Investing in mutual funds with a proven long-term track record is one of the safest ways to grow wealth. Over the past decade, certain funds have consistently outperformed benchmarks, delivering high returns with manageable risk.
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How I Selected These Top-Performing Funds
To identify the best mutual funds of the last decade, I considered:
✅ 10-Year Annualized Returns – Consistency matters more than short-term spikes.
✅ Expense Ratio – Lower fees mean higher net returns.
✅ Risk-Adjusted Returns (Sharpe Ratio) – Measures returns per unit of risk.
✅ Drawdown During Market Crashes – How well the fund handled downturns (e.g., 2020, 2022).
10 Best Mutual Funds Over the Last 10 Years (2014-2024)
1. Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund
- Category: Mid-Cap
- 10-Year CAGR: 22.1%
- Expense Ratio: 0.73%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.92
- Worst Drawdown (2020): -28.4%
- Top Holdings: Persistent Systems, KPIT Technologies
Why It’s Great: This mid-cap fund has consistently beaten its benchmark (Nifty Midcap 150 TRI) by a wide margin.
2. Axis Small Cap Fund
- Category: Small-Cap
- 10-Year CAGR: 21.8%
- Expense Ratio: 0.82%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.89
- Worst Drawdown (2020): -34.7%
- Top Holdings: Suzlon Energy, Jyothy Labs
Why It’s Great: One of the best-performing small-cap funds, ideal for aggressive investors.
3. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund
- Category: Flexi-Cap
- 10-Year CAGR: 20.3%
- Expense Ratio: 0.94%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.95
- Worst Drawdown (2022): -19.2%
- Top Holdings: Alphabet, Microsoft, Bajaj Holdings
Why It’s Great: Invests in global and Indian equities, offering strong diversification.
4. Kotak Emerging Equity Fund
- Category: Mid-Cap
- 10-Year CAGR: 19.5%
- Expense Ratio: 0.67%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.88
- Worst Drawdown (2020): -30.1%
- Top Holdings: Carborundum Universal, Sundaram Fasteners
Why It’s Great: A mid-cap powerhouse with lower volatility than peers.
5. SBI Small Cap Fund
- Category: Small-Cap
- 10-Year CAGR: 22.1%
- Expense Ratio: 0.88%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.90
- Worst Drawdown (2020): -36.2%
- Top Holdings: Tata Elxsi, Elecon Engineering
Why It’s Great: Despite high volatility, it has delivered exceptional long-term returns.
6. Nippon India Growth Fund
- Category: Mid-Cap
- 10-Year CAGR: 18.9%
- Expense Ratio: 0.75%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.86
- Worst Drawdown (2020): -29.8%
- Top Holdings: Tata Elxsi, KPIT Tech
Why It’s Great: A consistent mid-cap performer with strong stock selection.
7. ICICI Pru Technology Fund
- Category: Sectoral (Tech)
- 10-Year CAGR: 18.7%
- Expense Ratio: 0.80%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.84
- Worst Drawdown (2022): -24.5%
- Top Holdings: TCS, Infosys, Bharti Airtel
Why It’s Great: Benefited from India’s tech boom over the past decade.
8. HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund
- Category: Mid-Cap
- 10-Year CAGR: 17.8%
- Expense Ratio: 0.79%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.82
- Worst Drawdown (2020): -27.9%
- Top Holdings: Sundaram Fasteners, Supreme Industries
Why It’s Great: A less volatile mid-cap fund with steady returns.
9. Franklin India Prima Fund
- Category: Mid-Cap
- 10-Year CAGR: 17.5%
- Expense Ratio: 0.77%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.81
- Worst Drawdown (2020): -26.3%
- Top Holdings: Blue Dart, KEI Industries
Why It’s Great: Focuses on high-growth mid-cap companies with strong fundamentals.
10. UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund
- Category: Large-Cap Index
- 10-Year CAGR: 13.2%
- Expense Ratio: 0.20%
- Sharpe Ratio: 0.78
- Worst Drawdown (2020): -23.8%
- Top Holdings: Reliance, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank
Why It’s Great: The lowest-cost index fund tracking Nifty 50, ideal for passive investors.
Comparison Table: Best Mutual Funds (2014-2024)
| Fund Name | Category | 10-Year CAGR | Expense Ratio | Risk Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip | Mid-Cap | 22.1% | 0.73% | High | Growth investors |
| Axis Small Cap | Small-Cap | 21.8% | 0.82% | Very High | Aggressive growth |
| Parag Parikh Flexi Cap | Flexi-Cap | 20.3% | 0.94% | Moderately High | Diversified growth |
| Kotak Emerging Equity | Mid-Cap | 19.5% | 0.67% | High | Mid-cap exposure |
| SBI Small Cap | Small-Cap | 22.1% | 0.88% | Very High | High-risk, high-reward |
| Nippon India Growth | Mid-Cap | 18.9% | 0.75% | High | Consistent mid-cap |
| ICICI Pru Technology | Sectoral | 18.7% | 0.80% | High | Tech sector bets |
| HDFC Mid-Cap Opp. | Mid-Cap | 17.8% | 0.79% | Moderately High | Balanced mid-cap |
| Franklin India Prima | Mid-Cap | 17.5% | 0.77% | Moderately High | Steady growth |
| UTI Nifty 50 Index | Large-Cap | 13.2% | 0.20% | Low | Passive investors |
Key Takeaways
- Small & Mid-Cap Funds Dominated – Funds like Mirae Emerging Bluechip, Axis Small Cap, and SBI Small Cap delivered 20%+ CAGR.
- Flexi-Cap Funds Balanced Risk & Return – Parag Parikh Flexi Cap offered stability with global diversification.
- Index Funds Are Reliable – UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund provided low-cost, steady returns.
Which Fund Should You Choose?
- For Aggressive Growth: Axis Small Cap / SBI Small Cap (high risk, high reward).
- For Balanced Growth: Parag Parikh Flexi Cap / Mirae Emerging Bluechip.
- For Safety + Stability: UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund (best for passive investors).
Want help picking the right fund? Let me know your risk tolerance and investment horizon in the comments!
