Hot small-cap pharma and healthcare stocks that MFs hold currently

After registered a tepid performance in 2022, mutual funds that invest predominantly in pharma and healthcare stocks have turned outperformers among equity oriented mutual funds in 2023. So far this year, pharmaceutical funds’ category gave 21 percent returns, while the Nifty 50 index gained only 8 percent. Data shows that active fund managers are particularly interested in the small- and mid- cap segment of pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses. Aside from a strong domestic presence and healthy pipeline in the US specialty businesses, fund managers have also been picking up hospital stocks and shares of diagnostics companies. Here are the most popular smallcap pharma stocks among the active mutual fund managers. Only actively-managed schemes were considered. Data shown below is as of July 31, 2023. Source: ACEMF.

JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 88
MF investment value: Rs 3,021 crore

Ajanta Pharma
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 55
MF investment value: Rs 2,703 crore

Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 46
MF investment value: Rs 4,091 crore

Also see: Top sectors that PMS managers bet for higher returns

Global Health
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 39
MF investment value: Rs 1,508 crore

Sanofi India
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 35
MF investment value: Rs 1,555 crore

Also read: MF investment in these 12 midcaps, smallcaps surges 3-fold and more in 6 months

Metropolis Healthcare
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 33
MF investment value: Rs 837 crore

Eris Lifesciences
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 31
MF investment value: Rs 1,468 crore

Rainbow Children's Medicare
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 29
MF investment value: Rs 1,048 crore

Also read: Cautious of market highs: Here are the most sold small-cap stocks by MFs

Natco Pharma
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 24
MF investment value: Rs 1,358 crore

Suven Pharmaceuticals
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 24
MF investment value: Rs 1,206 crore

Narayana Hrudayalaya
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 23
MF investment value: Rs 1,821 crore

Also see: Manufacturing: The new hot stock picking ground for MFs. Here are their top midcap picks

Vijaya Diagnostic Centre
No. of active schemes that hold the stocks as of July 31, 2023: 22
MF investment value: Rs 837 crore

Also read: Can Shriram Mutual Fund rise from its comatose state and be counted?