+91-22-48913909Long Term Debt Funds - When Should You Invest?
Long term debt funds are a type of Debt Mutual Funds that invest in corporate Bonds and government securities (g-secs) that have a long-term maturity period. The average maturity of these funds is in excess of 3 years, most of the times. That is why, these funds are suitable for investors who wish to make a mid to long term Investment plan i.e., typically for 3-5 years or even more. Let's understand how long term debt funds works and what are the best long term bonds funds to invest in 2026.
Long Term Debt Funds - A Plan for Long Term Investment
Long term debt funds invest their major underlying asset in debt instruments like corporate Debentures, bonds and money market instruments & government securities with a higher maturity period. Investors should invest in long term debt funds if they have an investment time frame of more than 3 years. These funds generally come with lower risk compared to equity mutual funds but carry a certain level of credit and interest rate risk. This fund is suitable for investors who are willing to take on some level of risk in their investment.
Long-term debt funds are sensitive to changes in the interest rate and are more volatile than other categories of debt funds. The performance of these funds largely depends on the economy's interest rate cycle, with falling interest rates benefiting these funds the most. Interest rates and prices of the debt instruments have an inverse relationship, which means that they move in opposite directions. For instance, a falling interest rate is good for debt funds or bond funds. Long term income funds usually benefit when the interest rates are moving downwards. Moreover, during interest rate falls, the bond prices go up and this boost NAVs of the debt fund schemes.
In a falling interest rate scenario, the average maturities of such bonds can go up to around 7-10 years. When the interest rates rise, they stock up lower tenured securities and keep the Portfolio’s average maturity low.
It's important to consider economic factors, including inflation trends and monetary policy, when determining the right time to invest in long-term debt funds. Monitoring central Bank announcements, such as interest rate cuts or hikes, can provide insights into potential market shifts.
Mostly, it is advisable to invest in long term bond funds when the interest rates are expected to ease down because a decrease in the interest rates causes a rise in the prices of long-term securities. Investors who are comfortable with fluctuating interest rates in the market, should only prefer Investing in long term debt funds.
It’s also crucial to have a diversified portfolio. Relying heavily on long-term debt funds can expose your investment to Volatility if interest rates rise unexpectedly. A balanced mix of equities, short-term debt, and long-term debt ensures you are better protected in various market conditions.
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Returns and Risk
These funds are meant to give returns in excess of bank fixed deposits. One of the significant benefits of long-term debt funds is their potential to provide inflation-adjusted returns, making them an attractive choice for investors looking to preserve purchasing power over time. Furthermore, if held for more than three years, the returns are more tax efficient. But, on the risk side, these funds can get volatile when the interest rates suddenly change direction. In a sustained rising interest rate regime, these funds give modest returns as they cannot sell long-dated bonds and switch to shorter tenured scripts.
Additionally, investors need to be aware of the credit risk associated with these funds. While many long-term debt funds invest in highly rated securities, there can still be a risk of default if a corporate bond issuer faces financial trouble. Hence, investors should assess the credit profile of the fund before investing.
Impact of Inflation on Long Term Debt Funds
Inflation has a direct impact on the real returns of long-term debt funds. When inflation rises, the purchasing power of future cash flows from bonds decreases. This means that, even if your fund delivers nominal returns, the real returns (adjusted for inflation) could be lower. Investors should closely monitor inflation trends because a higher-than-expected inflation rate could erode the value of their long-term investments.
However, during periods of moderate inflation, long-term debt funds can still provide decent real returns, especially when paired with tax benefits from indexation.
Long Term Debt Funds Taxation
Tax implication on debt funds is computed in the following manner-
Short Term Capital Gains
If the holding period of a debt investment is less than 36 months, then it is classified as a short-term investment and these are taxed as per individual's tax slab.
Long Term Capital Gains
If the holding period of debt investment is more than 36 months, then it is classified as a long-term investment and is taxed at 20% with an indexation benefit.
| Capital Gains | Investment Holding Gains | Taxation |
|---|---|---|
| Short Term Capital Gains | Less than 36 months | As per individual's tax slab |
| Long Term Capital Gains | More than 36 months | 20% with indexation benefits |
The indexation benefit is a key advantage of holding debt funds for the long term. It allows investors to adjust the cost of their investment for inflation, thereby reducing the tax burden.
Ideal Investor Profile for Long Term Debt Funds
Long-term debt funds are suitable for:
- Investors with a moderate risk appetite: These funds are not risk-free but are less volatile compared to Equity Funds.
- Investors looking for stable returns over 3-5 years: Those who prefer a predictable return pattern and can handle interest rate fluctuations.
- Tax-conscious investors: Due to the tax benefits of indexation, these funds are more attractive than traditional fixed deposits for long-term holdings.
- Investors seeking an alternative to equity: Those who prefer debt over equities but want better returns than short-term debt funds.
How Interest Rate Cycles Affect Long Term Debt Funds
Interest rate cycles play a critical role in determining the performance of long-term debt funds. In a falling interest rate scenario, long-term debt funds typically perform well, as bond prices increase. Conversely, when interest rates are rising, long-term debt funds may underperform because bond prices tend to decrease.
It is crucial for investors to understand where the economy is in the interest rate cycle before committing to long-term debt funds. For instance, during an expansion phase in the economy where central banks may hike interest rates to curb inflation, long-term debt funds could see volatility.
How to Invest in Long Term Bond Funds?
Investors can invest in two ways— SIP or Lump sum. For average investors, SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is the most viable option. It gives you a systematic option of investing monthly/quarterly/annually basis. In a lump sum, investors have to invest a considerable amount as a one-time down payment in the scheme. The minimum investment amount for a lump sum is INR 5000, whereas for a SIP it is INR 500.
SIP is an excellent way to mitigate market timing risks. By investing periodically, you benefit from rupee cost averaging, which can be especially helpful in a volatile interest rate environment. Lump sum investments are ideal for those with a large amount to invest upfront and who are confident in the market outlook for long-term interest rates.
Fund Selection Methodology used to find 10 funds
Best Long Term Bond Funds to Invest in 2026
Fund NAV Net Assets (Cr) Min Investment Min SIP Investment 3 MO (%) 6 MO (%) 1 YR (%) 3 YR (%) 2024 (%) Debt Yield (YTM) Mod. Duration Eff. Maturity Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund Growth ₹102.675
↑ 0.02 ₹1,338 10,000 500 0.8 2.1 8.6 7.6 9.1 7.12% 2Y 5M 23D 5Y 10M 10D BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund Growth ₹28.2451
↑ 0.00 ₹482 5,000 300 0.3 1.7 7.4 7.6 8.3 6.92% 3Y 3M 4Y 2M 26D ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund Growth ₹30.7546
↑ 0.00 ₹33,871 5,000 100 0.8 2.2 7.4 7.7 8 7.02% 2Y 11M 1D 5Y 5M 12D Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard Growth ₹3,875.91
↓ -1.13 ₹18,841 5,000 1,000 0.4 1.8 7.1 7.4 7.8 7.04% 2Y 11M 12D 4Y 6M 14D Nippon India Prime Debt Fund Growth ₹61.5324
↓ 0.00 ₹10,431 1,000 100 0.3 1.6 7 7.5 7.8 7.71% 3Y 10M 20D 5Y 9M 29D Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund Growth ₹41.1851
↓ -0.01 ₹768 5,000 250 0.3 1.7 6.9 7 7.5 6.9% 3Y 3M 4Y 3M 7D Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund Growth ₹3,256.51
↑ 0.52 ₹7,307 5,000 100 0.3 1.5 6.8 7.2 7.6 6.96% 3Y 4M 24D 4Y 4M 28D Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund Growth ₹19.6949
↑ 0.00 ₹14,856 5,000 1,000 0.4 1.5 6.7 7.1 7.4 6.73% 2Y 6M 3Y Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund Growth ₹115.489
↑ 0.01 ₹29,856 1,000 100 0.2 1.4 6.5 7.4 7.4 7.12% 4Y 10M 24D 7Y 6M 14D HDFC Corporate Bond Fund Growth ₹33.2805
↑ 0.00 ₹34,805 5,000 300 0.1 1.3 6.4 7.4 7.3 7.13% 4Y 6M 11D 7Y 9M 18D Note: Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Research Highlights & Commentary of 10 Funds showcased
Commentary Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard Nippon India Prime Debt Fund Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund HDFC Corporate Bond Fund Point 1 Bottom quartile AUM (₹1,338 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹482 Cr). Top quartile AUM (₹33,871 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹18,841 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹10,431 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹768 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹7,307 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹14,856 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹29,856 Cr). Highest AUM (₹34,805 Cr). Point 2 Oldest track record among peers (28 yrs). Established history (17+ yrs). Established history (16+ yrs). Established history (18+ yrs). Established history (25+ yrs). Established history (21+ yrs). Established history (18+ yrs). Established history (10+ yrs). Established history (28+ yrs). Established history (15+ yrs). Point 3 Rating: 2★ (bottom quartile). Rating: 3★ (lower mid). Rating: 4★ (upper mid). Rating: 4★ (upper mid). Rating: 4★ (upper mid). Rating: 3★ (lower mid). Rating: 2★ (bottom quartile). Not Rated. Top rated. Rating: 5★ (top quartile). Point 4 Risk profile: Moderate. Risk profile: Moderate. Risk profile: Moderately Low. Risk profile: Moderately Low. Risk profile: Moderately Low. Risk profile: Moderately Low. Risk profile: Moderate. Risk profile: Moderate. Risk profile: Moderately Low. Risk profile: Moderately Low. Point 5 1Y return: 8.55% (top quartile). 1Y return: 7.43% (top quartile). 1Y return: 7.38% (upper mid). 1Y return: 7.08% (upper mid). 1Y return: 7.04% (upper mid). 1Y return: 6.89% (lower mid). 1Y return: 6.82% (lower mid). 1Y return: 6.71% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 6.47% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 6.43% (bottom quartile). Point 6 1M return: 0.14% (top quartile). 1M return: -0.10% (lower mid). 1M return: 0.04% (top quartile). 1M return: -0.07% (upper mid). 1M return: -0.10% (lower mid). 1M return: -0.06% (upper mid). 1M return: -0.11% (bottom quartile). 1M return: -0.01% (upper mid). 1M return: -0.13% (bottom quartile). 1M return: -0.19% (bottom quartile). Point 7 Sharpe: 1.29 (top quartile). Sharpe: 1.13 (upper mid). Sharpe: 1.43 (top quartile). Sharpe: 1.02 (upper mid). Sharpe: 0.87 (upper mid). Sharpe: 0.83 (lower mid). Sharpe: 0.80 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: 0.82 (lower mid). Sharpe: 0.66 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: 0.63 (bottom quartile). Point 8 Information ratio: 0.00 (top quartile). Information ratio: 0.00 (top quartile). Information ratio: 0.00 (upper mid). Information ratio: 0.00 (upper mid). Information ratio: 0.00 (upper mid). Information ratio: 0.00 (lower mid). Information ratio: 0.00 (lower mid). Information ratio: 0.00 (bottom quartile). Information ratio: 0.00 (bottom quartile). Information ratio: 0.00 (bottom quartile). Point 9 Yield to maturity (debt): 7.12% (upper mid). Yield to maturity (debt): 6.92% (bottom quartile). Yield to maturity (debt): 7.02% (lower mid). Yield to maturity (debt): 7.04% (upper mid). Yield to maturity (debt): 7.71% (top quartile). Yield to maturity (debt): 6.90% (bottom quartile). Yield to maturity (debt): 6.96% (lower mid). Yield to maturity (debt): 6.73% (bottom quartile). Yield to maturity (debt): 7.12% (upper mid). Yield to maturity (debt): 7.13% (top quartile). Point 10 Modified duration: 2.48 yrs (top quartile). Modified duration: 3.25 yrs (upper mid). Modified duration: 2.92 yrs (upper mid). Modified duration: 2.95 yrs (upper mid). Modified duration: 3.89 yrs (bottom quartile). Modified duration: 3.25 yrs (lower mid). Modified duration: 3.40 yrs (lower mid). Modified duration: 2.50 yrs (top quartile). Modified duration: 4.90 yrs (bottom quartile). Modified duration: 4.53 yrs (bottom quartile). Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund
BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund
ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund
Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard
Nippon India Prime Debt Fund
Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund
Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund
Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund
Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
HDFC Corporate Bond Fund
(Erstwhile Franklin India Income Builder Account - Plan A) The investment objective of the Scheme is primarily to provide investors Regular income under the Dividend Plan and Capital appreciation under the Growth Plan. Below is the key information for Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The investment objective of the Scheme is to generate income and capital gains through investments in a portfolio of debt and money market instruments. However, there can be no assurance that the investment objectives of the Scheme will be realized. The Scheme launched hereunder does not guarantee/indicate any returns. Research Highlights for BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund Below is the key information for BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Plan) ICICI Prudential Ultra Short Term Plan is an open-ended income fund that intends to generate regular income through investments in a basket of debt and money market instruments of very short maturities with a view to providing reasonable returns, while maintaining an optimum balance of safety, liquidity and yield. However, there can be no assurance that the investment objective of the scheme will be realized. Research Highlights for ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund Below is the key information for ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The primary objective of the Scheme is to generate income through investment primarily in low duration debt & money market securities. However, there is no
assurance that the objective of the scheme will be realized. Research Highlights for Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard Below is the key information for Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile Reliance Medium Term Fund) The primary investment objective of the Scheme is to generate regular income in order to make regular dividend payments to unit-holders and the secondary objective is growth of capital. Research Highlights for Nippon India Prime Debt Fund Below is the key information for Nippon India Prime Debt Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile Sundaram Flexible Fund-Flexible Income Plan) To generate reasonable returns by creating a portfolio
comprising substantially of fixed income instruments and
money market instruments by keeping the interest rate risk
of the fund low. Research Highlights for Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund Below is the key information for Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile Invesco India Active Income Fund) To generate optimal returns while maintaining liquidity through active management of the portfolio by investing in debt and money market instruments. As the portfolio of the scheme will be actively managed, the Scheme may have a high turnover in order to achieve the investment objective. Research Highlights for Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund Below is the key information for Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The Fund seeks to provide steady income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in corporate debt securities across maturities and ratings. There is no assurance or guarantee that the objectives of the scheme will be realised. Research Highlights for Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund Below is the key information for Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile Aditya Birla Sun Life Short Term Fund) An Open-ended income scheme with the objective to generate income and capital appreciation by investing 100% of the corpus in a diversified portfolio of debt and money market securities. Research Highlights for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund Below is the key information for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile HDFC Medium Term Opportunities Fund) To generate regular income through investments in Debt/
Money Market Instruments and Government Securities with
maturities not exceeding 60 months. Research Highlights for HDFC Corporate Bond Fund Below is the key information for HDFC Corporate Bond Fund Returns up to 1 year are on 1. Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund
Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund
Growth Launch Date 23 Jun 97 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹102.675 ↑ 0.02 (0.02 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹1,338 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC Franklin Templeton Asst Mgmt(IND)Pvt Ltd Rating ☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.79 Sharpe Ratio 1.29 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 10,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load 0-1 Years (0.5%),1 Years and above(NIL) Yield to Maturity 7.12% Effective Maturity 5 Years 10 Months 10 Days Modified Duration 2 Years 5 Months 23 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,378 31 Dec 22 ₹10,707 31 Dec 23 ₹11,408 31 Dec 24 ₹12,278 31 Dec 25 ₹13,392 Returns for Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month 0.1% 3 Month 0.8% 6 Month 2.1% 1 Year 8.6% 3 Year 7.6% 5 Year 6% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.5% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 9.1% 2023 7.6% 2022 6.5% 2021 3.2% 2020 3.8% 2019 9% 2018 9.2% 2017 7.5% 2016 7.7% 2015 9% Fund Manager information for Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund
Name Since Tenure Rahul Goswami 6 Oct 23 2.24 Yr. Anuj Tagra 7 Mar 24 1.82 Yr. Chandni Gupta 7 Mar 24 1.82 Yr. Data below for Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Debt 109.34% Other 0.23% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 60.65% Government 48.69% Credit Quality
Rating Value AA 6.82% AAA 93.18% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.9% Govt Stock 2065
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹87 Cr 9,029,500
↓ -500,000 Poonawalla Fincorp Limited
Debentures | -6% ₹81 Cr 8,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -6% ₹78 Cr 7,500 RJ Corp Limited
Debentures | -4% ₹55 Cr 5,467 Sikka Ports & Terminals Limited
Debentures | -4% ₹52 Cr 500 Summit Digitel Infrastructure Limited
Debentures | -4% ₹52 Cr 5,000 Rec Limited
Debentures | -4% ₹51 Cr 9,000 Small Industries Development Bank Of India
Debentures | -4% ₹50 Cr 500 Embassy Office Parks Reit
Debentures | -4% ₹50 Cr 5,000 Jubilant Beverages Limited
Debentures | -3% ₹46 Cr 4,269 2. BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund
BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund
Growth Launch Date 8 Nov 08 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹28.2451 ↑ 0.00 (0.01 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹482 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC BNP Paribas Asset Mgmt India Pvt. Ltd Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.58 Sharpe Ratio 1.13 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 300 Exit Load 0-12 Months (1%),12-24 Months (0.5%),24-36 Months (0.25%),36 Months and above(NIL) Yield to Maturity 6.92% Effective Maturity 4 Years 2 Months 26 Days Modified Duration 3 Years 3 Months Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,221 31 Dec 22 ₹10,384 31 Dec 23 ₹11,108 31 Dec 24 ₹12,031 31 Dec 25 ₹13,030 Returns for BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month -0.1% 3 Month 0.3% 6 Month 1.7% 1 Year 7.4% 3 Year 7.6% 5 Year 5.4% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 6.2% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 8.3% 2023 8.3% 2022 7% 2021 1.6% 2020 2.2% 2019 9.9% 2018 0.9% 2017 5.2% 2016 6.7% 2015 10.8% Fund Manager information for BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund
Name Since Tenure Gurvinder Wasan 21 Oct 24 1.2 Yr. Vikram Pamnani 10 Jul 24 1.48 Yr. Data below for BNP Paribas Corporate Bond Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 3.43% Equity 2.28% Debt 94.09% Other 0.2% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 60.1% Government 33.99% Cash Equivalent 3.43% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -6% ₹30 Cr 3,000 Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited
Debentures | -4% ₹20 Cr 2,000 Rec Limited
Debentures | -4% ₹19 Cr 1,900 6.48% Govt Stock 2035
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹17 Cr 1,750,000
↑ 250,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹15 Cr 1,500,000
↓ -500,000 Export Import Bank Of India
Debentures | -3% ₹15 Cr 1,500 Bajaj Housing Finance Limited
Debentures | -3% ₹15 Cr 1,500 Ntpc Limited
Debentures | -3% ₹15 Cr 1,500 6.01% Govt Stock 2030
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹14 Cr 1,400,000
↑ 1,400,000 6.33% Govt Stock 2035
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹13 Cr 1,300,000
↓ -1,850,000 3. ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund
ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund
Growth Launch Date 11 Aug 09 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹30.7546 ↑ 0.00 (0.01 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹33,871 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderately Low Expense Ratio 0.57 Sharpe Ratio 1.43 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.02% Effective Maturity 5 Years 5 Months 12 Days Modified Duration 2 Years 11 Months 1 Day Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,412 31 Dec 22 ₹10,877 31 Dec 23 ₹11,703 31 Dec 24 ₹12,643 31 Dec 25 ₹13,649 Returns for ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month 0% 3 Month 0.8% 6 Month 2.2% 1 Year 7.4% 3 Year 7.7% 5 Year 6.4% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7.1% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 8% 2023 8% 2022 7.6% 2021 4.5% 2020 4.1% 2019 10.4% 2018 9.9% 2017 6.4% 2016 6.3% 2015 9.8% Fund Manager information for ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund
Name Since Tenure Manish Banthia 22 Jan 24 1.94 Yr. Ritesh Lunawat 22 Jan 24 1.94 Yr. Data below for ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 22.47% Debt 77.26% Other 0.28% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 59.54% Cash Equivalent 21.66% Government 18.52% Credit Quality
Rating Value AA 0.5% AAA 99.5% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.82% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹1,479 Cr 143,282,560 LIC Housing Finance Ltd
Debentures | -4% ₹1,469 Cr 145,500 SIDDHIVINAYAK SECURITISATION TRUST
Unlisted bonds | -3% ₹1,006 Cr 1,000 6.48% Govt Stock 2035
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹949 Cr 95,741,500
↑ 95,664,100 SHIVSHAKTI SECURITISATION TRUST
Unlisted bonds | -3% ₹904 Cr 900 Pipeline Infrastructure Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹827 Cr 80,500 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹757 Cr 73,594,780 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹582 Cr 58,412,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -2% ₹546 Cr 54,000 6.9% Govt Stock 2065
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹533 Cr 56,500,000 4. Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard
Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard
Growth Launch Date 21 Sep 07 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹3,875.91 ↓ -1.13 (-0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹18,841 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co Ltd Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderately Low Expense Ratio 0.67 Sharpe Ratio 1.02 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 1,000 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.04% Effective Maturity 4 Years 6 Months 14 Days Modified Duration 2 Years 11 Months 12 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,376 31 Dec 22 ₹10,758 31 Dec 23 ₹11,496 31 Dec 24 ₹12,448 31 Dec 25 ₹13,421 Returns for Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month -0.1% 3 Month 0.4% 6 Month 1.8% 1 Year 7.1% 3 Year 7.4% 5 Year 6% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7.7% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 7.8% 2023 8.3% 2022 6.9% 2021 3.7% 2020 3.8% 2019 9.7% 2018 9.6% 2017 7.5% 2016 6.9% 2015 9.4% Fund Manager information for Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard
Name Since Tenure Deepak Agrawal 1 Feb 15 10.92 Yr. Manu Sharma 1 Nov 22 3.17 Yr. Data below for Kotak Corporate Bond Fund Standard as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 8.16% Debt 91.58% Other 0.26% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 63.22% Government 29.15% Cash Equivalent 7.37% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.18% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹1,155 Cr 111,935,080 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹636 Cr 65,100,000
↓ -13,000,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -3% ₹592 Cr 58,500 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -3% ₹532 Cr 52,500 6.54% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹499 Cr 49,000,000 Bajaj Finance Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹441 Cr 43,500 Axis Bank Ltd.
Debentures | -2% ₹395 Cr 40,000
↑ 40,000 Small Industries Development Bank Of India
Debentures | -2% ₹354 Cr 35,000 Power Finance Corporation Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹353 Cr 35,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -2% ₹329 Cr 32,500 5. Nippon India Prime Debt Fund
Nippon India Prime Debt Fund
Growth Launch Date 14 Sep 00 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹61.5324 ↓ 0.00 (0.00 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹10,431 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd. Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderately Low Expense Ratio 0.71 Sharpe Ratio 0.87 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 1,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.71% Effective Maturity 5 Years 9 Months 29 Days Modified Duration 3 Years 10 Months 20 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,471 31 Dec 22 ₹10,924 31 Dec 23 ₹11,705 31 Dec 24 ₹12,693 31 Dec 25 ₹13,678 Returns for Nippon India Prime Debt Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month -0.1% 3 Month 0.3% 6 Month 1.6% 1 Year 7% 3 Year 7.5% 5 Year 6.4% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7.4% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 7.8% 2023 8.4% 2022 7.1% 2021 4.3% 2020 4.7% 2019 9.5% 2018 7.8% 2017 6.9% 2016 6.6% 2015 9.1% Fund Manager information for Nippon India Prime Debt Fund
Name Since Tenure Vivek Sharma 1 Feb 20 5.92 Yr. Kinjal Desai 25 May 18 7.61 Yr. Lokesh Maru 5 Sep 25 0.32 Yr. Divya Sharma 5 Sep 25 0.32 Yr. Data below for Nippon India Prime Debt Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 5.07% Debt 94.69% Other 0.25% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 56.42% Government 38.27% Cash Equivalent 5.07% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.68% Govt Stock 2040
Sovereign Bonds | -8% ₹787 Cr 81,000,000
↓ -1,500,000 6.28% Govt Stock 2032
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹281 Cr 28,500,000
↑ 28,500,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -2% ₹248 Cr 24,500 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹240 Cr 24,000,000
↓ -1,000,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -2% ₹209 Cr 20,500 Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹203 Cr 20,000 SIDDHIVINAYAK SECURITISATION TRUST
Unlisted bonds | -2% ₹201 Cr 200 SHIVSHAKTI SECURITISATION TRUST
Unlisted bonds | -2% ₹201 Cr 200 7.02% Govt Stock 2031
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹190 Cr 18,500,000
↑ 5,000,000 Maharashtra (Government of) 7.27%
- | -2% ₹188 Cr 19,000,000 6. Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund
Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund
Growth Launch Date 30 Dec 04 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹41.1851 ↓ -0.01 (-0.02 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹768 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC Sundaram Asset Management Company Ltd Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderately Low Expense Ratio 0.54 Sharpe Ratio 0.83 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 250 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.9% Effective Maturity 4 Years 3 Months 7 Days Modified Duration 3 Years 3 Months Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,350 31 Dec 22 ₹10,729 31 Dec 23 ₹11,401 31 Dec 24 ₹12,311 31 Dec 25 ₹13,239 Returns for Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month -0.1% 3 Month 0.3% 6 Month 1.7% 1 Year 6.9% 3 Year 7% 5 Year 5.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 7.5% 2023 8% 2022 6.3% 2021 3.7% 2020 3.5% 2019 11% 2018 11.3% 2017 4.8% 2016 5.4% 2015 11.7% Fund Manager information for Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund
Name Since Tenure Dwijendra Srivastava 31 Jul 10 15.43 Yr. Sandeep Agarwal 1 Jun 12 13.59 Yr. Data below for Sundaram Corporate Bond Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 7.42% Debt 92.19% Other 0.39% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 58.53% Government 34.3% Cash Equivalent 6.78% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.48% Govt Stock 2035
Sovereign Bonds | -13% ₹97 Cr 9,800,000 Small Industries Development Bank Of India
Debentures | -7% ₹51 Cr 5,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -6% ₹46 Cr 4,500 Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited
Debentures | -5% ₹41 Cr 4,000 LIC Housing Finance Ltd
Debentures | -4% ₹30 Cr 300 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -3% ₹25 Cr 2,500 Rec Limited
Debentures | -3% ₹25 Cr 2,500 LIC Housing Finance Ltd
Debentures | -3% ₹25 Cr 2,500 Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited
Debentures | -3% ₹25 Cr 2,500 Embassy Office Parks Reit
Debentures | -3% ₹25 Cr 2,500 7. Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund
Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund
Growth Launch Date 2 Aug 07 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹3,256.51 ↑ 0.52 (0.02 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹7,307 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC Invesco Asset Management (India) Private Ltd Rating ☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.67 Sharpe Ratio 0.8 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.96% Effective Maturity 4 Years 4 Months 28 Days Modified Duration 3 Years 4 Months 24 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,337 31 Dec 22 ₹10,632 31 Dec 23 ₹11,343 31 Dec 24 ₹12,260 31 Dec 25 ₹13,191 Returns for Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month -0.1% 3 Month 0.3% 6 Month 1.5% 1 Year 6.8% 3 Year 7.2% 5 Year 5.7% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 6.6% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 7.6% 2023 8.1% 2022 6.7% 2021 2.9% 2020 3.4% 2019 10.1% 2018 11.1% 2017 4% 2016 1.8% 2015 14.1% Fund Manager information for Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund
Name Since Tenure Krishna Cheemalapati 16 Dec 20 5.05 Yr. Vikas Garg 26 Sep 20 5.27 Yr. Data below for Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 5.44% Debt 94.29% Other 0.27% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 58.09% Government 37.56% Cash Equivalent 4.08% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.18% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹354 Cr 34,286,700
↓ -2,000,000 6.48% Govt Stock 2035
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹288 Cr 29,012,900
↑ 8,500,000 6.33% Govt Stock 2035
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹258 Cr 26,325,100
↓ -9,500,000 Small Industries Development Bank Of India
Debentures | -3% ₹247 Cr 24,500,000 6.79% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹193 Cr 19,091,100
↓ -2,000,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹176 Cr 17,112,600 Pipeline Infrastructure Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹175 Cr 17,000,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -2% ₹170 Cr 16,700,000
↑ 2,500,000 7.02% Govt Stock 2031
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹158 Cr 15,447,500
↑ 4,000,000 LIC Housing Finance Ltd
Debentures | -2% ₹156 Cr 15,000,000 8. Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund
Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund
Growth Launch Date 12 Jan 16 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹19.6949 ↑ 0.00 (0.00 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹14,856 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC IDFC Asset Management Company Limited Rating Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.65 Sharpe Ratio 0.82 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 1,000 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.73% Effective Maturity 3 Years Modified Duration 2 Years 6 Months Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,367 31 Dec 22 ₹10,639 31 Dec 23 ₹11,363 31 Dec 24 ₹12,234 31 Dec 25 ₹13,136 Returns for Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month 0% 3 Month 0.4% 6 Month 1.5% 1 Year 6.7% 3 Year 7.1% 5 Year 5.6% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 7.4% 2023 7.7% 2022 6.8% 2021 2.6% 2020 3.7% 2019 11.6% 2018 8.5% 2017 6.3% 2016 6.2% 2015 Fund Manager information for Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund
Name Since Tenure Suyash Choudhary 28 Jul 21 4.43 Yr. Gautam Kaul 1 Dec 21 4.09 Yr. Brijesh Shah 10 Jun 24 1.56 Yr. Data below for Bandhan Corporate Bond Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 6.69% Debt 93.01% Other 0.3% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 54.94% Government 38.07% Cash Equivalent 6.69% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.01% Govt Stock 2030
Sovereign Bonds | -9% ₹1,271 Cr 128,700,000
↑ 128,700,000 6.54% Govt Stock 2032
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹821 Cr 82,200,000
↓ -24,500,000 Larsen And Toubro Limited
Debentures | -4% ₹612 Cr 60,000,000
↓ -2,500,000 Reliance Industries Limited
Debentures | -4% ₹603 Cr 57,500,000 7.02% Govt Stock 2031
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹522 Cr 51,000,000
↓ -1,000,000 Nuclear Power Corporation Of India Limited
Debentures | -3% ₹513 Cr 50,400,000
↑ 10,400,000 Bajaj Finance Limited
Debentures | -3% ₹461 Cr 46,000,000
↓ -7,500,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -2% ₹370 Cr 36,500,000
↑ 2,500,000 Ultratech Cement Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹329 Cr 32,500,000
↓ -10,000,000 Rec Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹298 Cr 30,000,000
↑ 30,000,000 9. Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
Growth Launch Date 3 Mar 97 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹115.489 ↑ 0.01 (0.01 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹29,856 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co Ltd Rating ☆☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderately Low Expense Ratio 0.52 Sharpe Ratio 0.66 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 1,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.12% Effective Maturity 7 Years 6 Months 14 Days Modified Duration 4 Years 10 Months 24 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,404 31 Dec 22 ₹10,828 31 Dec 23 ₹11,618 31 Dec 24 ₹12,610 31 Dec 25 ₹13,539 Returns for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month -0.1% 3 Month 0.2% 6 Month 1.4% 1 Year 6.5% 3 Year 7.4% 5 Year 6.2% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.8% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 7.4% 2023 8.5% 2022 7.3% 2021 4.1% 2020 4% 2019 11.9% 2018 9.6% 2017 7% 2016 6.5% 2015 10.2% Fund Manager information for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
Name Since Tenure Kaustubh Gupta 12 Apr 21 4.73 Yr. Data below for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 2.97% Debt 96.76% Other 0.27% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 56.15% Government 40.61% Cash Equivalent 2.97% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹2,223 Cr 222,236,200 6.68% Govt Stock 2040
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹1,607 Cr 165,500,000
↑ 7,000,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -4% ₹1,200 Cr 118,500 6.33% Govt Stock 2035
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹1,079 Cr 110,000,000
↓ -12,090,500 6.79% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹1,055 Cr 104,519,400
↓ -6,000,000 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹798 Cr 80,000,000 Jamnagar Utilities & Power Private Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹592 Cr 59,000 Rec Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹579 Cr 60,000 Bharti Telecom Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹578 Cr 58,000 Bajaj Housing Finance Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹560 Cr 55,000 10. HDFC Corporate Bond Fund
HDFC Corporate Bond Fund
Growth Launch Date 29 Jun 10 NAV (21 Jan 26) ₹33.2805 ↑ 0.00 (0.01 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹34,805 on 31 Dec 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC HDFC Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderately Low Expense Ratio 0.6 Sharpe Ratio 0.63 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 300 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.13% Effective Maturity 7 Years 9 Months 18 Days Modified Duration 4 Years 6 Months 11 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Dec 20 ₹10,000 31 Dec 21 ₹10,390 31 Dec 22 ₹10,730 31 Dec 23 ₹11,503 31 Dec 24 ₹12,487 31 Dec 25 ₹13,403 Returns for HDFC Corporate Bond Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Jan 26 Duration Returns 1 Month -0.2% 3 Month 0.1% 6 Month 1.3% 1 Year 6.4% 3 Year 7.4% 5 Year 6% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 7.3% 2023 8.6% 2022 7.2% 2021 3.3% 2020 3.9% 2019 11.8% 2018 10.3% 2017 6.5% 2016 6.5% 2015 10.6% Fund Manager information for HDFC Corporate Bond Fund
Name Since Tenure Anupam Joshi 27 Oct 15 10.19 Yr. Dhruv Muchhal 22 Jun 23 2.53 Yr. Data below for HDFC Corporate Bond Fund as on 31 Dec 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 3.73% Debt 95.98% Other 0.29% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 57.46% Government 38.51% Cash Equivalent 3.74% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.68% Govt Stock 2040
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹2,428 Cr 250,000,000
↑ 30,000,000 Bajaj Finance Limited
Debentures | -3% ₹1,121 Cr 112,500 6.9% Govt Stock 2065
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹1,047 Cr 111,000,000 6.82% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹836 Cr 81,000,000 State Bank Of India
Debentures | -2% ₹775 Cr 775
↓ -25 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹730 Cr 73,000,000
↓ -2,000,000 HDFC Bank Limited
Debentures | -1% ₹512 Cr 50,000 Small Industries Development Bank Of India
Debentures | -1% ₹507 Cr 50,000 LIC Housing Finance Ltd
Debentures | -1% ₹507 Cr 5,000 Rural Electrification Corporation Limited
Debentures | -1% ₹469 Cr 4,500
Comparing Long Term Debt Funds with Other Fixed-Income Instruments
It’s helpful to compare long-term debt funds with other investment options like bank fixed deposits (FDs), public provident funds (PPF), and bonds. While long-term debt funds offer better liquidity and tax efficiency (especially after 3 years), they come with market risks, which instruments like FDs do not. PPF, on the other hand, has a fixed interest rate and offers government backing but lacks liquidity, as it comes with a long lock-in period.
Corporate bonds may offer higher yields but come with credit risks, especially for lower-rated companies. Long-term debt funds, in contrast, give exposure to a diversified pool of bonds, spreading out risk.
Role of Credit Rating in Long Term Debt Funds
Before investing in long-term debt funds, it is crucial to check the credit quality of the bonds within the fund's portfolio. Debt instruments are assigned credit ratings, which indicate the issuer’s ability to meet their financial obligations. Funds with a portfolio of AAA-rated bonds are considered safer but might offer slightly lower returns compared to funds with lower-rated bonds.
However, investors should avoid funds with heavy exposure to low-rated bonds, unless they have a higher risk tolerance, as defaults can erode returns significantly.
Debt Fund Credit Risks vs. Sovereign Bonds
Sovereign bonds, especially government securities (G-Secs), are seen as one of the safest forms of investment as they are backed by the government. However, corporate bonds, a common component of long-term debt funds, carry credit risks. These risks arise when a corporation is unable to repay its debt obligations, which can affect the returns of the fund. Therefore, investors must assess the credit ratings of the bonds held by the debt fund and weigh their risk accordingly.
Duration vs. Yield: Key Concepts to Understand
Duration is a measure of a bond fund's sensitivity to interest rate changes. Long-term debt funds tend to have higher durations because their underlying bonds have longer maturity periods. A higher duration means that the fund's NAV will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Yield is another important metric, representing the income generated by the fund's underlying bonds as a percentage of the NAV. In long-term debt funds, yield tends to be lower in high-quality bonds but rises with riskier bonds.
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Research Highlights for Franklin India Corporate Debt Fund