Aditya Birla SL Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Aditya Birla SL Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹1,770.56 as of 28 August 2026 and an AUM of ₹7,210 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 4.92%, 11.46% and 9.41% respectively, and the scheme carries a High Risk profile. Our view is that this is a fund for investors who can tolerate equity-led volatility and are comfortable with a hybrid allocation that still leaves meaningful room for market swings.

With a Nifty 50 benchmark and a portfolio that is dominated by large caps but still has a visible mid- and small-cap sleeve, the fund can suit investors looking for blended equity exposure rather than a low-volatility hybrid. Recent return behaviour is modest, while the longer-term picture is steadier, so the fund looks more appropriate for a patient, high-risk-capacity investor than for someone seeking consistency in every shorter period.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Harshil Suvarnkar and Chanchal Khandelwal.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Short-term performance has improved, but the path has not been perfectly smooth. The 1-month and 3-month moves suggest the fund has recently held up better than the benchmark, and the 1-year return is also ahead of the index. That said, the 1-year figure is still moderate for a High Risk scheme, so the fund has not been delivering explosive short-term compounding.

The longer window is more encouraging. Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark, which tells us the strategy has still added value over a full cycle even when the near-term phase looked less decisive. The 3-year return is stronger than the 5-year return, so the recent few years have been a little better than the full five-year stretch.

Seen alongside the time pattern in returns, the fund has gone through noticeable ups and downs rather than a straight upward run. That is consistent with a hybrid portfolio that carries a meaningful equity component. For investors, the key point is that the fund’s recent steadiness does not remove volatility risk; it simply shows that the fund has recovered enough to stay ahead of the benchmark over multiple horizons.

Compared with NIFTY 50, the fund is ahead in every listed period. The spread is widest over 1 year and remains positive over the longer horizons, which is a constructive sign. Still, the recent gain profile is not so strong that we would call it defensive; it remains a return stream that may move around with market conditions.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Peer comparison

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

The current fund’s 1-year return trails the stronger peer figures in this set, especially HSBC Multi Asset Active FOF Direct Growth Plan and Bank of India Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan. Over 3 years and 5 years, it remains below the better peer numbers available here, although the gap is less severe than in the most recent year. That means the short-term picture is softer than the longer-term one, but the longer-term peer comparison still points to a relatively restrained return profile.

The peer set also tells a mixed story across horizons. Some peers have much stronger 1-year returns, while others continue to show solid 3-year and 5-year compounding. Against that backdrop, this fund looks more moderate than aggressive on returns, even though its benchmark-beating history is intact. For investors, that combination matters: the fund has not matched the most robust peer outcomes, but it has still delivered a coherent multi-year track record.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap mix is 53% large cap, 13.6% mid cap, 8.71% small cap and 24.69% other exposure.

The portfolio is tilted toward large caps, but the 13.6% mid-cap sleeve and 8.71% small-cap allocation keep it from being a pure large-cap hybrid. That mix may help the fund participate when broader market breadth improves, while still keeping the core anchored in larger businesses. The 24.69% other exposure is also material, so the portfolio is not just an equity story.

Among sectors, BANK at 24.25% is only slightly larger than RETAILING at 21.41%, so the top two areas are fairly close in size. Because both are large slices, each could influence the fund’s behaviour, but BANK may have the single clearest effect given its lead weight and the sizeable position in Kotak Mahindra Bank. Corporate debt at 8.57% adds a different return driver, which can moderate the all-equity feel of the portfolio.

Overall, the portfolio looks balanced across a dominant large-cap base and smaller satellite exposures. That balance may make the fund less dependent on one single stock theme, but the sector spread still leaves meaningful influence with banking and retailing. For investors, that means returns may reflect both equity-market swings and the fund’s ability to benefit from a few high-conviction holdings.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can accept High Risk and want equity-led hybrid exposure with some diversification across large caps, mid caps, small caps and debt. The 1-year return is modest, while the 3-year and 5-year figures are stronger and sit ahead of the benchmark, so the fund may fit investors who can wait through shorter periods of uneven performance.

The main trade-off is clear: you get a portfolio that can participate in market upswings, but you also accept volatility and a return path that is not smooth from one period to the next. That makes a longer investment horizon more suitable than a short one. Investors who want steadier outcomes or lower fluctuation may find the swings uncomfortable.

Tax and exit load

Exit load

1% on or before 90 days; nil after 90 days.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The NAV is ₹1,770.56 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is 4.92%, the 3-year return is 11.46% and the 5-year return is 9.41%.

How does the fund compare with Nifty 50?
It is ahead of Nifty 50 in all the listed periods. The gap is positive over 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years.

How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?
Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are below several of the peer funds listed here, especially the stronger recent performers. It still has a consistent multi-year track record, but the peer set shows higher return levels in many cases.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Harshil Suvarnkar and Chanchal Khandelwal. The exit load is 1% on or before 90 days, and nil after 90 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan has a softer recent return profile than its longer-term track record, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers still stay ahead of the benchmark. Against the peer set shown here, its returns are more restrained, especially in the latest year. The portfolio combines a large-cap core with meaningful mid-cap, small-cap and debt exposure, so it is not narrowly concentrated in one style. That makes it more suitable for investors who can handle High Risk and prefer a multi-asset equity-led hybrid approach over a smoother short-term ride.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 2:54 PM IST