Coronavirus has impacted the global Economy, due to which the domestic equity faced a huge decline. Most stocks have been hit low records. The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty had their worst run since the 2nd week of March. On 18th March, Sensex ended at 28,896 points by falling 1709 points while Nifty failed below 8500 points.
In the midst of the mayhem, the pharma sector looks less affected as it is profiting handsomely. Investors hunting for safe havens in the ongoing turmoil can consider Investing in the pharma sector as it is showing an improving trend in Earnings.
In recent years, the pharmaceutical sector has augmented as the new listing of hospitals and diagnostic companies have been added more to the basket. The government policies and rising Income levels are giving robust growth in this sector.
The pharmaceutical sector was valued at US$33 billion in 2017. In 2018, the Indian pharmaceutical exports stood at US$17.27 billion and reached US$19.14 billion in 2019. The pharmaceutical Industry is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 22.4% by 2020.
Indian companies received 304 Abbreviated New Drug Application from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017. The pharma sector will expand and will reach US$55 billion by 2025.
The pharmaceuticals exports bulk drugs, intermediates, drug formulations, biologicals, herbal products and so on. India’s biotechnology industry compromising bio-agriculture, bio-industry, bio-pharmaceuticals and so on is expected to grow at the moderate rate of around 30% a year and it is expected to reach US$ 100 billion in the coming years.
The pharma sector provides several opportunities for investments and trade due to the following factors:
(Erstwhile SBI Pharma Fund) To provide the investors maximum growth opportunity through equity
investments in stocks of growth oriented sectors of the economy. Below is the key information for SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The primary investment objective of the scheme is to seek to generate consistent returns by investing in equity and equity related or fixed income securities of Pharma and other associated companies. Research Highlights for Nippon India Pharma Fund Below is the key information for Nippon India Pharma Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile UTI Pharma & Healthcare Fund) The Investment objective of the Scheme is capital appreciation through investments in equities and equity related instruments of the Pharma & Healthcare sectors. Research Highlights for UTI Healthcare Fund Below is the key information for UTI Healthcare Fund Returns up to 1 year are on Fund NAV Net Assets (Cr) 3 MO (%) 6 MO (%) 1 YR (%) 3 YR (%) 5 YR (%) 2024 (%) SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund Growth ₹432.397
↓ -0.51 ₹3,849 4 9.3 11.6 26.8 20.2 42.2 Nippon India Pharma Fund Growth ₹519.533
↑ 1.31 ₹8,569 5.2 11.8 5.1 23.1 18.6 34 UTI Healthcare Fund Growth ₹294.793
↓ -0.28 ₹1,099 8.7 14.8 11.8 25.7 18.8 42.9 Note: Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR basis. as on 14 Aug 25 Research Highlights & Commentary of 3 Funds showcased
Commentary SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund Nippon India Pharma Fund UTI Healthcare Fund Point 1 Lower mid AUM (₹3,849 Cr). Highest AUM (₹8,569 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹1,099 Cr). Point 2 Established history (20+ yrs). Established history (21+ yrs). Oldest track record among peers (26 yrs). Point 3 Top rated. Rating: 2★ (lower mid). Rating: 1★ (bottom quartile). Point 4 Risk profile: High. Risk profile: High. Risk profile: High. Point 5 5Y return: 20.24% (upper mid). 5Y return: 18.62% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 18.84% (lower mid). Point 6 3Y return: 26.79% (upper mid). 3Y return: 23.09% (bottom quartile). 3Y return: 25.66% (lower mid). Point 7 1Y return: 11.57% (lower mid). 1Y return: 5.07% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 11.77% (upper mid). Point 8 Alpha: 2.79 (upper mid). Alpha: -2.16 (bottom quartile). Alpha: 1.14 (lower mid). Point 9 Sharpe: 0.87 (upper mid). Sharpe: 0.57 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: 0.75 (lower mid). Point 10 Information ratio: 0.37 (upper mid). Information ratio: -0.55 (bottom quartile). Information ratio: -0.29 (lower mid). SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund
Nippon India Pharma Fund
UTI Healthcare Fund
1. SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund
SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund
Growth Launch Date 31 Dec 04 NAV (14 Aug 25) ₹432.397 ↓ -0.51 (-0.12 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹3,849 on 30 Jun 25 Category Equity - Sectoral AMC SBI Funds Management Private Limited Rating ☆☆ Risk High Expense Ratio 2.09 Sharpe Ratio 0.87 Information Ratio 0.37 Alpha Ratio 2.79 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load 0-15 Days (0.5%),15 Days and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Jul 20 ₹10,000 31 Jul 21 ₹14,418 31 Jul 22 ₹12,951 31 Jul 23 ₹16,915 31 Jul 24 ₹23,551 31 Jul 25 ₹27,155 Returns for SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 14 Aug 25 Duration Returns 1 Month -0.8% 3 Month 4% 6 Month 9.3% 1 Year 11.6% 3 Year 26.8% 5 Year 20.2% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 15.5% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 42.2% 2023 38.2% 2022 -6% 2021 20.1% 2020 65.8% 2019 -0.5% 2018 -9.9% 2017 2.1% 2016 -14% 2015 27.1% Fund Manager information for SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund
Name Since Tenure Tanmaya Desai 1 Jun 11 14.18 Yr. Data below for SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund as on 30 Jun 25
Equity Sector Allocation
Sector Value Health Care 91.24% Basic Materials 5.74% Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 2.94% Equity 96.98% Debt 0.08% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Dec 17 | SUNPHARMA12% ₹469 Cr 2,800,000 Divi's Laboratories Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 12 | DIVISLAB8% ₹300 Cr 440,000
↑ 27,778 Max Healthcare Institute Ltd Ordinary Shares (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 21 | MAXHEALTH7% ₹268 Cr 2,100,000 Lonza Group Ltd ADR (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Jan 24 | LO3A5% ₹183 Cr 300,000 Cipla Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Aug 16 | 5000875% ₹181 Cr 1,200,000 Lupin Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Aug 23 | 5002574% ₹163 Cr 840,000 Mankind Pharma Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Apr 23 | MANKIND3% ₹130 Cr 560,000 Abbott India Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 19 | ABBOTINDIA3% ₹128 Cr 36,000 Fortis Healthcare Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Apr 21 | 5328433% ₹127 Cr 1,600,000
↓ -80,000 Aster DM Healthcare Ltd Ordinary Shares (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 24 | 5409753% ₹125 Cr 2,100,000 2. Nippon India Pharma Fund
Nippon India Pharma Fund
Growth Launch Date 5 Jun 04 NAV (14 Aug 25) ₹519.533 ↑ 1.31 (0.25 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹8,569 on 30 Jun 25 Category Equity - Sectoral AMC Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd. Rating ☆☆ Risk High Expense Ratio 1.88 Sharpe Ratio 0.57 Information Ratio -0.55 Alpha Ratio -2.16 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load 0-1 Years (1%),1 Years and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Jul 20 ₹10,000 31 Jul 21 ₹14,713 31 Jul 22 ₹13,013 31 Jul 23 ₹16,202 31 Jul 24 ₹23,169 31 Jul 25 ₹25,131 Returns for Nippon India Pharma Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 14 Aug 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 0.1% 3 Month 5.2% 6 Month 11.8% 1 Year 5.1% 3 Year 23.1% 5 Year 18.6% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 20.5% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 34% 2023 39.2% 2022 -9.9% 2021 23.9% 2020 66.4% 2019 1.7% 2018 3.6% 2017 7.6% 2016 -10.6% 2015 19.4% Fund Manager information for Nippon India Pharma Fund
Name Since Tenure Sailesh Raj Bhan 1 Apr 05 20.35 Yr. Kinjal Desai 25 May 18 7.19 Yr. Data below for Nippon India Pharma Fund as on 30 Jun 25
Equity Sector Allocation
Sector Value Health Care 99.47% Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 0.53% Equity 99.47% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 09 | SUNPHARMA12% ₹1,048 Cr 6,256,349 Divi's Laboratories Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 12 | DIVISLAB9% ₹729 Cr 1,070,031
↓ -128,777 Lupin Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Aug 08 | 5002576% ₹520 Cr 2,683,991
↑ 200,000 Cipla Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 May 08 | 5000876% ₹482 Cr 3,200,000 Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Sep 20 | APOLLOHOSP5% ₹470 Cr 648,795 Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Jun 11 | DRREDDY5% ₹444 Cr 3,462,170
↓ -200,000 Medplus Health Services Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Nov 22 | 5434274% ₹328 Cr 3,627,277 GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Aug 22 | GLAXO4% ₹311 Cr 919,164
↓ -24,567 Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Jun 17 | NH4% ₹304 Cr 1,401,811
↓ -5,135 Vijaya Diagnostic Centre Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Sep 21 | 5433503% ₹284 Cr 2,886,684
↑ 55,120 3. UTI Healthcare Fund
UTI Healthcare Fund
Growth Launch Date 28 Jun 99 NAV (14 Aug 25) ₹294.793 ↓ -0.28 (-0.09 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹1,099 on 30 Jun 25 Category Equity - Sectoral AMC UTI Asset Management Company Ltd Rating ☆ Risk High Expense Ratio 2.38 Sharpe Ratio 0.75 Information Ratio -0.29 Alpha Ratio 1.14 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load 0-1 Years (1%),1 Years and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Jul 20 ₹10,000 31 Jul 21 ₹14,212 31 Jul 22 ₹12,434 31 Jul 23 ₹15,086 31 Jul 24 ₹22,089 31 Jul 25 ₹25,028 Returns for UTI Healthcare Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 14 Aug 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.3% 3 Month 8.7% 6 Month 14.8% 1 Year 11.8% 3 Year 25.7% 5 Year 18.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 15% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 42.9% 2023 38.2% 2022 -12.3% 2021 19.1% 2020 67.4% 2019 1.2% 2018 -7.5% 2017 6.2% 2016 -9.7% 2015 12.4% Fund Manager information for UTI Healthcare Fund
Name Since Tenure Kamal Gada 2 May 22 3.25 Yr. Data below for UTI Healthcare Fund as on 30 Jun 25
Equity Sector Allocation
Sector Value Health Care 97.97% Basic Materials 0.93% Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 1.1% Equity 98.9% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 06 | SUNPHARMA10% ₹111 Cr 661,016 Cipla Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Jan 03 | 5000875% ₹60 Cr 400,000 Ajanta Pharma Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Jul 17 | 5323315% ₹54 Cr 210,000
↑ 37,171 Procter & Gamble Health Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Dec 20 | PGHL4% ₹47 Cr 80,283 Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 28 Feb 18 | DRREDDY4% ₹46 Cr 360,000
↓ -36,000 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 24 | 5322964% ₹44 Cr 250,000
↓ -25,250 Lupin Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 28 Feb 25 | 5002574% ₹39 Cr 200,000
↑ 60,000 Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Apr 21 | APOLLOHOSP3% ₹38 Cr 53,000
↓ -3,271 Divi's Laboratories Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Sep 17 | DIVISLAB3% ₹38 Cr 56,000 Fortis Healthcare Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 31 Dec 20 | 5328433% ₹37 Cr 465,000
Medical spending in India has projected to grow 9-12 per cent over the next five years. Further, the growth in domestic sales may increase because of coronavirus. To add more, in such a volatile phase, there are a few Mutual Funds that are performing well.
Speedy introduction of generic or new drugs into the market are in focus and it has expected to benefit the Indian Pharmaceutical companies.
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Research Highlights for SBI Healthcare Opportunities Fund