Is FD a better investment option than equity

Unlocking the Investment Dilemma: Comparing FDs and Equity – Which Path Leads to Better Returns?
FD vs Equity
4 mins
29-January-2026

Whether Fixed Deposit (FD) or equity is the better investment option depends entirely on you—your financial goals, risk appetite, and how long you plan to stay invested.

FDs are designed for stability and predictability, while equities aim for higher growth with higher volatility. Instead of choosing one over the other, many financial experts recommend balancing both to create a resilient investment portfolio.

Before deciding, it’s important to evaluate key personal factors such as:

  • Risk appetite
  • Financial goals
  • Age
  • Income and expenses
  • Liquidity requirements

A well-diversified portfolio spreads risk and helps you stay financially comfortable across different life stages. Let’s understand both investment tools in detail.

Fixed Deposits (FD)

A fixed deposit is a fixed-income investment that is not affected by market volatility. Once you book an FD, the interest rate remains unchanged for the entire tenure, making returns easy to predict.

FDs are ideal if you:

  • Have a defined financial goal
  • Want capital protection
  • Prefer stable and guaranteed returns

Banks, post offices, and NBFCs offer fixed deposits. While bank and post office FDs are government-backed, NBFC FDs can offer higher returns—provided you choose an institution with strong credit ratings.

Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits combine higher interest rates with strong safety, backed by CRISIL AAA/STABLE and [ICRA] AAA (Stable) ratings. Open FD account.

Few key highlights of the FD plan offered by Bajaj Finance

  • Low minimum investment amount
  • Flexible tenures from 12 to 60 months
  • Choice of cumulative and non-cumulative payout options
  • Fully online booking and account management
  • Loan against FD facility
  • Competitive interest rates
  • Additional interest for senior citizens

For short- to medium-term goals like education planning, capital protection, or parking surplus funds, Bajaj Finance FD offers predictable growth without market risk. Open FD.

Equity shares

Equity investments are market-linked and follow a high-risk, high-reward model. When you invest in equities, you become a partial owner of a company. If the business performs well, the stock price rises and can deliver returns significantly higher than fixed-income instruments.

However, equity investments come with volatility:

  • Market corrections can erode capital
  • Returns are not guaranteed
  • Requires regular monitoring and research

Equities are better suited for:

  • Long-term investors
  • Those with higher risk tolerance
  • Investors aiming to beat inflation

In conclusion, it would be unfair to say that one investment option is better than the other. The right choice depends on your financial profile and life stage.

  • FDs bring stability and certainty
  • Equities bring growth potential

A diversified portfolio that includes both ensures:

  • Risk mitigation
  • Consistent returns
  • Better financial confidence

Using Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits as the stable core of your portfolio allows you to take calculated equity risks without compromising capital safety. Check eligibility.

Equity investment amount vs fixed deposit amount

When comparing how money behaves in equity vs FDs, the differences become clearer:

Returns

  • FDs generally offer steady returns, typically in a predictable range
  • Equities can deliver higher returns over time, but with volatility

Liquidity

  • Equity investments can be sold anytime during market hours
  • FDs allow premature withdrawal, usually with a small penalty

Control over investments

  • Equity investors can actively change strategies
  • FD investors lock returns upfront with minimal involvement

Effect of inflation

  • Inflation can reduce real FD returns over very long periods
  • Equities may outperform inflation over long horizons

For investors who prefer certainty over speculation, Bajaj Finance FD provides peace of mind with assured returns and flexible tenures. Open FD.

Conclusion

Both equity and fixed deposits have an important role in wealth creation. Equities help grow money over the long term, while FDs protect capital and provide stability.

A smart investment strategy does not choose between the two—it balances both. By anchoring your portfolio with Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits, you create a strong foundation that supports growth-oriented investments like equity, without exposing yourself to unnecessary risk.

Frequently asked questions

Is investment in equity is safer than bank fixed deposit?

Investment in equity is generally considered riskier than a bank fixed deposit, as the stock market can experience fluctuations that may lead to losses.

What is the difference between FD and equity fund?

The key difference between FD and an equity fund lies in their nature: FD is a fixed-income, low-risk instrument, while equity funds invest in stocks, offering potentially higher returns but with higher risk.

What is better than FD funds?

Several investment options, like mutual funds, can potentially offer better returns than traditional FDs, depending on an individual's risk tolerance and financial goals.

Why is FD better than stocks?

FDs are often favored over stocks by risk-averse investors due to their stability and guaranteed returns, while stocks carry higher market volatility and uncertainty.

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Disclaimer

As regards deposit taking activity of Bajaj Finance Ltd (BFL), the viewers may refer to the advertisement in the Indian Express (Mumbai Edition) and Loksatta (Pune Edition) furnished in the application form for soliciting public deposits or refer https://www.bajajfinserv.in/fixed-deposit-archives
The company is having a valid Certificate of Registration dated March 5, 1998 issued by the Reserve Bank of India under section 45 IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. However, the RBI does not accept any responsibility or guarantee about the present position as to the financial soundness of the company or for the correctness of any of the statements or representations made or opinions expressed by the company and for repayment of deposits/discharge of the liabilities by the company.

For the FD calculator the actual returns may vary slightly if the Fixed Deposit tenure includes a leap year.