Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)
Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund · benchmark: the median arbitrage fund · 13.8 years old · AMFI code 119771
A (top 30%), score 63.4 out of 100. Describes the past, not a forecast.
Returns against the index
| Period | Fund | Index (TRI) | Difference | Rank in category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months | 3.5% | 3.3% | +0.2% | 14 / 38 |
| 1 year | 6.8% | 6.4% | +0.4% | 10 / 33 |
| 3 years (a year) | 7.4% | 6.9% | +0.5% | 5 / 26 |
| 5 years (a year) | 7.0% | 6.4% | +0.6% | 2 / 20 |
Growth option, point to point to 6 Nov 2026; periods over a year are annualised (CAGR). Index returns use the total-return index, which includes dividends.
Against liquid funds
| Period | Fund | Median liquid fund | Difference | Fund, after tax | Liquid, after tax | Difference, after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 6.80% | 7.28% | -0.48% | 5.92% | 5.01% | +0.91% |
| 3 years (a year) | 7.45% | 8.04% | -0.59% | 6.48% | 5.53% | +0.95% |
Median of every liquid fund's Direct plan (Growth). After tax assumes the 30% slab and a holding of over a year: liquid-fund gains taxed at 31.2% (slab plus cess), arbitrage gains at 13% (long-term capital gains plus cess). Surcharge and the ₹1.25 lakh yearly exemption on equity gains are ignored; both favour arbitrage further. In a lower slab, or for less than a year (20% plus cess on arbitrage gains), the gap is smaller and can reverse.
Risk
Portfolio
An arbitrage fund buys shares and sells the same shares in the futures market, so its stock list says nothing about its risk; we leave it out. What matters is the return it earns over short-term rates, its costs and its size.
Common questions
What is the NAV of Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct plan)?
₹43.68 on 6 Nov 2026 (Growth option).
What is the expense ratio of Kotak Arbitrage Fund (Direct)?
2.27% a year; the Regular plan's is 2.86%.
What return has Kotak Arbitrage Fund given over 3 years?
7.4% a year (Direct plan) over the 3 years to 6 Nov 2026, against 6.9% for the peer median total-return index.
Is Kotak Arbitrage Fund better than a liquid fund?
Before tax, arbitrage funds usually earn a little less than liquid funds. They are taxed as equity, so for an investor in the 30% slab who holds for over a year, they have usually come out ahead after tax; see the table above. For lower slabs or short holdings the gap narrows.
How are arbitrage funds taxed?
As equity funds: gains on units held over a year are taxed at 12.5% beyond ₹1.25 lakh a year (plus cess); held for a year or less, at 20%. Liquid fund gains are added to your income and taxed at your slab rate.
How is Kotak Arbitrage Fund rated?
A: 8 of 26 Direct plans in Arbitrage, on its track record. This describes the past and is not a recommendation.
Data as of 6 Nov 2026: NAVs from AMFI, index data from NSE Indices, portfolios from Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund's monthly disclosure. Updated every weekday. Read the scheme documents before investing.