Press "Enter" to skip to content

ICICI Prudential MF launches Midcap 150 ETF: Is the fund suitable for you to invest?

An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) replicates composition of the underlying benchmark index in its portfolio.

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched its new fund offer (NFO) ICICI Prudential Midcap 150 ETF with the objective of closely tracking the benchmark index – Nifty Midcap 150 Index, and provide similar return generated by the index subject to tracking errors and fund management expenses.

As an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) replicates composition of the underlying benchmark index in its portfolio, such funds are called passive funds and hence have lower expense ratio than actively managed funds.

“One of the biggest advantages of ETF’s over MF’s is the lower expense ratio. Average expense ratio of Midcap MFs in India is 2.25 per cent per annum, in comparison, the average expense ratio of ETF’s is 0.40 per cent per annum. ETF’s are traded like stocks, so investors trading in ETF’s will have to pay brokerage on every transaction,” said Abhishek Bansal, Chairman and Managing Director, Abans Group of Companies, adding, “ETFs also do not have exit load like Equity MFs.”

As ICICI Prudential Midcap 150 ETF is an open-ended fund, to provide adequate liquidity, it is proposed to be listed in both BSE and NSE, where the investors may buy or sell minimum 1 unit of the fund during trading hours. The units of the fund may also be bought directly from ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund (MF) or redeemed directly with it.

The NFO period is from January 15 to January 20, 2020, during which you may invest minimum Rs 5,000 and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter. During ongoing/continuous offer, you may buy or sell 1 unit or in multiples of 1 unit either through stock exchanges during trading hours or directly through ICICI Prudential MF.

As MF investments are subject to market risks, this fund would also face risks like – market risk, tracking error risk, portfolio concentration risk, volatility risk, liquidity risk etc.

You should also keep in mind that investing in Midcap stocks are more risky than investing in Largecap stocks. So, you should opt to invest in the fund only if you have high risk appetite.

Moreover, the performances of Midcap, Smallcap, as well of large number of Largecap stocks were not so so good last year, as market rallies was fuelled by only a handful of top stocks. So, is it the right time to invest in Midcap funds?

“The Midcap segment has shown good signs of recovery. On a year-on-year basis, the returns are almost flat but returns in Midcap Indices in the last three months is almost 12 per cent. We are very positive about the Midcap segment. As per a Bloomberg consensus, estimated growth in the Midcap segment for the next two years is 20 per cent and 19 per cent respectively,” said Bansal.

“Our Recommendation is to invest in “ICICI Prudential Midcap 150 ETF”. An investor with a mid to long term investment horizon should invest in this NFO,” he added.

Get live Stock Prices from BSE and NSE and latest NAV, portfolio of Mutual Funds, calculate your tax by Income Tax Calculator, know market’s Top Gainers, Top Losers & Best Equity Funds. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Source: Financial Express