Markets go up. Markets come down. And somewhere in between, investors panic, second-guess their strategy, and wonder if they picked the wrong kind of fund entirely.
Have you ever looked at your portfolio during a rough market phase and wondered if you should invest in a different kind of fund? Then this blog is for you.
We’ll be breaking down two of the most discussed strategies for mutual fund investment, and which one actually holds up better when volatility hits.
These are: Value Investing and Growth Investing.
What’s The Difference Between a Value Fund and a Growth Fund?
Let’s get to the basics before we start talking about the performance and returns of the two mutual funds strategies.
A value fund invests in companies that appear underpriced relative to their fundamentals. Think of it like you are buying a 100-rupee note for 70 rupees. The market hasn’t fully recognised the note’s worth yet, but you believe that the 100 rupee note will be worth lots more someday.
The companies that account for the value fund are typically mature businesses in established sectors, trading at lower valuations.
A growth fund, on the other hand, invests in companies expected to grow faster than the broader market. While these businesses may not be profitable. Yet. Their current profits may look modest right now. But remember, the bet is on their future earnings potential.
These companies mostly are from high-growth sectors like technology, new-age consumer brands, or emerging industries.
Now let’s address the main question. Which one of these two funds makes more sense from an investment point of view when markets are volatile?
Behavior In A Volatile Market
Let’s understand how both strategies react and behave during a change in the market.
- Growth funds tend to feel the volatility first:
This is because the companies’ valuations are built on future projections. When uncertainty rises, like when interest rates go up, or there’s an economic slowdown, investors become less willing to pay a premium for returns they may (or may not) receive in the future.
As a result, growth stocks reprice sharply downward. And since growth funds hold a concentrated bet on these high-expectation companies, their net asset values can drop significantly, and instantly.
- Value funds are more stable:
The companies they hold are already trading at lower valuations. Therefore, there’s less margin for the movement of their prices to begin with.
When markets fall, there’s simply less room to fall further. However, this doesn’t mean value funds are immune to volatility. They aren’t. But historically, the drawdown tends to be shallower and gradual.
Here’s a sidenote. There’s also a behavioural angle of your fund manager that can affect your returns in either of the funds. For instance, value fund managers are, by nature, contrarian. They’re already buying what others are avoiding. During a market sell-off, that mindset can work in their favour. Which means they may find even better buying opportunities while other investors are heading for the exit.
Is Investing in a Volatile Market Worth It?
When markets recover, growth funds tend to bounce back harder and faster. The same high-expectation companies that got punished during the downturn end up leading the charts as the market rises. If you’re a long-term investor with a 10 to 15-year tenure, short-term volatility matters far less than the trajectory of the sectors your fund is betting on.
Consider another factor. Growth companies, by definition, don’t distribute their profits. Instead, they reinvest their profits back into the business. Over a long period, this reinvestment compounds and obviously reflects in the fund’s NAV.
So if volatility is a temporary discomfort you can tolerate, growth mutual funds can reward patience handsomely.
Choosing The Right Fund
In the end, the choice of investment depends on two things: the time frame of your investment and your risk tolerance.
Planning to invest with a shorter horizon (3 to 5 years)? Does the market turbulence make you anxious enough to exit prematurely? In that case, value funds are a better option for you. The lower valuation protects your fund better during downturns. And the recovery, albeit slower, is steadier.
If you’re investing with a longer horizon (10 years or more) and you can survive the occasional market correction without panic-selling, growth funds have historically delivered stronger absolute returns over extended periods.
If you’re still in two-minds, there’s also a third option most investors overlook. That is choosing both.
A portfolio that combines a value fund and a growth fund doesn’t mean hedging. It’s diversifying across market cycles. When the market is down, value funds tend to be a stable option for a steady income. With a thriving market, growth funds lead. Together, they create a balance without sacrificing long-term (and short-term) gains.
The Volatile Market Mindset Shift
Volatile markets don’t just test your fund; they also test you. The investors who come out ahead aren’t necessarily the ones who picked the “right” strategy. They’re the ones who stayed invested through the discomfort.
Whether you choose value mutual funds, growth funds, or a mix of both, the strategy only works when you put in some time. Switching between fund types every time the market dips is the fastest way to underperform both.
So the answer to which strategy wins a volatile market is: Pick a strategy that matches your goals. Understand why and when it might go through rough patches. And lock in for some time before you switch your investments.
