Diversification Within Large Cap Equity Mutual Funds in India

Abstract

We ask whether a portfolio of large-cap mutual funds in India generates any diversification benefits as compared to holding a single large-cap index tracking exchange-traded fund. Using a mix of traditional measures like correlation and covariance of excess returns, and measures like tracking error, information ratio, and active share, we show that there are limited diversification benefits in a portfolio of two or more large-cap funds. A majority of the funds have similar risk return characteristics and negative information ratios versus a NIFTY100 tracking ETF. A cross-sectional analysis of active shares of the funds at the end of June 2020 shows that underlying holdings of funds are crowded together and funds do not have significant active share.

Keywords: Portfolio Construction, Diversification, Active Share

JEL Classification: G10, G11