Veteran Fund Manager's Fund Beats Giants

Veteran fund manager Samir Arora made his Indian mutual fund comeback in August 2023 with Helios Mutual Fund. In November 2023, the fund launched its flagship, Helios Flexi Cap Fund. As of June 2026, this scheme manages assets exceeding Rs 7,577 crore. Despite Arora not directly managing it, the fund's investment philosophy has attracted significant investor confidence.

The Helios Flexi Cap Fund has delivered a compounded average growth rate (CAGR) of 18.5% in its nearly three years of operation, as of July 28, 2026. This performance notably surpasses its category median and major indices like the BSE 500 - TRI. It has even outperformed large peers such as Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund and HDFC Flexi Cap Fund over specific periods.

The fund's success is attributed to Samir Arora's "Elimination Investing" framework. This strategy prioritizes identifying and rejecting companies with poor governance or business models, thereby building a portfolio of potentially outperforming stocks. The fund navigates through eight critical factors to eliminate red flags before detailed research.

As of June 2026, Helios Flexi Cap Fund holds assets predominantly in large-cap stocks (59%), followed by mid-caps (23%) and small-caps (17%). The portfolio is fully invested in equities, comprising 68 stocks, with top holdings including Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone and HDFC Bank. The top three sectors are financial services, capital goods, and consumer services, making up 53.9% of the portfolio.

Investors with a high-risk appetite and a long-term horizon of at least five years may consider Helios Flexi Cap Fund. Its dynamic asset allocation across market caps and growth-oriented approach make it suitable for those seeking such exposure. However, value-conscious investors might find it less fitting due to its higher valuation multiples compared to some peers.