Are the ICICI prudential Manufacturing fund and ICICI prudential exports and other services fund good to invest
Ans: You’ve taken a good step by exploring fund-specific investments
It shows your awareness and interest in strategic allocation.
Let us now evaluate ICICI Prudential Manufacturing Fund and ICICI Prudential Exports & Other Services Fund.
The aim is to give you a 360-degree perspective.
This will help you decide whether these suit your long-term portfolio.
Understanding Sectoral and Thematic Funds
These funds focus on specific industries or economic themes.
Manufacturing funds invest in companies that make goods.
Exports and Services funds target export-driven sectors and service-based businesses.
These funds don’t diversify across all sectors.
This makes them more volatile than diversified equity funds.
Returns can be high in sector booms and low in busts.
Performance Assessment: Beyond Short-Term Noise
Manufacturing Fund
Performs well when factory output and GDP grow fast.
Sectors include auto, steel, cement, industrials.
Returns over five years have been strong.
However, in a slow economy, it underperforms.
Recently, short-term return has been slightly negative.
Exports and Services Fund
Invests in companies earning from global trade and services.
Includes IT, pharma, banks, and telecom firms.
Five-year return has been quite good.
One-year return is also positive unlike manufacturing fund.
Sector Allocation Insight
Manufacturing Fund
Heavy in auto, capital goods, metals, infrastructure.
Sensitive to interest rates and inflation.
Capital-intensive firms face profitability pressure in downturns.
Global commodity price movements impact manufacturing returns.
Exports & Services Fund
Focused on technology, financial services, telecom, and healthcare.
Banks and IT companies form a large part.
Services are less dependent on raw materials.
Export-heavy companies benefit from rupee depreciation.
Risk Level and Volatility Profile
Thematic funds carry higher risk than diversified funds.
Their performance depends on macroeconomic and sector-specific factors.
When sector performs well, funds give above-average returns.
But in weak periods, drawdowns can be steep.
These funds are best suited for experienced investors.
Exposure should be limited to a small portion of portfolio.
Expense Ratio and Costs
Both funds have slightly higher expense ratios.
Cost is justified if fund manager consistently outperforms.
Make sure fund performance exceeds category average and index.
Avoid holding too many funds with high expense ratio.
The Role of Active Management
You are considering actively managed sectoral funds.
This is better than passively managed index funds.
Active funds have fund managers making research-based decisions.
They can switch out of poor-performing stocks.
Index funds copy the index blindly.
They cannot react to market changes or company risks.
In a dynamic sector like manufacturing or IT, active management is important.
Active funds give better downside protection in volatile times.
Importance of Using Regular Funds Through MFD with CFP
If you are investing through direct plans, review this decision.
Direct plans have lower expense, but no advisor support.
Without guidance, investors panic during volatility.
Many redeem early or hold underperforming funds too long.
A certified MFD or CFP offers advice, monitoring, and strategy.
Regular plans help you stay disciplined and goal-focused.
The cost is worth it for long-term results.
Where These Funds Fit in Your Portfolio
Ideal Use Case
Allocate 10%–15% of your portfolio to sectoral or thematic funds.
Use the rest in diversified active equity funds.
These funds add alpha when sector tailwinds are strong.
Not suitable as a core investment holding.
When to Invest
When economic recovery is visible in manufacturing.
Or when global services demand is picking up.
When rupee weakens, export-driven services may perform better.
When to Avoid
If your goal is within 5 years.
If you want predictable, low-volatility returns.
If you don’t have time to monitor regularly.
Key Things You Must Do Before Investing
Review overall portfolio allocation
How much is already in midcap, largecap, flexicap, etc.?
Define purpose of these thematic funds
Is it for long-term wealth or specific goal like children’s education?
Maintain liquidity and diversification
Don’t lock entire SIP into one theme or sector.
Avoid lump-sum in thematic funds
Prefer SIPs to manage volatility and timing risks.
Rebalance yearly
If any sector fund grows too big in portfolio, trim and reallocate.
Taxation Planning
These funds are treated like other equity mutual funds.
If held more than 1 year, LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.
If held less than 1 year, STCG taxed at 20%.
If you invest through SIPs, each instalment has its own holding period.
Consider tax impact during redemption or switch.
Plan exits carefully, especially in last year before your goal.
Risks You Must Be Prepared For
Market timing can go wrong.
Sectoral funds don’t work in sideways markets.
Fund manager strategy may not always beat index.
Company-level risks affect performance more in concentrated sectors.
You may lose capital if invested without monitoring.
Fund Selection Tips
Check if the fund has at least 5–7 years of history.
Look for consistent returns over long periods.
Ensure fund manager has not changed frequently.
Evaluate risk-adjusted return metrics like Sharpe ratio.
Confirm that holdings are not too concentrated in few stocks.
Past returns alone should not be the only selection metric.
Your Next Action Plan
Decide if you really want thematic exposure or broader diversification.
Allocate only a limited portion of SIP to these funds.
Monitor quarterly and review annually with a Certified Financial Planner.
If sector outlook changes, reduce exposure or switch fund.
Avoid multiple sector funds from same AMC to reduce overlap.
Don’t hold both funds unless you truly believe in both sectors.
Finally
Both funds are well-managed with long-term track records.
But they are not suitable for everyone.
Don’t invest your core savings into these thematic funds.
Keep them for alpha generation in a diversified plan.
Avoid overexposure to a single theme or sector.
Stay invested through SIP and review annually with professional help.
Track your fund’s relevance, not just its returns.
Make sure your investment matches your goal horizon and risk level.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment