Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Pharma Healthcare Funds Show Wide Gap in One-Year Returns
Pharma and healthcare mutual funds invest mainly in companies from one sector.
Different funds in this sector performed very differently during the past year.
Kotak Healthcare Fund had the highest listed return, at 28.85%.
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund was close behind at 28.60%.
Some other funds also earned more than 20%.
ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund had the lowest listed return, at 9.02%.
Even the funds at the bottom of the list made positive returns.
This shows that choosing different funds can lead to very different results, even when they invest in the same broad sector.
Kotak Healthcare Fund led the listed actively managed funds with a 28.85% one-year return.
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund followed closely with a 28.60% return.
PGIM India Healthcare Fund, Bajaj Finserv Healthcare Fund and WhiteOak Capital Pharma and Healthcare Fund also exceeded 20%.
ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund was the weakest listed performer, returning 9.02% over one year.
The overall pharma and healthcare mutual fund category returned 19.24% over one year, according to Value Research.
- Who
- Pharma and healthcare mutual funds, including Kotak Healthcare Fund, HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund, and other actively managed schemes.
- What
- The funds recorded widely varying one-year returns, with Kotak Healthcare Fund leading the listed schemes at 28.85%.
- When
- Returns were measured as of 8 August 2026.
- Why
- The comparison shows how fund portfolios and stock selection can produce different results within the same sector.
- Data source
- Value Research
- Return period
- One year, as of 8 August 2026
- Category average
- 19.24% over one year
- Top performer
- Kotak Healthcare Fund at 28.85%
- Second-highest listed performer
- HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund at 28.60%
- Weakest listed performer
- ICICI Prudential Healthcare Fund at 9.02%
- Sectoral fund requirement
- At least 80% of total assets must be invested in equity and equity-related instruments of a particular sector