The market correction of last six months shows the utility of Hybrids

Context
When we talk of volatility in the market and the impact on funds, we talk in terms of statistical measures like standard deviation, Sharpe ratio, Treynor ratio, etc. These measures are good for analysis purposes. However, what matters to the end-user i.e. the investor is the returns over the holding period. Today we will talk about the performance of certain Mutual Fund categories, in a de-jargonized manner which would be easy for the investor to understand.

Fund categories

We have taken three hybrid fund categories that have equity exposure. We will look at their performance in the current phase of market correction. Nifty 50 index peaked on 26 September 2024; we have taken that as the starting point to look at their performance in the correction phase. To compare the performance of these three categories, we have taken two pure-play equity funds – the comparison will give us the perspective.

The three hybrid fund categories we have taken are:

• Balanced Advantage Fund: BAF funds have long exposure to equity, usually more than 65 percent of the portfolio for equity taxation. Balance part of the portfolio is in debt instruments. However, a part of the equity portfolio is hedged by taking a short position in the equity futures segment. This reduces the net effective equity exposure in the fund. The implication is, when the equity market is rallying, these funds gain less than pure-play equity funds and when the market is tanking, these funds lose less.
• Aggressive Hybrid Fund: these funds have exposure to equity in the range of 65 to 80 percent of portfolio, the balance is in debt instruments. The extent of equity exposure in the portfolio gives an idea of correlation with the equity market vis-à-vis BAF funds.
• Equity Savings Fund: these funds have exposure to usual equity, hedged equity and debt instruments. Combination of usual equity and hedged equity is 65 percent or more, which makes its taxation as equity.

The two equity fund categories we have taken for comparison purposes are Large Cap and Small Cap.

Performance

To gauge the performance in the correction phase, we have taken data for the period 26 September 2024 to 28 March 2025. BAF funds, as category average, has given negative 6.17 percent, regular plan, non-annualized. Aggressive Hybrid Funds, with a relatively higher exposure to equity than BAF, have yielded negative 8.58 percent in this period. Equity Savings Funds, with a relatively higher component of equity hedging / debt exposure, have done relatively better, giving negative 1.24 percent in the correction phase. Equity Large Cap Funds have yielded negative 11.33 percent in this period and for Small Cap Funds the number is negative 16.06 percent.

What we observe is, when the equity market has tanked, pure-play equity funds have given commensurate returns, as per the segment of exposure i.e. Large Cap or Small Cap. Hybrid funds, with various combinations of equity / hedged equity / debt instruments, have done relatively better. Over the longer term, pure-play equity funds have fared better. Equity funds, transient volatility aside, have delivered returns, provided you have an adequate holding period. Last one-year results are mixed, as it is after the correction of last six months.

1 April 2024 to 28 March 2025, Large Cap Funds have delivered 5.84 percent, regular plan, and Small Cap Funds have given 7.76 percent. Over this period, BAF category has yielded 5.75 percent, Aggressive Hybrid 8.14 percent and Equity Savings have given 7.4 percent. When we look at 10-year returns till 28 March 2025, Large Cap Funds have delivered 11.1 percent annualized. Small cap Funds have done even better, 16.05 percent annualized. Aggressive Hybrid Funds, with relatively lower allocation to equity than pure-play, follows with 10.7 percent annualized. Then comes BAF, which can fine-tune the effective equity exposure as per their reading of the market, having delivered 9.02 percent. The more defensive of these five fund categories, Equity Savings Funds, have delivered relatively modest 7.54 percent.

Conclusion

The simple message from the above analysis is that the purpose of pure-play equity funds is to deliver relatively superior returns, subject to volatility. Hybrid funds reduce the impact during market volatility, but end up yielding little less over the long term. There are eleven equity fund categories, apart from passive funds i.e. Index Funds / ETFs, and six hybrid fund categories. You can pick and choose the appropriate ones as per you risk appetite. You will have to allocate to multiple categories, in a ratio that suits you.

Author:

Joydeep Sen, Corporate Trainer (Financial Markets)

Originally publish in Mint on 23^rd April 2025
https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/hybrid-funds-equity-funds-balanced-advantage-funds-equity-savings-funds-aggressive-hybrid-funds-market-volatility-11745395348091.html