According to reports from Mint, several diversified equity funds delivered negative returns on a year-to-date basis as of October 7, 2026. The top 10 worst-performing funds included ICICI Prudential Value Fund at -12.98%, Quantum Value Fund at -11.95%, and Parag Parikh ELSS Tax Saver Fund at -11.78%. Other notable performers in the red included Quantum ELSS Tax Saver Fund (-11.70%), Mahindra Manulife Large Cap Fund (-11.61%), Templeton India Value Fund (-11.55%), Sundaram Value Fund (-11.53%), ICICI Prudential Large Cap Fund (-11.09%), DSP Large Cap Fund (-10.61%), and UTI Large Cap Fund (-10.55%). The analysis covered diversified equity funds excluding sectoral and thematic funds, with the weakest performers showing declines exceeding 10%.
As reported by Mint, the three-year performance picture presents a significantly different scenario. Only one active diversified equity fund remains in negative territory over the three-year period - Samco Flexi Cap Fund at -3.70%. This fund also posted a negative return of 4.76% so far this year, though it did not feature among the 10 weakest-performing funds on a YTD basis. The contrast between short-term and longer-term performance highlights the importance of considering multiple timeframes when evaluating mutual fund performance.
According to Mint analysis, the five-year performance shows no active diversified equity funds in negative territory. This data suggests that while some funds may experience challenging periods in the short term, they can still generate positive returns over longer investment horizons. The analysis emphasizes that investors should avoid judging equity mutual funds solely on their latest YTD performance, as funds can face difficult years while maintaining positive returns over extended periods.
As reported by Mint, the analysis underscores the importance of evaluating multiple performance metrics when making investment decisions. While longer positive returns should not automatically be treated as proof of continued outperformance, investors should also examine factors such as consistency, benchmark performance, portfolio concentration, investment style, and risk before making investment decisions. The data emphasizes that diversified equity funds can deliver negative short-term returns while maintaining positive longer-term performance, making it crucial to consider multiple timeframes when assessing fund suitability.
