Are you one amongst those who keep wondering the
difference between sectoral schemes and thematic schemes? If yes,
this blog might give you some insight.
Sectoral Schemes
As the name suggests, sectoral schemes are the ones that invest in the stocks of companies belonging to a particular
sector such as infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, technology etc. They are usually considered to be very high risk
mutual fund schemes that are especially suitable for long-term investments. These kind of schemes usually take
advantage of the sectors that have the potential to grow. However, since these schemes focus on a specific sector of
the economy, they might limit the sectoral diversification aspect for your portfolio.
When it comes to investing in sectoral schemes, it is important to be mindful of the investment timings. The
performance of the sectors can be cyclical and therefore entering or exiting in such schemes has to be a well
thought decision. So if you hit the right spot, you may earn potential return on investment.
If you have absolute understanding of a specific sector/industry and if you wish to invest in companies within that
industry, you may opt for these types of schemes. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to keep in mind that these schemes
focus on specific sectors, and therefore, the volatility and risk factor could be more than other diversified
schemes.
Thematic Schemes
Thematic schemes invest in sectors, industries and stocks of companies that follow a particular theme or an idea.
Having in-depth knowledge about market trends and knowing how to time the market, can be helpful when it comes to
investing in a scheme that boosts a particular theme. However, always remember that like sectoral schemes, thematic
schemes are also cyclic in nature and therefore tend to be more volatile than other diversified schemes.
These schemes aims to help you create wealth over the long term by focusing on relevant concepts that have a logic
and potential for growth. While thematic investing can be risky, you may also consider the fact that, thematic
schemes, if sustained and performs well over a period of time, may help outperform other types of schemes.
One factor that you should be cognizant about is that when you choose a thematic scheme, you will have a smaller set
of stocks to research and monitor unlike the diversified equity schemes, that may have a larger set of stocks. This
makes thematic schemes one of the simplest scheme types to track or monitor.
Key Takeaways
• Sectoral schemes invest in specific sectors, whereas, thematic schemes invest in a theme or concept that
may
encompass various sectors.
• Both sectoral and thematic schemes are very high-risk-return equity schemes and are considered to be
volatile in
nature.
• Thematic schemes may be broader than the sectoral schemes as they invest in multiple sectors that follow
the same
theme, unlike the sectoral schemes.
It’s crucial for investors to consider their investment objectives and risk appetite before deciding whether to
invest in sectoral or thematic schemes. You may also seek help from professional fund managers to choose the right
scheme for you!
An investor education initiative by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
Visit www.icicipruamc.com/note to know more about the process to
complete
a one-time Know Your Customer (KYC)requirement to invest in Mutual Funds. Investors should only deal with registered
Mutual Funds, details of
which can be verified on the SEBI website (http://www.sebi.gov.in/intermediaries.html). For any
queries, complaints &
grievance redressal, investors may reach out to the AMCs and / or Investor Relations Officers. Additionally,
investors may also lodge complaints on https://scores.gov.in if they are
unsatisfied with the resolutions given by
AMCs. SCORES portal facilitates you to lodge your complaint online with SEBI and subsequently view its
status.(http://www.icicipruamc.com/note)
(http://www.sebi.gov.in/intermediaries.html) (https://scores.gov.in/)
Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.
