better way to invest
Ever since the Middle East tension started, there has been an environment of ups and downs in the Indian stock market. In such a situation, investors are getting negligible returns in the index. However, India’s stock markets have time and again shown that sector leadership rarely remains stable for long.
What was performing well six months ago may soon lose its momentum, while sectors that were ignored suddenly emerge as leaders. For most investors, recognizing these changes early and implementing them with discipline and without emotions is one of the toughest investment challenges.
This is how you get better returns
This is where sector rotation strategies become relevant. Instead of asking investors to make focused bets on individual sectors, some funds are institutionalizing this process through data-driven allocation models. One such example is ICICI Prudential Multi Sector Passive FOF, which adopts a model-based approach for allocation across sector and multi-sector ETFs based on economic cycles, valuations and risk-return opportunities. Is.
How much return do you get?
The fund’s recent portfolio strategy reflects this discipline. The investment in metals was reduced from about 10 per cent to 6.59 per cent between December 2025 and April 2026, a result of the strong rally in the sector. Many investors may be eager to take advantage of this boom. During the same period, investment in private banks increased from 19 percent to 26.68 percent. Investment in the power sector was increased from zero to 8.39 percent and in the pharma sector from zero to 9.56 percent, as the model identified better risk-benefit ratio in these sectors. As of April 2026, the largest share of the portfolio was in Private Bank ETFs at 26.68 per cent, followed by FMC ETFs (10.55%), Pharma ETFs (9.56%), Nifty Oil & Gas ETFs (9.40%), IT ETFs (8.58%) and Power ETFs (8.39%). Other investments included Auto, Metal, Bank and Realty ETFs as well. Short-term loans were also included. The fund is managed by Shankaran Naren and Dharmesh Kakkad, who have been associated with the scheme since 2018.
CAGR return of 13.35 percent
Apart from the strategy, it also offers practical implementation benefits. Investors are saved from the burden of buying and selling multiple ETFs, including demat and brokerage costs. Its expense ratio is around 0.60%, which includes the underlying ETF expenses and there is an exit load of 1% if redeemed within 15 days. In terms of performance, this scheme has given returns at the rate of CAGR of 13.35% from its inception till April 30, 2026. Nifty-500 TRI has given returns at the rate of CAGR of 12.91%. For investors who believe that returns in the India market will come more from the leadership of various sectors rather than a few select stocks, ICICI Prudential Multi Sector Passive FOF offers a better and disciplined way to participate in the market without the need for investors to constantly guess which sector will be next.
How are shares selected?
The basic principle is simple. Participate in sector opportunities without being emotionally dependent on investment or exit decisions. Instead of selecting stocks, the fund passively invests in multiple sector ETFs and dynamically adjusts its investments based on macroeconomic signals, earnings trends and market signals. Sector cycles in India have historically oscillated between recovery, expansion and recession phases. During recovery, cyclical sectors like metals, power or banking often lead, while defensive sectors like FMCG or pharma become important during periods of uncertainty. It is difficult for retail investors to consistently understand these changes, especially because their behavior is often driven by recent performance rather than future fundamentals.
