A small-cap fund is an investment option of the equity category that invests in small-cap companies. As per SEBI (Securities & Exchange Board of India), businesses ranking 251 and beyond of market capitalisation are called small-cap companies. Such mutual fund investment provides a high growth potential over the long-term period. Their growth pace accelerates during favourable market conditions and during rough conditions, they demonstrate high volatility.
Why does a small-cap fund offer high growth?
As small-cap mutual fund spends on agile, promising, and smaller companies with high growth capacity, the potential of earning higher returns is even more. Small-cap companies basically show a rising economy. They can be small startups with attractive market runs owing to new services, ideas, and technology.
Additionally, small-cap companies provide considerable rewards owing to the growth in the prices of the shares over the long term. As many small-cap companies begin their stock market phase with low market share prices, they offer tremendous growth potential of overcoming their bigger equity category i.e., large-cap and mid-cap. Thus, despite their lesser market experience and smaller size, small-cap companies, occupy a vital place in the nation’s economy and may become the industry leader in the future.
Why do small-cap mutual funds have a higher risk?
Small-cap companies are inexperienced and might not endure the pressure of the market over the long term. Big-scale businesses often swallow the smaller rivals to maintain the leading market position. As an outcome, smaller companies may be acquired by bigger ones even before their maturity. Moreover, small companies may be prone to distinct market fluctuations, triggered by changes in governmental policies, both international and domestic. Hence, such market vulnerabilities can put small-cap funds at high risk.
Who can invest in small-cap funds?
Small-cap funds are prudent for those who can face potential losses from investments in the stock market and can explore small-cap mutual funds. You as an investor can even explore small-cap funds to avail long-term growth as smaller companies usually take more time to mature.
There are many Indian businesses that began young and went on to grow into big entities. So, it can be rewarding over the long-term period. While mutual fund managers make it a point to consider the risk attached to small-cap companies before investing your money in them, you also as a retail investor must conduct your little research on the ground level to opt for the small-cap funds investing in apt companies of your preference.
For example, sound monetary management and the strength of a company are vital for sustenance in the market. Often small-cap companies have limited fund reserves and hence a pragmatic liquidity reserve is essential. Apart from this, you as a retail investor must even look at the fund’s operating margin, sales, quality management and profits.
Note that once you have zeroed in on a preferred small-cap fund, you must use an online SIP calculator to determine the monthly contribution you can make to attain your financial goal by the deadline.
