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

Axis Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan is at a NAV of ₹23.3 as of 28 August 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹1,476 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.62%, 10.90% and 8.21%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that it has delivered steadier long-term compounding than its recent one-year pace suggests, but the portfolio mix still leaves it exposed to equity-led swings.

The fund can suit investors who are comfortable with a high-risk hybrid allocation and want a product with a meaningful equity sleeve alongside debt exposure. The return pattern has been uneven over the shorter horizon, while the 3-year trend is better than the 5-year run, so expectations should stay measured.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Jayesh Sundar, Devang Shah, Aditya Pagaria and Krishnaa N.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Recent performance has been constructive, but not smooth. The fund gained 0.69% over one month, which is modest in absolute terms yet clearly better than the benchmark’s -0.85% move over the same span. Over three months, it returned 5.62% versus 3.39% for the benchmark, so the short-term picture is still ahead of the index.

The one-year return of 5.62% is more muted than the 3-year figure, which tells us the fund has been able to rebuild momentum over a fuller market cycle. That 3-year return of 10.90% stands well above the benchmark’s 6.40%, showing a stronger medium-term compounding pattern than the index. The 5-year return of 8.21% is also ahead of the benchmark’s 7.13%, although the gap is narrower than in the 3-year window.

The return path over the last year was uneven, which fits a hybrid strategy with meaningful market exposure. We see that as important context: the fund has not moved in a straight line, but it has still stayed ahead of the benchmark across every period shown here. For investors, the main message is that recent results are better than the one-year figure alone suggests, while the longer track record points to moderate but not explosive compounding.

That combination matters because the fund’s portfolio is not built for low-volatility outcomes. In our view, the performance record is consistent with a fund that may participate in equity rallies while still trying to soften some of the downside through debt and other holdings.

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 trails the peer set on the 1-year measure, where several peers have posted materially stronger returns. That gap is less visible over longer horizons, because the fund’s 3-year and 5-year returns remain solid and are still above the benchmark, even if the peer figures shown here are higher in most cases.

What stands out is that the short-term comparison and the longer-term comparison tell different stories. The fund has not matched the stronger peer returns shown in this section, but its own 3-year and 5-year track record is more balanced than the one-year number alone suggests. For us, that means the fund looks less compelling on recent momentum than the leading peer names here, while still maintaining a respectable compounding record over fuller periods.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap mix is 53.27% large cap, 8.64% mid cap, 9.91% small cap and 28.18% other cap. That puts more than half the portfolio in large-cap names, while the remaining exposure is spread across mid, small and other holdings.

The bank exposure is materially larger than every other sector listed here, so it is likely to have the greatest influence on how the fund behaves. Within that bucket, Kotak Mahindra Bank alone is a very large holding, which increases the fund’s sensitivity to the banking cycle more than the other sector weights do.

The rest of the portfolio is more spread out. Corporate debt at 13.51% gives the fund a meaningful stabilising sleeve, while realty, finance and healthcare are much smaller and should act more as supporting positions than primary drivers. In our view, that mix leaves the fund tilted toward equity-market moves, but not without a debt buffer.

Overall, the market-cap distribution and sector mix point to a hybrid portfolio that is still equity-led. The large-cap share may help reduce some volatility relative to a pure mid- or small-cap strategy, but the sizeable bank concentration means results can still be influenced by a narrow set of holdings. That combination can work for investors who want some participation in growth while accepting that the path can remain uneven.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can accept High Risk and want a hybrid allocation with a clearly equity-sensitive profile. The one-year return is softer than the 3-year and 5-year numbers, so the fund appears better suited to those with a longer horizon than to anyone looking for smoother near-term outcomes.

The main trade-off is simple: you may get a stronger return profile than the benchmark over longer periods, but you also need to live with a bumpier ride when markets shift. The large-cap bias can help, yet the high bank concentration and the equity-led nature of the portfolio mean this is still not a low-volatility choice.

Tax and exit load

Exit load: Nil for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments if units are sold on or before 12 months; nil after 12 months.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Axis Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹23.3 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?

The 1-year return is 5.62%, the 3-year return is 10.90% and the 5-year return is 8.21%.

How does it compare with the benchmark?

It has stayed ahead of the Nifty 50 across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is widest over 3 years, where the fund has returned 10.90% versus 6.40% for the benchmark.

How does it compare with peer funds on the returns shown here?

The fund trails several peers on the 1-year measure, while its 3-year and 5-year figures are also below the stronger peer returns shown in this section. Even so, its longer-term record remains ahead of the benchmark and is more stable than the one-year number alone suggests.

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 Jayesh Sundar, Devang Shah, Aditya Pagaria and Krishnaa N. The exit load is nil for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments if units are sold on or before 12 months, and nil after 12 months.

Bottom line

Axis Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed recent record, but its 3-year and 5-year returns still sit above the benchmark, which gives the fund a more credible longer-term profile than the one-year number alone suggests. The peer comparison, however, shows that several comparable funds have delivered stronger returns across the same horizons. With High Risk classification and a bank-heavy portfolio led by large-cap exposure, this looks more suitable for investors who can accept volatility in exchange for a hybrid structure that aims to compound over time.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 5:12 PM IST