What is a Flexi Cap Fund in India? Features & Benefits

In this chapter, we will explore what is a flexi cap fund, its significance.

A flexi cap fund is a type of equity mutual fund in India. These funds offer investors flexibility in navigating various market capitalisation segments, including small cap, mid cap, and large cap companies. The term “flexi” emphasizes the adaptability and freedom of asset allocation within these funds. These funds do not adhere to a fixed allocation to any specific market cap category, giving fund managers discretion in their investment choices.

What is Market Cap?

Market capitalization, often abbreviated as “market cap,” quantifies a company’s total market value. It is calculated by multiplying the stock’s current price by the total outstanding shares. This metric helps investors categorize stocks into three main segments: small cap, mid cap, and large-cap. Let us understand these three components in detail:

Understanding the meaning of market capitalisation helps investors assess a company’s size and importance in financial markets. It guides them in making informed investment decisions.

Flexi Cap Mutual Funds in India:

Flexi cap mutual funds in India have gained prominence as versatile investment options after the capital markets regulator, introduced it as a separate mutual fund category in November 2020. A flexi mutual fund, synonymous with flexi cap fund, is designed for adaptability to changing market conditions. It appeals to investors seeking flexibility and diversification in their portfolios as well as those who want to increase wealth. 

These funds cater to diversified investment preferences, offering exposure to the entire market capitalization spectrum. On average flexi cap mutual funds in India give returns in the range of 12%-28%*, depending on their composition. 

*Source: Value Research

Flexi cap fund growth signifies the potential for capital appreciation in the long term. A flexi mutual fund aims to deliver growth by investing across small, mid, and large cap stocks, dynamically adjusting portfolio allocations to optimize potential returns.

Now that we have seen what is a flexi cap fund, let us understand how advantageous or disadvantageous a flexicap fund can be. In this chapter, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of flexi cap mutual funds and understand their significance in the realm of mutual funds. These funds offer a dynamic approach to investing in diversified equity portfolios.

Benefits of Flexi Cap Funds:

Diversification

One of the primary benefits of investing in mutual funds such as flexi cap funds is diversification. These funds spread investments across various market capitalization segments, reducing the impact of poor performance in any one market cap. This diversification mitigates risk and enhances the potential for stable returns.

Dynamic Nature

The dynamic nature of flexi cap funds allows them to adapt to changing market conditions. Fund managers can strategically shift allocations between small cap, mid cap, and large cap stocks based on prevailing market trends and opportunities. This flexibility enables investors to benefit from emerging growth areas.

Freedom of Fund Manager

Flexi cap mutual funds provide fund managers with the freedom of fund manager discretion in selecting investments. This autonomy allows experienced managers to leverage their expertise in identifying promising stocks and adjusting the portfolio accordingly. It can lead to potentially better returns compared to funds with rigid investment mandates.

Liquidity

These funds typically offer high liquidity, allowing investors to Invest and redeem their units with ease, making them suitable for investors with varying time horizons.

SIP Investment

For investors seeking systematic and disciplined investing, flexi cap funds offer the option of investment via SIP (Systematic Investment Plan). This enables them to invest small amounts at regular intervals, harnessing the power of compounding.

Disadvantages of Flexi Cap Funds:

Taxation

While some tax benefits exist, the taxation of mutual funds can be complex. Gains from flexi cap mutual funds may be subject to capital gains tax, which can impact returns, especially for short-term investors.

Risks

Flexi cap funds are high risk mutual funds. While it offers growth potential, it also exposes investors to market volatility. Fluctuations in the equity markets can result in losses.

Time Horizon

Investors with a short-term time horizon may not fully benefit from the growth potential of flexi cap funds. These funds are more suitable for investors with a longer investment horizon, as they may experience fluctuations in the short term.

Expense Ratio

Like all mutual funds, flexi cap funds charge an expense ratio, which covers management fees and operational costs. A high expense ratio can erode returns over the long term.

Market Fluctuations

These funds are diversified equity funds in nature which means that they are still subject to market fluctuations. During market downturns, all segments of the market may suffer, impacting the fund’s performance.

Market Timing Risk

Investors need to time their entry and exit from these funds carefully. Entering at a market peak or exiting during a downturn can affect returns adversely. Like other equity funds, flexi cap funds are high-risk mutual funds. 

Choosing the best flexi cap fund for SIP or lump-sum investments involves careful consideration of individual financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon.

In the previous two chapters we have looked at what is a flexi cap fund and understood the benefits and risks of the same. In this chapter, let us understand the difference between multi cap and flexi cap funds. Understanding the difference between multi cap and flexi cap funds is crucial when considering investment options in the realm of mutual funds.

Meaning of Multicap Funds:

Multi cap funds possess a well-defined approach. These funds invest across various market capitalizations, including large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks. The key aspect that sets them apart is their requirement for a minimum fixed allocation to each of these market cap segments. This concept of maintaining specific and predefined minimum allocation percentages is central to the essence of multi cap funds. Now that you have understood the meaning of multicap funds, let’s move on. 

Meaning of Flexi Cap Funds:

Wondering about the meaning of flexi cap funds? Flexi Cap Funds’ defining characteristic is the flexibility in market cap allocation. This means that the fund managers are granted the freedom to make investment decisions that are highly dynamic, responding to market conditions and opportunities as they arise. This flexibility ensures that the allocation of equity across market cap segments, such as large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks, is not constrained by rigid, predefined percentages.

Multi Cap vs Flexi Cap:

Considering the difference between multicap and flexi cap funds, it becomes clear that multi cap funds are designed with diversification in mind. By maintaining fixed allocations across various market caps, they seek to create a balanced exposure to different market segments, effectively reducing the specific risks associated with any particular cap size. However, this strategy may limit their ability to fully capitalize on opportunities in specific segments of the market.

On the other hand, flexi cap funds are tailored for flexibility and adaptability. They provide fund managers with the leeway to shift allocations, enabling them to seize opportunities in specific market segments when deemed appropriate. This adaptability makes flexi cap funds more susceptible to volatility, as the allocation decisions may be aggressively adjusted in response to changing market dynamics.

In conclusion, when considering investment options such as multi cap funds and flexi cap funds, it is essential to understand the difference between multicap and flexicap. This difference primarily centers around the approach to market cap allocation—fixed allocations for multi cap funds versus flexible, dynamic allocation for flexi cap funds. The choice between the two depends on your risk tolerance, investment objectives, and your trust in the fund manager’s ability to make allocation decisions that align with your financial goals.

• What is a flexi cap fund? A flexi cap fund offers a unique investment approach that allow fund managers the freedom to invest across various market capitalisation segments and enables them to make dynamic investment decisions based on changing market conditions and opportunities.
• Benefits of flexi cap funds include diversification, dynamic nature, and the potential for growth. However, investors must also consider potential disadvantages such as taxation and risks. 
• The difference between multi cap and flexi cap funds hinges on minimum fixed allocation (Multi Cap) versus dynamic allocation (Flexi Cap). 
• Ultimately, the choice between these funds depends on individual risk tolerance, investment objectives and goals.
• When wondering if flexi cap funds are good mutual funds for you to invest in, consider your investment goals, investment horizon and risk tolerance.