Global markets remained under pressure in August 2026 as geopolitical tensions, rising bond yields and elevated crude oil prices kept investors cautious.

The ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz added further pressure on global energy markets, while higher yields tightened financial conditions and weighed on risk sentiment.

These global concerns continued to put pressure on the Indian market, with investors closely watching developments around crude prices, inflation and global liquidity. Against this challenging backdrop, the Nifty 50 TRI fell 1.14 per cent, while the BSE 500 TRI declined 0.09 per cent during the month.

Despite the market pressure, portfolio managers delivered strong outperformance, with several PMS strategies beating the broader benchmarks through active stock selection and portfolio management.

PMS Bazaar tracked 572 PMS strategies in August 2026, including 495 equity strategies. Of these, 464 equity strategies outperformed the Nifty 50 TRI, while 421 outperformed the BSE 500 TRI, highlighting the strength of active management despite the uncertain market environment.

Overall, August highlighted the resilience of PMS strategies, with portfolio managers continuing to generate strong alpha even as global and domestic market pressures remained elevated.

Top 10 PMS Performers

The top-performing PMS strategies continued to stand out in August 2026, with select managers delivering strong returns despite a challenging benchmark environment. The top 10 equity PMS strategies generated an average return of around 12 per cent, highlighting the continued dispersion in performance and the ability of select managers to capture opportunities across market segments.

Leading the pack was East Green Advisors LLP's Quant Strategy, which delivered a return of 14.73 per cent during the month. Atlas Integrated Finance Limited's Momentum 20 PMS Fund followed closely with 14.46 per cent, while Hem Securities Ltd's India Rising SME Stars secured the third spot with a 13.08 per cent return.

Beyond the top three, Jainam Broking Limited's Jainam Value Maxima delivered 12.30 per cent, followed by Accelt Asset Management LLP's Long Term Equity Fund at 11.32 per cent. Pluswealth Capital Management LLP's PlusWealth Catalyst returned 11.18 per cent, while Bharat Bhushan Equity Traders Limited's BB Money Plant gained 11.15 per cent.

Rounding out the top 10 were Wryght Research and Capital Pvt Ltd's Factor Fund at 10.96 per cent, Alchemy Capital Management's Smart Alpha Micro and Small Cap at 10.46 per cent, and Samvitti Capital Pvt Ltd's PMS Aggressive Growth, which delivered 10.24 per cent during the month.

Overall, August's leaderboard highlighted the strong performance of select PMS strategies, with the top performers delivering double-digit returns and demonstrating the continued scope for strategy- and stock-specific opportunities.

Category snapshot

Category performance in August 2026 was strong across segments, with small-cap and diversified strategies leading the gains. Small Cap strategies topped the chart with a return of 4.09 per cent, followed by Small & Midcap at 3.36 per cent and Multicap & Flexicap at 2.98 per cent.

Midcap strategies delivered 2.42 per cent, while Thematic strategies returned 1.74 per cent. Large & Midcap strategies gained 1.72 per cent, reflecting positive performance across diversified equity segments.

Multi-Asset strategies delivered 1.47 per cent, while Largecap strategies recorded the lowest return among the categories at 0.37 per cent.

Overall, August's category performance highlighted the strong momentum in small-cap and diversified strategies, with all major PMS categories delivering positive returns during the month.

Small Cap PMS Performance

Small Cap PMS strategies delivered an average return of 4.09 per cent in August 2026 across 28 tracked schemes. The category significantly outperformed both the BSE 500 TRI, which declined 0.09 per cent, and the Nifty 50 TRI, which fell 1.14 per cent during the month.

The breadth of outperformance was particularly strong, with 26 of the 28 schemes outperforming the BSE 500 TRI, while all 28 schemes also beat the Nifty 50 TRI, highlighting the broad-based strength across Small Cap PMS strategies.

Hem Securities Ltd's India Rising SME Stars led the category with a return of 13.08 per cent, followed by Alchemy Capital Management's Smart Alpha Micro and Small Cap at 10.46 per cent and Sundaram Alternate Assets Ltd's Rising Stars at 7.03 per cent.

Overall, August's Small Cap PMS performance demonstrated the segment's strong momentum, with the category delivering robust returns and comfortably outperforming both benchmarks

Mid & Small Cap PMS Performance

Mid & Small Cap PMS strategies delivered an average return of 3.36 per cent in August 2026 across 62 tracked schemes. The category significantly outperformed both the BSE 500 TRI, which declined 0.09 per cent, and the Nifty 50 TRI, which fell 1.14 per cent during the month.

The breadth of outperformance was particularly strong, with 57 of the 62 schemes outperforming the BSE 500 TRI, while 61 schemes also beat the Nifty 50 TRI, highlighting the broad-based strength across Mid & Small Cap PMS strategies.

Wallfort Fund Management LLP's Ameya Fund led the category with a return of 9.87 per cent, followed by Brightseeds Advisors LLP's Xylem Maverick Strategy at 9.42 per cent and Vallum Capital Advisor Pvt Ltd's Vallum India Discovery at 8.27 per cent.

Overall, August proved to be a strong month for Mid & Small Cap PMS strategies, as the segment maintained its lead over the broader market.

Multi & Flexicap PMS Performance

Multi & Flexicap PMS strategies delivered an average return of 2.98 per cent in August 2026 across 291 tracked schemes. The category significantly outperformed both the BSE 500 TRI, which declined 0.09 per cent, and the Nifty 50 TRI, which fell 1.14 per cent during the month.

The breadth of outperformance was particularly strong, with 254 of the 291 schemes outperforming the BSE 500 TRI, while 276 schemes also beat the Nifty 50 TRI, highlighting the broad-based strength across Multi & Flexicap PMS strategies.

East Green Advisors LLP's Quant Strategy led the category with a return of 14.73 per cent, followed by Atlas Integrated Finance Limited's Momentum 20 PMS Fund at 14.46 per cent and Jainam Broking Limited's Jainam Value Maxima at 12.30 per cent.

Overall, August demonstrated the value of active management, with Multi & Flexicap PMS strategies finding opportunities to gain an edge and generate alpha ahead of both benchmarks

Mid Cap PMS Performance

Mid Cap PMS strategies delivered an average return of 2.42 per cent in August 2026 across 22 tracked schemes. The category outperformed both the BSE 500 TRI, which declined 0.09 per cent, and the Nifty 50 TRI, which fell 1.14 per cent during the month.

The breadth of outperformance remained strong, with 18 of the 22 schemes outperforming the BSE 500 TRI, while 19 schemes also beat the Nifty 50 TRI, highlighting the strong performance of several mid-cap strategies during the month.

Sundaram Alternate Assets Ltd's SELF Portfolio led the category with a return of 7.67 per cent, followed by Right Horizons' Super Value at 7.50 per cent and Abans Investment Managers' Smart Beta Portfolio at 5.82 per cent.

Overall, August's Mid Cap PMS performance highlighted the category's strong momentum, with the average return comfortably outperforming both benchmarks.

Large & Midcap PMS Performance

Large & Midcap PMS strategies delivered an average return of 1.72 per cent in August 2026 across 24 tracked schemes. The category outperformed both the BSE 500 TRI, which declined 0.09 per cent, and the Nifty 50 TRI, which fell 1.14 per cent during the month.

The breadth of outperformance remained strong, with 18 of the 24 schemes outperforming the BSE 500 TRI, while 23 schemes also beat the Nifty 50 TRI, highlighting the broad-based performance across Large & Midcap PMS strategies.

Samvitti Capital Pvt Ltd's PMS Long Term Growth led the category with a return of 7.49 per cent, followed by Shriram Asset Management Company Limited's LEAPS at 4.25 per cent and Bonanza Portfolio Limited's Growth at 3.68 per cent.

Overall, August's Large & Midcap PMS performance highlighted the category's resilience, with the average return outperforming both benchmarks.

Thematic PMS Performance

Thematic PMS strategies delivered an average return of 1.74 per cent in August 2026 across 20 tracked schemes. The category outperformed both the BSE 500 TRI, which declined 0.09 per cent, and the Nifty 50 TRI, which fell 1.14 per cent during the month.

The breadth of outperformance remained strong, with 15 of the 20 schemes outperforming the BSE 500 TRI, while 16 schemes also beat the Nifty 50 TRI, highlighting the performance of several thematic strategies during the month.

Ambit Global Private Client's Build India led the category with a return of 7.02 per cent, followed by White Oak Capital Management Consultants LLP's Digital Leaders at 6.46 per cent and Valcreate Investment Managers LLP's Lifesciences and Specialty Opportunities at 6.35 per cent.

Overall, August's Thematic PMS performance highlighted the category's resilience, with the average return outperforming both benchmarks.

Multi-Asset PMS Performance

Multi Asset PMS strategies delivered an average return of 1.47 per cent in August 2026 across 37 tracked schemes. The category outperformed both the NSE Multi Asset Index 1, which gained 0.28 per cent, and the NSE Multi Asset Index 2, which rose 0.17 per cent during the month.

The breadth of outperformance was strong, with 28 of the 37 schemes outperforming the NSE Multi Asset Index 1, while 28 schemes also beat the NSE Multi Asset Index 2, highlighting the broad-based performance across Multi Asset PMS strategies.

Pluswealth Capital Management LLP's PlusWealth Catalyst led the category with a return of 11.18 per cent, followed by Money Grow Asset Pvt Ltd's Bespoke at 4.54 per cent and Moat Financial Services Pvt Ltd's UpperCrust Growth Fund at 3.74 per cent.

Overall, August's Multi Asset PMS performance highlighted the category's strong performance, with the average return comfortably outperforming both benchmarks.

Large Cap PMS Performance

Large Cap PMS strategies delivered an average return of 0.37 per cent in August 2026 across 31 tracked schemes. The category outperformed both the BSE 500 TRI, which declined 0.09 per cent, and the Nifty 50 TRI, which fell 1.14 per cent during the month.

The breadth of outperformance was strong, with 18 of the 31 schemes outperforming the BSE 500 TRI, while 25 schemes also beat the Nifty 50 TRI, highlighting the resilience of several large-cap PMS strategies despite the broader benchmarks ending the month in negative territory.

Nippon Life India Asset Management Ltd's Absolute Freedom led the category with a return of 5.68 per cent, followed by JM Financial Limited's Growth and Value at 2.38 per cent and Tulsian PMS Pvt Ltd's Tulsian PMS at 2.21 per cent.

Overall, August's Large Cap PMS performance highlighted the category's resilience, with the average return outperforming both benchmarks despite the broader market remaining negative.

August 2026 highlighted the resilience of PMS strategies despite market uncertainty. Small-cap and active strategies led performance, with strong stock selection helping portfolio managers generate alpha across market segments.