HDFC Mutual Fund launches its first non-cyclical consumer fund – Should you invest?

• The core of the fund’s portfolio, (at least 80%), will be allocated to stocks that fall under the non-cyclical consumer theme within the basic industries.
  
• The fund will track the Nifty India Consumption Index (TRI).
  
• Thematic funds are considered risky due to their concentrated focus which limits diversification.
  
  

HDFC Mutual Fund has launched the HDFC Non-Cyclical Consumer Fund, an open ended equity scheme. The new fund offer for the scheme will open for subscription on June 23, 2023, and close on July 7, 2023. The investment objective of the fund is to generate long-term capital appreciation by investing predominantly in equity, and equity related securities of companies with a focus on a non-cyclical consumer theme.

The fund will track the Nifty India Consumption Index (TRI). It is a benchmark index that measures the performance of the Indian consumption sector, including companies engaged in consumer goods, consumer services, and related industries, providing a comprehensive view of the overall performance of the consumption theme in the Indian stock market.

The core of the portfolio, (at least 80%), will be allocated to stocks that fall under the non-cyclical consumer theme within the basic industries. These industries include consumer goods, consumer services, telecom, healthcare, media, entertainment, and publication. The scheme would invest across segments, and market capitalisation.

HDFC MF says that the investment strategy involves targeting companies that are either market leaders, or experiencing growth in market share due to factors such as superior execution, scalability, and effective adoption of technology. The fund will be equally focussed on companies that are likely to witness steady and secular growth, and also companies that have a possibility of a turnaround. The companies the fund will invest in will be from the consumer discretionary, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), telecom, and healthcare industries.

What is the purpose of such a fund?

Thematic mutual funds focus on a particular investment theme, such as technology, healthcare, renewable energy, or any other sector or trend that is expected to experience significant growth, or market potential. These funds aim to capitalize on the potential growth opportunities within the chosen theme by investing in companies that are directly related to or benefit from that theme.

Says Direndra Kumar, CEO, ValueResearch, “All mutual fund companies keep launching funds and keep doing activity. There is nothing in this fund which cannot be done in another fund. The agents get a new excuse to talk to the investors, and also when it is a new fund, they do not need to justify why they have not performed well. Mutual funds are a consumer product and a new fund gives you an opportunity to tell a new story.”

There are already about seven funds in this space which are over 10 years old. However, this is the first such fund from HDFC Mutual Fund.

Historical performance of thematic consumption funds


Source: Value Research

Should you invest?

Thematic funds are considered to be among the riskier categories of mutual funds. This is primarily because these funds construct portfolios based on specific themes, which can limit the range of investment opportunities available. Thematic funds typically focus on investing in stocks that are directly related to the chosen theme, which may result in a semi-diversified portfolio.

“My advice to any investor is to never invest in a new fund. When it comes to mutual funds, all you have is some track record - where it has invested, how it has performed. Here I do not know anything. My other advice is that never invest in a sectoral, or a thematic fund. My primary goal of investing in a mutual fund is that I should diversify. The very basic thing is not being achieved in case of a thematic fund,” says Kumar.

In other words, in the case of thematic funds, because the concentration is on a specific theme or a sector, the fund's performance is more susceptible to the fluctuations. Therefore, investors should be aware of the potential risks and carefully consider their investment objectives and risk tolerance before investing.