Mutual funds collect investments from various investors. It then invests that amount into a basket of investment options such as bonds, stocks, and other securities.
This diversification in investment helps spread out the risk involved which makes mutual funds a more conservative investment option as compared to individual stocks. These funds are overseen by professional fund managers and they make investment decisions on the investor’s behalf.
Less risky as diversification spreads investments
Professional management by experienced fund managers who handle investment decisions
Easy buying and selling of shares
Buying stocks means you get to own a part of an individual company represented by that stock.
This investment offers potentially higher returns if you invest in companies having strong growth potential. But this investment is also riskier than MFs as it carries higher volatility.
Capital appreciation and dividend income gives potentially higher returns
Shareholding in companies means you get direct ownership
Tailored portfolio with flexibility to choose investments based on preferences
Analysis and navigating the maze of the stock market
Investors study historical price charts and market trends and then make their investment decisions based on this technical analysis.
Technical analysis is a valuable tool for experienced investors to study market conditions which are influenced by various factors, which attaches a higher degree of uncertainty to it.
Talking to Outlook Money, Sameer Gogia, a direct tax professional with Deloitte, said, “Individuals who understand the financial market may explore stocks to get better and higher returns. Otherwise, individuals may consider investing in MFs to get comparatively less risky returns as compared to the stock market.”
Amit Gupta, Managing Director at SAG Infotech, an emerging FinTech company, said, "When it concerns stock investments, there are several fundamental distinctions between mutual funds and
stock. The investment style and management of these two instruments are different. Start from the Return on Investment and risk. However, as a smart investor, you need to understand this and the following important differentiations before buying."
"Mutual funds provide investors with various investment options whereby they invest from pooled money and invest in diversified portfolios. The fund manager must make a portfolio that suits the target of the fund. The diversification may be across asset classes or within asset classes. This will expose you to all the securities in a mutual fund. However, shares are securities which own you parts of a company. It is a high-risk venture to invest in the stock market. Such shares are very volatile thus they are risky investments. It is vital that you have some knowledge of the basics and strategies in the share market to be able to invest successfully in it," Gupta added.
Whether you invest in stocks and mutual funds depends on your risk-taking capacity and investment goals. For those who are less risk-tolerant, mutual funds are a much safer option with professional management and diversification. But if have an appetite for higher returns and are more risk-tolerant then stocks may provide you with that option
