Types of Mutual Fund Returns
Absolute Returns – Absolute Returns or Point-to-Point returns indicates the increase or decrease in investment, in terms of percentage. The time taken for this change is not accounted for. The absolute returns method of calculating returns is used for mutual funds with a tenure of less than 1 year. If the period is more than one year, the investor has to calculate annualized returns.
Total/ Annualized Returns – Total Return or Annualized Returns takes dividends into consideration while calculating returns. Dividends that are accrued over the holding period is calculated against the difference in Net Asset Value (NAV) in the following equation:
[Dt + (NAVEnd – NAVStart) ]/ NAVStart X 100.
Here,
Dt = Dividend received from each unit
NAVEnd = Current Net Asset Value
NAVStart = Net Asset Value in the Beginning
Compound Annual Growth Rate is used to calculate the returns from mutual funds investment which has a holding period that exceeds a year. This would reduce the short-term fluctuations and volatility of the Net Asset Value of the funds. Under this method of calculating returns from mutual funds, it is assumed that the investment is growing at a steady pace
In order to calculate the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) manually, the equation is as follows:
CAGR = [(Current Net Asset Value / Beginning Net Asset Value) ^ (1/number of years)]-1
Mutual Fund Returns Calculator
You can use the mutual fund returns calculator online to understand how much returns will be yielded from the capital invested. All you have to do is enter basic details such as a name of the mutual fund, scheme/ plan, the “from” and “to” date for returns and then click on “Calculate”. The results page would project the annualized returns and absolute returns availed during a period from 1 week to a maximum period of 5 years. Most mutual fund returns calculator also projects the performance rank of the scheme, within fund classes.
Estimated Returns from Various Mutual Funds in India
Returns from Moderate Risk Equity Funds
| Name of Scheme | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
| Birla SL Frontline Equity Fund(G) | 5.57% | 20.03% | 13.79% |
| BNP Paribas Equity Fund(G) | 2.39% | 20.26% | 14.71% |
| Franklin India Prima Plus Fund(G) | 6.37% | 23.64% | 15.56% |
| ICICI Pru Focused BlueChip Eq Fund(G) | 4.03% | 17.83% | 12.37% |
| Kotak Select Focus Fund(G) | 7.90% | 23.90% | 15.25% |
Returns from High-Risk Equity Funds
| Name of Scheme | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
| BNP Paribas Mid Cap Fund(G) | 9.58% | 30.71% | 21.59% |
| Franklin India Prima Fund(G) | 10.98% | 31.27% | 20.93% |
| HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund(G) | 7.24% | 30.82% | 19.33% |
| ICICI Pru Value Discovery Fund(G) | 3.88% | 30.55% | 18.66% |
| Invesco India Mid N Small Cap Fund(G) | 3.48% | 28.83% | 19.57% |
| L&T India Value Fund-Reg(G) | 10.29% | 29.91% | 18.61% |
| Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund(G) | -3.02% | 20.14% | 13.91% |
| UTI Mid Cap Fund(G) | 8.03% | 35.35% | 20.64% |
| SBI Magnum MidCap Fund-Reg(G) | 14.75% | 36.43% | 23.05% |
Returns from Moderate-Risk Tax-Saving Funds
| Name of Scheme | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
| BNP Paribas LT Equity Fund(G) | 2.57% | 22.62% | 16.06% |
| IDFC Tax Advt(ELSS) Fund-Reg(G) | -0.72% | 22.08% | 14.72% |
| Franklin India Taxshield(G) | 6.09% | 23.28% | 15.61% |
Returns from High-Risk Tax-Saving Funds
| Name of Scheme | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
| ICICI Pru LT Equity Fund (Tax Saving)(G) | 4.94% | 23.10% | 13.98% |
| Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund(G) | 0.64% | 26.39% | 16.38% |
| Axis LT Equity Fund(G) | 5.37% | 28.12% | 19.70% |
| Invesco India Tax Plan(G) | 3.56% | 23.25% | 15.14% |
Returns from Long-Term Debt Funds (Moderate-High Risk)
| Name of Scheme | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
| Birla SL Dynamic Bond Fund-Ret(G) | 9.50% | 9.27% | 10.04% |
| BNP Paribas Medium Term Income Fund(G) | 8.10% | N/A | N/A |
| HDFC Medium Term Opportunities Fund(G) | 8.95% | 8.74% | 9.31% |
| UTI Dynamic Bond Fund-Reg(G) | 8.83% | 9.13% | 9.81% |
| Franklin India IBA-A(G) | 7.43% | 7.94% | 9.86% |
| Reliance Reg Savings Fund-Debt Plan(G) | 8.97% | 9.09% | 9.33% |