mutual fund industry. .

Here are the top 5 Mutual Funds in the Equity segment to give the Highest returns

Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund Returns 64.9%

Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund has a stated point-to-point return of 64.9%, the highest among the five schemes in this selection. On this percentage basis, a hypothetical lump-sum investment of ₹10,000 would be worth about ₹16,490, before any applicable investor-level taxes or charges. The figure refers to the Regular Plan Growth option for the comparison being reported.

The fund primarily invests in companies listed on Taiwanese stock exchanges. This gives its portfolio exposure to Taiwan’s equity market, including its technology and electronics businesses. Movements in underlying share prices and the Taiwan dollar–rupee exchange rate can influence the fund’s rupee-denominated NAV. Its performance is therefore not directly representative of the Indian equity market.

HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Rises 22.6%

HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund recorded a stated point-to-point gain of 22.6% for its Regular Plan Growth option. An illustrative ₹10,000 investment would have increased to around ₹12,260 on the basis of that return. The scheme was launched in October 2023 and invests predominantly in pharmaceutical and healthcare-related equities.

The scheme can invest across different parts of the healthcare industry, including pharmaceutical manufacturers and providers of healthcare services. Earnings growth, medicine demand, regulatory developments and valuations influence companies in these businesses. Because it concentrates on one sector, the fund can move differently from a diversified equity scheme.

Kotak Healthcare Fund Advances 21.41%

Kotak Healthcare Fund posted a stated point-to-point return of 21.41% in its Regular Plan Growth option. At that rate, ₹10,000 invested at the beginning of the comparison period would have a notional value of ₹12,141. The scheme invests in companies benefiting directly or indirectly from the pharmaceutical, healthcare and allied sectors.

The fund’s portfolio includes pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses as well as healthcare service providers. Its sector allocation can change with the portfolio manager’s decisions and market conditions. The return in this period is specific to the chosen dates and does not indicate how the scheme will perform in another year.

ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Gains 20.55%

ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund registered a stated point-to-point rise of 20.55% under its Regular Plan Growth option. A ₹10,000 lump-sum investment would have been worth approximately ₹12,055 on that return basis. Unlike an actively managed sector fund, this scheme seeks to replicate the Nifty Pharma Index, subject to expenses and tracking differences.

The Nifty Pharma Index comprises listed pharmaceutical companies. The fund aims to hold index constituents in broadly similar weights, so its performance is mainly tied to the movements of those stocks rather than active company selection. The scheme may still deliver returns that differ from the index because of expenses, cash holdings and tracking error.

Edelweiss MSCI India Domestic & World Healthcare 45 Index Fund rallies 19.2%

Edelweiss MSCI India Domestic & World Healthcare 45 Index Fund had a stated point-to-point return of 19.2% for the Regular Plan Growth option, taking an illustrative ₹10,000 investment to about ₹11,920. The scheme follows a passive strategy linked to an index of healthcare companies in India and overseas. Its exposure includes businesses across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical equipment and healthcare services, making its geographic mix different from that of India-only pharma funds.

What the Five Fund Returns Show

The selected funds reflect two different investment themes. Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund provides exposure to Taiwan’s equity market, while the remaining four invest in healthcare or pharmaceutical companies. Among the healthcare schemes shown, HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund has the highest stated return at 22.6%, followed by Kotak Healthcare Fund at 21.41%, ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund at 20.55% and the Edelweiss index fund at 19.2%.

The figures also show why comparisons must use the same plan and option. Regular Plans include distribution-related expenses, which are reflected in the NAV and can produce different returns from Direct Plans. The two actively managed healthcare funds and the two index-based healthcare schemes also use different portfolio construction methods, so their returns should not be treated as interchangeable.

What Would ₹10,000 Have Become?

Using the five percentage returns supplied, ₹10,000 would have become about ₹16,490 in Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund; ₹12,260 in HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund; ₹12,141 in Kotak Healthcare Fund; ₹12,055 in ICICI Prudential Nifty Pharma Index Fund; and ₹11,920 in Edelweiss MSCI India Domestic & World Healthcare 45 Index Fund. These are illustrations calculated from the stated returns, not independently verified values from two dated NAV records.

The examples assume a single lump-sum investment and reinvestment under the Growth option. They do not reflect SIP purchases, exit loads, taxes or any other investor-specific deductions. Actual allotment and redemption values depend on the applicable NAV and the fund’s transaction rules. Past returns cannot establish future performance.

Conclusion

The five Regular Plan Growth funds selected for this Dhanteras comparison show stated returns between 19.2% and 64.9%. Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund leads the group, while four healthcare-oriented schemes report gains ranging from 19.2% to 22.6%. The comparison highlights differences in geography, sector concentration and investment style. For a publishable point-to-point comparison, the final percentage for each scheme must also match its Regular Growth NAV on the same two reference dates.