When it comes to long-term wealth creation through mutual funds, consistency matters more than short-term hype. Among India’s most trusted fund houses, SBI Mutual Fund has built a strong reputation for delivering reliable performance across market cycles. Several of its equity schemes have stood out over the years by generating impressive returns for disciplined investors.

In particular, three equity-oriented schemes have repeatedly featured at the top of return charts across 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year investment horizons. These are the SBI Contra Fund, SBI Focused Fund, and SBI Large & Midcap Fund. While each follows a different investment strategy, all three have rewarded investors who stayed invested for the long term.

Let’s take a closer look at how these funds have performed and what makes them attractive for long-term investors.

Why Consistency Is Key in Equity Investing

Stock market investing is not about predicting short-term movements—it’s about choosing quality funds and staying invested. Over time, market volatility tends to smooth out, allowing well-managed equity funds to compound wealth effectively.

These three SBI schemes have demonstrated the ability to deliver stable and competitive CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) returns despite market ups and downs. Interestingly, while one fund leads in the long run, another shines over shorter timeframes, giving investors multiple options depending on their goals and risk appetite.

Performance Snapshot: 3-Year Returns

Over the past three years, equity markets have witnessed sharp rallies and sudden corrections. Despite this volatility, all three SBI funds have delivered returns above 20%, highlighting their strong fund management and stock selection.

• SBI Contra Fund recorded a return of 21.31%, placing it at the top over this period.

• SBI Focused Fund followed closely with a return of 20.92%.

• SBI Large & Midcap Fund delivered 20.08%, still a solid performance in a challenging market environment.

The narrow gap between the returns shows how closely these funds have competed, offering investors multiple strong choices.

Medium-Term View: 5-Year Performance

When we expand the horizon to five years, the picture becomes clearer. The contra investment strategy—where the fund invests against prevailing market sentiment—has proven especially effective.

• SBI Contra Fund led the pack with a strong 21.85% return over five years.

• SBI Large & Midcap Fund secured second place with 18.66%, benefiting from exposure to both stable large-cap stocks and high-growth mid-cap companies.

• SBI Focused Fund, which invests in a limited number of high-conviction stocks, delivered 16.20% over the same period.

This phase highlights how different strategies perform under varying market conditions.

Long-Term Perspective: 10-Year Wealth Creation

A decade-long investment journey truly tests a fund’s ability to navigate multiple market cycles—bull runs, corrections, global crises, and recoveries. Over this extended period, the ranking of these SBI funds remains largely consistent with the 5-year trend.

The SBI Contra Fund continues to lead, reflecting the strength of its long-term investment philosophy. The SBI Large & Midcap Fund remains a strong second, supported by diversification across market capitalisations. Meanwhile, the SBI Focused Fund has still managed to deliver competitive long-term returns despite holding a concentrated portfolio.

Which Fund Should You Choose?

Each of these funds serves a different type of investor:

• SBI Contra Fund may suit investors who believe in long-term value investing and can tolerate periods of underperformance.

• SBI Focused Fund is ideal for those comfortable with higher risk in exchange for potentially higher rewards from a concentrated portfolio.

• SBI Large & Midcap Fund works well for investors seeking a balance between stability and growth.

Final Takeaway

For investors planning to build wealth over the long term, SBI Mutual Fund’s equity schemes offer proven track records backed by disciplined fund management. While past performance does not guarantee future returns, consistent results across multiple timeframes suggest strong fundamentals.