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

Aditya Birla SL Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan is priced at ₹131.72 as of 28 August 2026, with a scheme AUM of ₹9,804 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 10.11%, 12.96% and 11.14%, and the scheme is marked High Risk. Our view is that the fund has delivered a steady medium- to long-term profile, but the risk label and equity-linked portfolio mix mean it suits investors who are comfortable with fluctuations.

The current mix is balanced across market caps, but the banking sleeve is large and can shape performance. That makes the fund more relevant for investors who want a hybrid allocation with meaningful equity participation rather than a low-volatility debt-first approach.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Harish Krishnan, Lovelish Solanki, Mohit Sharma and Rohit Karan.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Recent behaviour has been stronger than the benchmark. The fund was positive over 1 month and 3 months while the benchmark was softer, and that gap became much wider over 1 year.

The longer record is also constructive. The 3-year and 5-year returns are both comfortably above the benchmark, which tells us the fund has compounded better than the index over a fuller market cycle rather than only in a short rebound phase.

The path has not been perfectly smooth, though. The one-year pattern shows some intermittent weakness before recovery, so the fund still behaves like a risk-taking hybrid strategy rather than a steadier debt-led product.

Overall, the return profile points to moderate consistency with occasional drawdowns, followed by recovery. That combination is useful for investors who can stay invested through uneven stretches and want the portfolio to participate more in market upside than a conservative hybrid scheme would.

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.

On the latest 1-year figures, the fund sits behind the strongest peer in this group but ahead of the other funds shown. The same pattern continues over 3 years and 5 years, where it remains above two peers with available data and close to one that is only slightly lower over the 5-year period.

The short-term and longer-term view broadly match: the fund is not the most aggressive performer in this set, yet it has held a stable position in the upper half of the return range on the figures available here. That makes the peer read supportive, especially because the longer-term numbers are not dependent on a single strong year.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap mix is fairly balanced for a hybrid fund, with large caps at 39.15% and a meaningful 20.66% in mid caps. Small caps at 14.06% add another layer of equity sensitivity, while the 26.13% in other cap categories keeps the structure broad.

The largest sector, BANK at 28.99%, is materially bigger than every other named sector. That gap suggests banking could have the greatest influence on near-term portfolio behaviour, especially because Kotak Mahindra Bank alone carries 14.84% weight.

Corporate debt at 10.43% provides a stabilising element, but it is still much smaller than the banking book. Healthcare, IT and Finance each sit in the mid-single digits, so they may contribute diversification more than dominate returns. Overall, the portfolio looks built to participate in market upside while still keeping some allocation to debt and other assets.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with High Risk and can tolerate periods of uneven performance. The 1-year result is positive, and the 3-year and 5-year records are stronger than the benchmark, which suits investors looking beyond short holding periods.

The main trade-off is that the fund does not behave like a low-volatility hybrid option. The meaningful equity exposure, led by banks and supported by mid- and small-cap allocation, can create swings even when long-term compounding stays constructive. It is better suited to investors who want hybrid participation with a willingness to stay invested through market shifts.

Tax and exit load

Exit load: 0.25% if units are sold on or before 7 days; nil after 7 days.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹131.72 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 10.11% for 1 year, 12.96% for 3 years and 11.14% for 5 years.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has outperformed the Nifty 50 across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The longer stretch is especially notable because the gap remains positive over both 3 years and 5 years.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its recent and longer-term returns are above some peers shown here, while the strongest peer in the list has higher 1-year, 3-year and 5-year figures. That places the fund in a competitive position without being the highest in this set.

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 Harish Krishnan, Lovelish Solanki, Mohit Sharma and Rohit Karan. The exit load is 0.25% if units are sold on or before 7 days, and nil after 7 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a clearer long-term story than a short-term one: recent returns are positive, and the 3-year and 5-year figures stay ahead of the benchmark. Against the peer set shown here, it is competitive on available return data without leading the pack. The High Risk label and the 28.99% banking exposure mean it is not a defensive hybrid option, but the broad market-cap mix may support diversification.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 3:11 PM IST