Axis Long Term Equity Fund: Creating Dual Opportunities

One of the most worthy tax-saving instruments is Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS), a diversified equity fund that provides investors the combined benefit of tax saving as well as wealth creation.

Axis Long Term Equity Fund (ALTEF) is an ELSS known for generating superior returns as compared to its benchmark and category peers.

Data as on December 23, 2020
(Source: ACE MF)

ALTEF has showcased an impressive performance across time periods and it rewarded investors by generating significant alpha over its benchmark - S&P BSE 200 - TRI. On a longer 5-year and 7-year return period, the fund has managed to outpace the benchmark index by a significant margin, and has also fared better than many of its prominent category peers. On a shorter time horizon, it has managed to maintain a superior lead over its peers and the benchmark.

ALTEF has shown a fair level of stability even in extreme conditions. Its standard deviation of 20.05% denotes lower volatility compared to the category average and its benchmark. Its risk-adjusted return (Sharpe Ratio) is among the best in the category and clearly surpasses that of the benchmark.

Investment strategy of Axis Long Term Equity Fund

Classified under ELSS Funds category, ALTEF is mandated to invest at least 80% of its assets in equity and equity related instruments. The scheme endeavours to remain fully invested in equity and equity related instruments at all times.

ALTEF has the flexibility to invest across market capitalisation, but it prefers to maintain a large cap bias with a significant allocation to midcaps. Though the funds benchmark is S&P BSE 200, the investment is not limited to the companies constituting the benchmark. The fund is completely benchmark agnostic when it comes to stock and sector selection.

Belonging to a fund house that gives high preference to growth, ALTEF invests in a diversified portfolio of strong growth companies with robust business models and sustainable competitive advantage. Accordingly, the portfolio is built utilising the bottom-up stock selection process, focusing on the appreciation potential of individual stocks from a fundamental perspective. While picking stocks the fund management aims for companies that are high quality leaders, have solid growth, impeccable execution, strong finances, especially decent Operating Cash Flows and less geared.

ALTEF usually holds a compact portfolio of around 30 to 35 stocks, something that is uncommon for funds with large corpus. As November 30, 2020, ALTEF held about 32 high conviction stocks in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings in the portfolio accounted for a major 63% of its assets. Bajaj Finance is the top holding in the portfolio having an allocation of 9.7%, followed by HDFC Bank with an allocation of 7.9%. The other stocks in the top 10 holding carry exposure in the range of 4-7% of the assets. Most stocks in the portfolio have been held for a period of more than 3 years.

In the last one year the fund has benefited immensely from its exposure in companies like Info Edge (India), TCS, Bajaj Finance, Divis Laboratories, Avenue Supermarts, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, etc. It also benefitted from its holdings in Nestle India, Pidilite Industries, Astral Polytechnik, Torrent Power, among others.

ALTEF invests in a mix of cyclicals and defensives. It has placed heavy bets on Banking and Finance that together account for around 36% of its total assets. Infotech has the next highest allocation, followed by Pharma, Consumption, Auto, Retailing, Chemicals, Auto Ancillaries, and Power. Axis as a fund house avoids investing in PSUs, highly cyclical and highly regulated sectors.

Suitability

ALTEFF has a very impressive track record of generating superior long term returns as compared to its benchmark and many of its category peers. The fund management resists from engaging in undue risk and focuses on quality stocks with high growth potential to limit downside. Although ALTEF holds a compact portfolio, it is not too concentrated to any selective stocks. However, on a broader allocation, the exposure to a few sectors like Financial Services and Infotech is considerably high, which can result in short term volatility if these sectors witness a rough patch.

Mr Jinesh Gopani has been at helm of the scheme since 2011, whose convictions have played out well in the past and are expected to do so in the future as well. This makes ALTEF suitable for investors with high risk appetite and an investment horizon of at least 5 years.

Warm Regards,
Divya Grover
Research Analyst

PS: If you wish to select worthy mutual fund schemes, I recommend that you subscribe to PersonalFN's unbiased premium research service, FundSelect.

Additionally, as a bonus, you get access to PersonalFN's popular debt mutual fund service, DebtSelect.

PersonalFN recommendations go through our stringent process that assesses both quantitative and qualitative parameters, providing you with Buy, Hold, and Sell recommendations on equity and debt mutual fund schemes.

If you are serious about investing in a rewarding mutual fund scheme, Subscribe now!

Note: This write up is for information purpose and does not constitute any kind of investment advice or a recommendation to Buy / Hold / Sell a fund. Returns mentioned herein are in no way a guarantee or promise of future returns. As an investor, you need to pick the right fund to meet your financial goals. If you are not sure about your risk appetite, do consult your investment consultant/advisor. Mutual Fund Investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

 

Join Now: PersonalFN is now on Telegram. Join FREE Today to get ‘Daily Wealth Letter’ and Exclusive Updates on Mutual Funds

DISCLOSURE AS PER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA (RESEARCH ANALYSTS) REGULATIONS, 2014

About the Company including business activity

Quantum Information Services Private Limited (QIS) was incorporated on December 19, 1989.

QIS was promoted by Mr Ajit Dayal with an objective of providing value-based information/views on news related to equity markets, the economy in general, sector analysis, budget review and various personal products and investments options available to the Public. It was the first company to start equity research on an institutional level.

'PersonalFN' is a service brand of QIS and was started in the year 1999. In 1999, the Company registered the Domain name www.personalfn.com for providing information on mutual funds and personal financial planning, financial markets in general, etc. and services related to financial planning and research in various financial instruments including mutual funds, insurance and fixed income products to customers. It offers asset allocation and researched investment recommendations through its financial planning services.

Quantum Information Services Private Limited (QIS) is registered as Investment Adviser under SEBI (Investment Adviser) Regulations, 2013 and having Registration No.: INA000000680. In terms of the second proviso to Regulation 3 (1) of SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations, 2014 the Company is not required to obtain Certificate of registration from SEBI.

Disciplinary history

There are no outstanding litigations against the Company, its subsidiaries and its Directors.

Terms and condition on which its offer research report

For the terms and condition for research report click here.

Details of associates

1. Money Simplified Services Private Limited;

2. PersonalFN Insurance Services India Private Limited;

3. Equitymaster Agora Research Private Limited;

4. Common Sense Living Private Limited;

5. Quantum Advisors Private Limited;

6. Quantum Asset Management Company Private Limited;

7. HelpYourNGO.com India Private Limited;

8. HelpYourNGO Foundation;

9. Natural Streets for Performing Arts Foundation;

10. Primary Real Estate Advisors Private Limited;

11. HYNGO India Private Limited;

12. Suresh Lulla;

13. I V Subramaniam.

1. ‘subject company’ is a scheme on which a buy/sell/hold view or target price is given/changed in this Research Report;

2. Neither QIS, it's Associates, Research Analyst or his/her relative have any financial interest in the subject Company; except for one of the Research Analysts holding units of Axis Long Term Equity Fund;

3. Neither QIS, it's Associates, Research Analyst or his/her relative have actual/beneficial ownership of one per cent or more securities of the subject Company, at the end of the month immediately preceding the date of publication of the research report;

4. Neither QIS, it's Associates, Research Analyst or his/her relative has any other material conflict of interest at the time of publication of the research report except that QIS (PersonalFN) is, as per SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations 1996, an associate / group Company of Quantum Asset Management Company Private Limited and Trustees and Sponsor of Quantum Mutual Fund (QMF) and to that extent there may be conflict of interest while recommending any schemes of QMF. However, any such recommendation or reference made is based on the standard evaluation and selection process, which applies uniformly for all Mutual Fund Schemes. The payment of commission (upfront / annualized & trail), if any, for any Schemes by QMF to QIS (PersonalFN) is also at arm's length and as per prevailing market practices.

1. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have received any compensation from the subject Company in the past twelve months;

2. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have managed or co-managed public offering of securities for the subject Company;

3. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have received any compensation for investment banking or merchant banking or brokerage services from the subject Company;

4. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have received any compensation for products or services other than investment banking or merchant banking or brokerage services from the subject company in the past twelve months.

5. Neither QIS nor it's Associates have received any compensation or other benefits from the subject Company or third party in connection with the research report

1. The Research Analyst has not served as an officer, director or employee of the subject Company.

2. QIS or the Research Analyst has not been engaged in market making activity for the subject Company.

Click here to read PersonalFN's Mutual Fund Rating Methodology

Quantum Information Services Private Limited CIN: U65990MH1989PTC054667 Regd. & Corp. Office: 103, Regent Chambers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400 021

Email:info@personalfn.com Website: www.personalfn.com Tel.: 022 61361200 Fax.: 022 61361222 SEBI-registered Investment Adviser. Registration No. INA000000680, SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulation, 2013