Away from the daily trading activity on the Nigerian Exchange Group, investors are also finding strong returns through Nigeria’s mutual fund industry, where professionally managed equity funds are quietly delivering some of the year’s strongest investment gains.
Mutual funds pool investor money and allocate it across diversified portfolios of equities, offering investors exposure to the stock market without directly buying individual shares.
Latest data from the SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) weekly valuation report of collective investment schemes as at 27th February shows several equity funds have already delivered strong returns in early 2026, with some recording yields far above inflation and traditional fixed-income instruments.
Here are the top 10 Nigerian equity mutual funds delivering the highest returns so far in 2026, highlighting the funds that have generated exceptional value for investors.
ARM Aggressive Growth Fund — 137.41%
The ARM Aggressive Growth Fund, managed by ARM Investment Managers Limited, leads the ranking with the strongest performance among equity mutual funds.
The fund has delivered a 137.41 percent year-to-date yield, significantly outperforming all other funds in the ranking.
The ARM Aggressive Growth Fund is an open-ended fund with a permissible investment limit of 70 percent to 100 percent in stocks of companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
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Zedcrest Equity Fund — 44.57%
The Zedcrest Equity Fund, managed by Zedcrest Capital Limited, ranks second with a 44.57 percent year-to-date return.
Zedcrest Equity Fund is a high-performing SEC-licensed mutual fund designed for short-term income and capital appreciation.
Halo Equity Fund — 37.00%
The Halo Equity Fund, managed by Halo Asset Management Limited, delivered a 37 percent year-to-date yield, placing it third among Nigeria’s best-performing equity funds.
Paramount Equity Fund — 35.71%
The Paramount Equity Fund, managed by Chapel Hill Denham Asset Management, ranks fourth after delivering a 35.71 percent year-to-date return.
The Paramount Fund is Nigeria’s oldest mutual fund, investing in a broad range of high-quality equities and fixed-income securities. The fund aims to achieve consistent capital appreciation and income generation over the long term.
Zrosk Magna Equity Fund — 35.32%
The Zrosk Magna Equity Fund, managed by Zrosk Investment Management Limited, closely follows with a 35.32 per cent year-to-date yield.
The Zrosk Magna Equity Fund is an actively managed equity strategy focused primarily on Nigerian listed companies. The fund invests in a concentrated portfolio of businesses with strong fundamentals, durable cash flows, and attractive long-term return potential, while remaining explicitly macro-aware in its positioning.
Legacy Equity Fund — 30.53%
The Legacy Equity Fund, managed by FCMB Asset Management Limited, ranks sixth after delivering a 30.53 percent return so far in 2026.
The fund is designed for investors seeking capital growth over economic cycles by investing primarily in quoted securities on the Nigerian Exchange.
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Meristem Equity Market Fund — 28.98%
The Meristem Equity Market Fund, managed by Meristem Wealth Management Limited, has delivered a 28.98 percent year-to-date yield.
The fund is for investors willing to take on more risk for better returns. It is open-ended and constituted under a Trust Deed.
The fund invests in a basket of high-quality equity securities, with a focus on Nigerian companies.
Guaranty Trust Equity Income Fund — 28.68%
The Guaranty Trust Equity Income Fund, managed by Guaranty Trust Fund Managers, recorded a 28.68 percent year-to-date return.
Guaranty Trust Equity Income Fund provides regular income and long-term capital appreciation from investments in equities.
This is achieved by investing in dividend knights, which are quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Anchoria Equity Fund — 28.63%
The Anchoria Equity Fund, managed by Anchoria Asset Management Limited, ranks ninth with a 28.63 percent year-to-date yield.
The Anchoria Equity Fund invests at least 75 per cent of its assets in quoted stocks of firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and 30 per cent in fixed-income and money-market securities such as Commercial Paper, Fixed Deposits, and T-Bills.
PACAM Equity Fund — 28.18%
Completing the list is the PACAM Equity Fund, managed by PAC Asset Management Limited, with a 28.18 percent year-to-date return.
The fund invests in a diversified portfolio of high-quality companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and short-term money market instruments.
The data highlights the growing appeal of equity mutual funds among investors seeking diversified exposure to Nigeria’s stock market.
With several funds already delivering returns above 30 per cent in the first months of the year, analysts say equity funds may continue to attract investors seeking higher yields than traditional savings and fixed-income instruments.
