MF Analyser

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF vs ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF and ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund are both Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Funds & ETFs. As of 4 Nov 2026 (Direct plan, Growth option): 3-year CAGR +12.54% vs +12.28%, 5-year CAGR — vs +12.25%, volatility 21.63% vs 21.58%, maximum drawdown −26.12% vs −26.89%. Their portfolios overlap by 97.3% (250 stocks held by both).

Showing the Direct plan, Growth option. Portfolio, sector and market-cap figures are the same for every plan and option of a fund.

Key facts

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
Fund houseHDFC Mutual FundICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
Compared asNifty Smallcap 250 Index Funds & ETFsNifty Smallcap 250 Index Funds & ETFs
NAV₹175.1728₹17.8342
NAV date4 Nov 20264 Nov 2026
Launched (first NAV)15 Feb 20233 Nov 2021
Track record3.7 yrs5.0 yrs
Fund size (AUM)₹2,708 Cr₹785 Cr
Securities held251251
Portfolio as of30 Sep 202630 Sep 2026
Fund pageFull record →Full record →

Returns

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
1 month−1.45%−1.45%
3 months−5.13%−5.19%
6 months+1.04%+0.94%
1 year+0.52%+0.35%
3 years (CAGR)+12.54%+12.28%
5 years (CAGR)—+12.25%
7 years (CAGR)——
10 years (CAGR)——
Since launch (CAGR)+19.18%+12.25%
SIP return (XIRR, 5 years) ⓘ—+12.31%

Up to one year: absolute return. Beyond one year: CAGR. Computed from each fund's own NAV history (AMFI), measured to the latest NAV.

Calendar-year returns

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
2026 (year to date)+4.32%+4.17%
2025−5.79%−5.98%
2024+26.59%+26.23%
2023—+47.97%
2022—−3.19%

Risk

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
Volatility (annualised) ⓘ21.63%21.58%
Downside volatility ⓘ14.11%14.11%
Sharpe ratio ⓘ0.280.27
Sortino ratio ⓘ0.430.41
Maximum drawdown ⓘ−26.12%−26.89%
Recovery from that fall—12 months
Current fall from peak−6.36%−6.75%
Rolling 1-year return: worst−12.14%−12.34%
Rolling 1-year return: median+5.50%+7.30%
Rolling 1-year return: best+71.10%+70.55%
Share of 1-year periods with a loss26.60%28.17%

Against each fund's benchmark

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
Beta ⓘ1.191.19
Alpha (Jensen's, annualised) ⓘ+3.91%+3.68%
R² ⓘ62.9662.83
Upside capture132.38%131.58%
Downside capture122.67%123.01%
Tracking error13.83%13.80%
Information ratio0.250.23
Treynor ratio4.524.32

Portfolio

Asset mix

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
Equity97.79%96.58%
REITs / InvITs1.29%2.55%
Cash & equivalents0.74%0.89%
Foreign Securities0.18%0.00%

Market-cap split (share of fund assets)

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
Large Cap0.00%0.00%
Mid Cap2.71%2.65%
Small Cap94.28%92.93%
Unclassified0.80%0.98%

Concentration

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
Top 10 holdings12.58%13.17%
Effective number of stocks ⓘ173168.5
Securities held251251

Portfolio overlap: 97.3%

250 companies are held by both funds; by weight, 97.3% of the two portfolios is the same. That is a high overlap: holding both adds little diversification beyond holding one.

Held by bothHDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited1.67%1.62%
Welspun Corp Limited1.60%1.54%
Karur Vysya Bank Limited1.37%1.33%
Navin Fluorine International Limited1.36%1.32%
Ather Energy Limited1.21%1.17%
RBL Bank Limited1.12%1.08%
Delhivery Limited1.10%1.07%
Redington Limited1.08%1.05%
Brookfield India Real Estate Trust1.01%1.99%
HFCL Limited1.03%1.01%
Gland Pharma Limited1.04%1.00%
City Union Bank Limited0.98%0.98%
Central Depository Services (India) Limited1.01%0.98%
Cupid Ltd.0.94%0.94%
Sai Life Sciences Limited0.94%0.95%

Top 10 holdings

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF

  1. Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited1.67%
  2. Welspun Corp Limited1.60%
  3. Karur Vysya Bank Limited1.37%
  4. Navin Fluorine International Limited1.36%
  5. Ather Energy Limited1.21%
  6. RBL Bank Limited1.12%
  7. Delhivery Limited1.10%
  8. Redington Limited1.08%
  9. Gland Pharma Limited1.04%
  10. HFCL Limited1.03%

ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index

  1. Brookfield India Real Estate Trust1.99%
  2. Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited1.62%
  3. Welspun Corp Limited1.54%
  4. Karur Vysya Bank Limited1.33%
  5. Navin Fluorine International Limited1.31%
  6. Ather Energy Limited1.17%
  7. RBL Bank Limited1.08%
  8. Delhivery Limited1.07%
  9. Redington Limited1.05%
  10. HFCL Limited1.01%

Sector exposure

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETFICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
Industrial Products8.44%8.58%
Auto Components8.41%8.37%
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology7.72%7.73%
Finance7.60%7.61%
Chemicals & Petrochemicals5.73%5.68%
Capital Markets5.38%5.35%
Banks5.10%5.01%
Realty2.82%4.08%
Electrical Equipment3.46%2.60%
Construction3.20%3.20%
Industrial Manufacturing2.90%2.90%
Consumer Durables2.81%2.82%
IT - Services2.78%2.79%
Healthcare Services2.50%2.51%

Questions people ask

What is the difference between HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF and ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index returns?

As of 4 Nov 2026, Direct plan Growth option: 1-year return +0.52% vs +0.35%; 3-year CAGR +12.54% vs +12.28%; 5-year CAGR — vs +12.25%; 10-year CAGR — vs —. Past returns do not indicate future returns.

How do HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF and ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index compare on risk?

Volatility (36 monthly returns, annualised) 21.63% vs 21.58%; Sharpe ratio 0.28 vs 0.27; Sortino ratio 0.43 vs 0.41; maximum drawdown −26.12% vs −26.89%; beta 1.19 vs 1.19.

How much do HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF and ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index overlap?

By weight, 97.3% of the two portfolios is invested in the same companies; 250 stocks are held by both, the largest shared positions being Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited, Welspun Corp Limited, Karur Vysya Bank Limited. Based on the portfolios disclosed for Sep 2026 and Sep 2026.

What is the large, mid and small cap split of HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF and ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index?

HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF: large cap 0.0%, mid cap 2.7%, small cap 94.3%. ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: large cap 0.0%, mid cap 2.7%, small cap 92.9% (share of the fund's assets, from its latest disclosed portfolio).

Is this a recommendation to choose one of these funds?

No. This page places the published figures of both funds side by side. It does not rank, rate or recommend either fund; which one suits an investor depends on their goals, horizon and risk tolerance.

More comparisons

All Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Funds & ETFs comparisons → · Compare up to six funds yourself → · Every fund in this category → · All comparisons →

Sources: NAV from AMFI; returns, risk and ratios computed by MF Analyser from each fund's NAV history (risk on 36 monthly returns, risk-free rate 6.5%); benchmark ratios against each fund's benchmark total-return index; portfolios from each fund house's monthly disclosure. Returns and ratios as of 4 Nov 2026. IDCW options show no return or risk figures because payouts reduce the NAV and AMFI's file carries no payout history to add back. This page compares published figures only — it does not rank, rate or recommend either fund. Past performance does not indicate future returns; mutual fund investments are subject to market risks.