Best Thematic PSU Mutual Funds to Invest in 2022

There are various investment schemes to diversify your portfolio, as Asset Management Companies (AMC) have developed  plans according to your financial objectives and risk tolerance level. One of the most popular schemes among them is Thematic PSU mutual funds. This  article   will explain everything about PSU mutual funds  and top-performing funds that have beaten the industry benchmark over a longer period. 

PSU schemes are ideal for investors who want exposure to public sector enterprises. These funds allocate their assets   to various government-backed societies, banks, trusts, etc.

*As of November 25, 2022 (we must use latest data)

What Are Thematic PSU Mutual Funds?

Thematic public sector undertakings fund or PSU fund are the mutual funds that pool money from investors, and invest in the securities of state-owned enterprises, and diversify your portfolio across the various public sector companies. 

PSU funds do not solely invest in a single industry. Instead, they invest in a variety of companies that are related to the public sector. Therefore, investing in PSU mutual funds means  your portfolio is diversified across industries but thematically focused on PSUs. 

Therefore, as the name suggests, thematic public sector undertaking (PSU) mutual funds primarily invest in equity shares of government-backed companies. Therefore, investing in such funds will expose you to a diversified portfolio that includes top-performing PSUs across different sectors. You can diversify your portfolio according to your risk appetite and financial goal you want to achieve. 

How Do Thematic PSU Mutual Funds Work? 

As per the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) guidelines, thematic PSU funds have to invest at least 80% of their assets in equity-oriented instruments of public sector undertakings. The rest can be invested in other assets as approved by SEBI. Thematic PSU funds primarily focus on companies that are related to the PSU theme, irrespective of the sector or capitalisation. 

Who Should Invest in Thematic PSU Mutual Funds?

Thematic mutual funds might be a great option if you want  exposure to a well-diversified portfolio of public sector enterprises from various industries. You get the benefits of diversification and the potential to get maximum returns. Also, if you are a risk-averse individual,  consider investing in PSU companies, as they are  safer than other themes/sectors. 

Benefits of Investing in Thematic PSU Mutual Funds

Mentioned below are benefits that can be obtained by investing in thematic PSU mutual funds:

•  Investing in thematic PSU mutual funds  will give you  a diversified portfolio that  includes PSU stocks from different sectors.
• If you are interested in investing for the long term, investing in these funds might help you earn high returns.
• By investing in these funds, you get an opportunity to earn benchmark-beating returns on long-run investments.

Things to Consider Before Investing in Thematic PSU Mutual Funds

Here are some factors that you should consider before investing in a thematic PSU mutual fund:

• Investment horizon: As these funds only concentrate their portfolio on a particular theme, it naturally becomes risky. If you want to lower this risk to a great extent, an investment horizon of at least 5 years is necessary.
• Risk capacity: As these funds have a high  concentration risk, you must be ready  to take risks. However, because the government supports the business by giving funds to them, there  is minimal  credit risk involved. 
• Diversification: These funds invest exclusively in securities of government-owned companies. Therefore, if you are looking forward to diversifying your portfolio only in terms of sectors and market capitalisation, you should explore other options.

• Market Risk: The value of the invested corpus might decrease over time due to adverse market conditions or  a sudden stock price drop. It  possesses  market risk, which can make your investments highly volatile. Staying invested for  longer can give you better returns because of compounding effects.

Taxation of Thematic PSU Mutual Funds

As thematic PSU mutual funds invest most of their assets into equities of public sector undertakings, the taxation on these funds is similar to equity funds.  

If you redeem the units of a thematic PSU fund within one year, it is considered short-term capital gains (STCG). The tax on STCG is at 15%, irrespective of whichever tax slab you belong to. 

However, if you hold your units for a year or more, such gains will be considered long-term capital gains (LTCG) if you hold your units for a year or more. LTCG of up to ₹1 lakh is tax-exempt; LTCG of above ₹1 lakh is taxed at 10% without any indexation benefit. 

Other than this, if you earn any dividends from a PSU thematic mutual fund scheme, they will be added to your overall income and taxed as per your tax slab if such an income exceeds ₹5,000. 

Final Thoughts  

Investing in mutual fund schemes could be the best way to start your investment journey. PSU funds are safe enough to invest in as the  government backs these companies.  However, it is still subject to market risks so, do your  research before investing in any mutual funds. Moreover, the macroeconomic situation can affect your investment in many ways. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)