Best Value Funds in India (2026)
Live · updated 2026-09-16 Ranked by data, refreshed from daily NAVs
This is the complete, data-ranked list of values we track - every Direct-Growth scheme in the category with a meaningful track record, ordered by long-term quality (King Score). This page is recomputed from NAV data every day, so it cannot go stale, and every fund on it links to a full research page with returns, risk, SIP outcomes, holdings and manager track record.
Value funds hunt for stocks trading below what the business is arguably worth - the out-of-favour, the ignored, the temporarily troubled. It is a discipline with a long global pedigree and a hard psychological edge: by definition you are buying what others are avoiding, and the market can take years to agree with you.
That cycle shows in the data: value funds go through long stretches of trailing the market followed by bursts of strong outperformance when the style turns. Judging them on a single bad year misleads; rolling consistency and full-cycle returns are the fair lens, which is what our ranking leans on. These funds pair well with growth-style holdings precisely because they win at different times.
Tap any column heading to sort. Every fund name links to its full review.
| # | Fund | RS | King | 3M | 6M | 1Y | 3Y CAGR | 5Y CAGR | 10Y CAGR | Sharpe | Roll 3Y | Worst fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Axis Value Fund | 92 | 95 | 3.6% | 10.3% | 7.0% | 17.1% | n/a | n/a | 0.72 | 23.2% | -20.2% |
| 2 | DSP Value Fund | 71 | 93 | -1.6% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 15.1% | 12.1% | n/a | 0.71 | 18.7% | -16.4% |
| 3 | HSBC Value Fund | 70 | 90 | -0.6% | 4.9% | 2.8% | 14.8% | n/a | n/a | 0.49 | 23.0% | -19.6% |
| 4 | HDFC Value Fund | 86 | 84 | 2.6% | 9.0% | 5.5% | 14.8% | 13.5% | 14.3% | 0.57 | 17.2% | -43.9% |
| 5 | Quant Value Fund | 94 | 81 | -2.4% | 15.2% | 16.0% | 19.4% | n/a | n/a | 0.66 | 23.8% | -24.0% |
| 6 | LIC MF Value Fund | 99 | 75 | 5.3% | 20.3% | 17.9% | 15.8% | n/a | n/a | 0.51 | n/a | -25.2% |
| 7 | Tata Value Fund | 54 | 73 | 0.1% | 2.1% | 0.0% | 11.7% | 12.8% | 14.2% | 0.32 | 18.6% | -37.9% |
| 8 | ICICI Prudential Value Fund (erstwhile Value Discovery Fund) | 16 | 73 | -3.1% | -2.6% | -6.1% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 14.2% | 0.35 | 20.5% | -36.7% |
| 9 | Union Value Fund | 45 | 72 | -1.7% | 2.6% | -0.6% | 10.8% | 11.9% | n/a | 0.28 | 20.0% | -37.7% |
| 10 | Nippon India Value Fund | 28 | 72 | -2.4% | 1.4% | -3.6% | 12.9% | 13.0% | 14.8% | 0.4 | 19.1% | -38.6% |
| 11 | ITI Value Fund | 72 | 70 | -0.5% | 7.5% | 3.3% | 12.2% | 12.2% | n/a | 0.32 | 20.2% | -22.7% |
| 12 | UTI Value Fund | 30 | 70 | -1.1% | 0.9% | -5.0% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 13.1% | 0.31 | 15.1% | -36.7% |
| 13 | Groww Value Fund (formerly known as Indiabulls Value Fund) | 67 | 68 | -0.2% | 6.3% | -0.0% | 11.9% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 0.37 | 15.2% | -46.6% |
| 14 | Aditya Birla Sun Life Value Fund | 93 | 66 | 1.5% | 11.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% | 13.7% | 12.3% | 0.38 | 19.1% | -57.5% |
| 15 | Canara Robeco Value Fund | 43 | 61 | -1.3% | 3.0% | -2.5% | 9.9% | 13.2% | n/a | 0.24 | 19.4% | -19.0% |
The category returns: 1 month to 10 years𝕏 Share this statWhatsApp
Over the last 1 year, the category averaged 1.2% - the best, LIC MF Value Fund, returned 17.9% while the weakest managed -8.2%. That spread is why picking within the category matters. Over 10 years the average compounding rate is 13.1% a year, which turned ₹1 lakh into about ₹342,500.
| Period | Average | Median | Best fund | Weakest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -3.7% | -3.7% | JM Value Fund (Direct) (-2.4%) | -5.1% |
| 3 months | -0.5% | -1.2% | LIC MF Value Fund (5.3%) | -3.9% |
| 6 months | 5.3% | 3.6% | LIC MF Value Fund (20.3%) | -2.6% |
| 1 year | 1.2% | -0.6% | LIC MF Value Fund (17.9%) | -8.2% |
| 3 years (CAGR) | 12.0% | 11.7% | Quant Value Fund (19.4%) | 5.5% |
| 5 years (CAGR) | 12.1% | 12.5% | JM Value Fund (Direct) (14.2%) | 7.2% |
| 10 years (CAGR) | 13.1% | 13.7% | Bandhan Value Fund (15.2%) | 9.9% |
Averages across every qualifying fund, refreshed daily. Best-fund links open that fund's full review.
What ₹1 lakh became
The same returns, translated into money - at the average pace and at the best fund's pace:
| Held for | Average pace | ₹1 lakh → (average) | ₹1 lakh → (best fund) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 1.2% a year | ₹101,200 | ₹117,900 |
| 3 years | 12.0% a year | ₹140,500 | ₹170,200 |
| 5 years | 12.1% a year | ₹177,000 | ₹194,200 |
| 10 years | 13.1% a year | ₹342,500 | ₹411,600 |
Pre-tax, from historical returns. The averages smooth over a very bumpy ride - see the worst-fall column in the ranking above for what the journey involved.
The category by the numbers
| Funds that qualify | 21 |
| Combined assets | ₹137,453 Cr |
| Average 3-year return | 12.0% a year (best 19.4%, weakest 5.5%) |
| Average 5-year return | 12.1% a year |
| Average worst-ever fall | -35.0% (deepest: -57.5%) |
| Average expense ratio (Direct) | 0.9% |
| Largest fund by assets | ICICI Prudential Value Fund (erstwhile Value Discovery Fund) (₹58,954 Cr) |
Put the risk number in rupees: at the average worst fall of -35.0%, ₹1 lakh temporarily becomes about ₹65,000. That is the stretch every ranked fund's investors had to sit through at some point - the ranking rewards the funds that made that wait worthwhile.
Momentum check: what is hot right now
As of 2026-09-16, 4 of the 21 funds here rate RS 90 or above (top-decile recent momentum versus peers). The strongest momentum belongs to LIC MF Value Fund (RS 99/99). Average return over the last 3 months: -0.5%; over 6 months: 5.3%. Momentum is a snapshot, not a ranking criterion here - but it tells you whether this corner of the market is currently in favour.
Before you pick a value fund: four checks
- Open the fund's page and look at the worst-fall figure in rupees - decide whether you could genuinely sit through it without selling.
- Check the rolling-return consistency, not just the trailing return: a fund that delivered in most windows beats one lucky streak.
- Compare its expense ratio against the category average shown above - a persistent 0.5% cost gap compounds into lakhs over decades.
- If you already own funds in this category, check the portfolio overlap section on the fund page - two funds owning the same stocks is one bet, not two.
Filter the entire Indian mutual fund universe by 40+ metrics - returns, consistency, drawdown, RS Rating, King Score, cost - then chart, compare and backtest anything you find.
How to read the table
RS (1-99) is recent momentum versus category peers - 99 is the hottest right now. King (0-100) is the long-term quality composite this list is ranked by. 3M/6M are recent returns; 3Y and 5Y CAGR are annualised longer records. Sharpe is return earned per unit of volatility - higher means smoother compounding. Roll 3Y is the median of every 3-year holding period in the fund's history, the fairest single return number a fund has. Worst fall is the deepest peak-to-bottom loss ever - the number that tests whether you would have stayed invested. Missing values show as n/a, usually because the fund is too young for that measurement.
The top 10, decoded𝕏 Share this statWhatsApp
- Axis Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 95/100, RS 92/99 right now. 3-year return 17.1% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 20.2% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹79,800). Median 3-year rolling return 23.2%, sharpe 0.72.
- DSP Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 93/100, RS 71/99 right now. 3-year return 15.1% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 16.4% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹83,600). 5-year pace 12.1% a year, median 3-year rolling return 18.7%, sharpe 0.71.
- HSBC Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 90/100, RS 70/99 right now. 3-year return 14.8% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 19.6% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹80,400). Median 3-year rolling return 23.0%, sharpe 0.49.
- HDFC Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 84/100, RS 86/99 right now. 3-year return 14.8% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 43.9% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹56,100). 5-year pace 13.5% a year, median 3-year rolling return 17.2%, sharpe 0.57.
- Quant Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 81/100, RS 94/99 right now. 3-year return 19.4% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 24.0% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹76,000). Median 3-year rolling return 23.8%, sharpe 0.66.
- LIC MF Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 75/100, RS 99/99 right now. 3-year return 15.8% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 25.2% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹74,800). Sharpe 0.51.
- Tata Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 73/100, RS 54/99 right now. 3-year return 11.7% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 37.9% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹62,100). 5-year pace 12.8% a year, median 3-year rolling return 18.6%, sharpe 0.32.
- ICICI Prudential Value Fund (erstwhile Value Discovery Fund) (Value Fund) - King Score 73/100, RS 16/99 right now. 3-year return 10.7% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 36.7% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹63,300). 5-year pace 13.8% a year, median 3-year rolling return 20.5%, sharpe 0.35.
- Union Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 72/100, RS 45/99 right now. 3-year return 10.8% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 37.7% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹62,300). 5-year pace 11.9% a year, median 3-year rolling return 20.0%, sharpe 0.28.
- Nippon India Value Fund (Value Fund) - King Score 72/100, RS 28/99 right now. 3-year return 12.9% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 38.6% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹61,400). 5-year pace 13.0% a year, median 3-year rolling return 19.1%, sharpe 0.4.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best value fund right now?
On our data-driven ranking as of 2026-09-16, Axis Value Fund scores highest (King Score 95/100). That is a description of its record versus peers, not a recommendation - rankings move as NAVs update, and the right fund depends on your goals and risk tolerance.
Are value funds risky?
The category's numbers answer this better than adjectives: the average fund here has seen a worst-ever fall of -35.0%, and the deepest fall in the category is -57.5%. If a temporary loss of that size would make you sell, this category (or its allocation size in your portfolio) deserves a rethink. Risk here is not hypothetical - it is a matter of record.
What returns have value funds given historically?
Across the 21 funds we track in this category, the average 3-year return is 12.0% a year, with the best at 19.4% and the weakest at 5.5%. Over 5 years the category average is 12.1% a year. These are records, not projections - the next three years owe nothing to the last three.
What is the average 1-year return of value funds right now?
As of 2026-09-16, the 21 qualifying funds averaged 1.2% over the last year (median -0.6%). The best, LIC MF Value Fund, returned 17.9%; the weakest returned -8.2%. One year is weather, not climate - check the 5 and 10 year columns before drawing conclusions.
Which value fund gave the highest return in the last 10 years?
Bandhan Value Fund leads with 15.2% a year over 10 years - ₹1 lakh became about ₹411,600 pre-tax. The average across funds with a 10-year record is 13.1% a year. A decade-long record says a lot about the past and nothing certain about the next decade.
How is this list ranked?
Funds are ordered by King Score - a 0-100 composite of 3-year returns, rolling consistency, worst drawdown and Sharpe, each measured against category peers. The full formulas are public - see our methodology page. No fund pays to be here and rankings cannot be bought.
Should I invest in the #1 fund on this list?
We cannot tell you that - MF Terminal is descriptive research, not investment advice. A top rank says the past record was strong versus peers. Read the fund's full page, check the drawdowns you would have to sit through, and decide against your own horizon.
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All figures pre-tax, from AMFI NAV history. Rankings are descriptive and change with the data. Nothing here is investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any fund. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.