Union Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 15, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Union Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan is at ₹22.43 as of 11 September 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹1,240 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 2.23%, 8.37% and 7.91%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that it has been steadier over longer periods than over the recent year, which makes it more suitable for investors who can accept equity-like swings in a hybrid format and are comfortable with a return path that has been uneven at times.
The portfolio mixes equity, debt and cash-like holdings, and that can help moderate the ride compared with a pure equity fund, but the recent numbers still show that this is not a low-volatility choice. The longer record is more constructive than the 1-year reading, yet returns remain below the benchmark in every tracked period here, so the fund looks better suited to patient investors who want a balanced-advantage style allocation and can stay invested through periods of weak short-term performance.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹22.43 as of 11 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹1,240 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.99% |
| Launch Date | 29 Dec 2017 |
| Min SIP | ₹500 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Hybrid |
| Exit Load | 1% on or before 15D, Nil after 15D |
| Fund Managers | Sanjay Bembalkar, Gaurav Chopra, Parijat Agrawal, Vishal Thakker |
The fund is managed by Sanjay Bembalkar, Gaurav Chopra, Parijat Agrawal and Vishal Thakker.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -1.19% | -3.66% |
| 3M | 2.42% | -1.91% |
| 1Y | 2.23% | -7.62% |
| 3Y | 8.37% | 6.22% |
| 5Y | 7.91% | 5.84% |
Recent performance has been mixed. The fund held up better than the benchmark over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, which tells us it has cushioned some of the benchmark’s weakness. At the same time, the 1-year return is still modest, so the recent stretch has not been especially strong in absolute terms.
The longer record is more encouraging. The 3-year and 5-year returns are both ahead of the benchmark, which suggests the strategy has added value over a fuller cycle even though the edge is not dramatic. That gap matters because balanced-advantage funds are often judged less on one-off bursts and more on how they behave through different market phases.
The time pattern also points to uneven progress rather than a smooth climb. There were periods of softness inside the last year, but the fund recovered enough to keep the 3-year and 5-year numbers in positive territory and above the benchmark. For an investor, that means the fund has shown resilience, but not a consistently strong short-term run.
Our view is that the fund’s profile fits a patient holding period. The comparison against the benchmark is constructive over 3 years and 5 years, but the weaker 1-year reading reminds us that the path can still be choppy.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Union Balanced Advantage?
A fund’s past returns alone don’t tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.
The right decision depends on factors such as your current allocation, purchase price, risk profile, investment horizon and the role this fund plays in your overall portfolio.
Already holding Union Balanced Advantage? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 2.23% | 8.37% | 7.91% |
| Unifi Dynamic Asset Allocation Fund Direct Growth Plan | 8.6% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Baroda BNP Paribas Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.04% | 11.75% | 11.16% |
| Aditya Birla SL Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.7% | 11.45% | 10.36% |
| 360 ONE Balanced Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.55% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Edelweiss Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.46% | 10.37% | 9.51% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The current fund’s 1-year return is well below the available peer figures shown here, while its 3-year and 5-year numbers are also lower than the peer funds with comparable histories. That tells us the recent stretch has been softer than what several other balanced-advantage and dynamic-asset-allocation funds have delivered.
At the same time, the gap is less one-sided over the longer periods than it is over 1 year, because the fund does still show positive 3-year and 5-year compounding. Short-term comparison and longer-term comparison therefore tell different stories: the recent year looks weak, but the multi-year record is more stable and still positive.
For investors, the main takeaway is that the fund has not matched the stronger peer return set on the periods where a comparison is available, yet its longer record remains meaningful for those who care about steadier multi-year participation rather than short bursts of performance.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| TREPS | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 4.51% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.46% |
| Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd.** | Corporate Debt | 4.41% |
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | Bank | 4.01% |
| National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development** | Corporate Debt | 3.21% |
| Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.** | Corporate Debt | 3.16% |
| Reliance Industries Ltd. | Crude Oil | 2.86% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | Telecom | 2.79% |
| State Bank of India | Bank | 2.08% |
| Axis Bank Ltd. | Bank | 1.99% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 33.48% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the Union Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The largest holding is TREPS at 4.51%, and the next few positions are close behind rather than dramatically smaller. That means the top of the portfolio is fairly even, with no single position dominating the visible holdings.
Weight then steps down gradually to 1.99% by the tenth holding. That pattern suggests the disclosed positions are spread across a mix of cash-like exposure, banks, debt instruments and a few larger operating businesses, so no one holding is likely to dictate the fund’s day-to-day profile on its own.
Even so, the visible top 10 still account for 33.48% of the portfolio, while the scheme discloses 79 holdings in total. Our view is that this points to a reasonably broad tail beyond the largest names, which may help reduce reliance on a small set of positions even though the top cluster still matters.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is better suited to investors who can tolerate a High Risk profile and stay invested for a multi-year horizon. The 3-year and 5-year returns are more encouraging than the 1-year figure, and the fund has also held up better than the benchmark across all the tracked periods here.
The main trade-off is that the return path has not been smooth, and the recent year has been weak relative to the longer record. Investors who want a balanced-advantage style allocation with equity exposure inside a hybrid structure may find the mix attractive, but they need to accept that short-term outcomes can still be uneven.
Tax and exit load
| Holding period | Tax rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Units held less than 1 year | 20% | Short-term capital gains tax |
| Units held more than 1 year | 12.5% | Long-term capital gains tax |
Exit load
1% on or before 15D, Nil after 15D.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Union Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹22.43 as of 11 September 2026.
How has Union Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan performed over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years?
Its 1-year return is 2.23%, its 3-year return is 8.37% and its 5-year return is 7.91%.
How does the fund compare with the benchmark?
It has stayed ahead of Nifty 50 across the tracked periods shown here, with 1-month, 3-month, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns all above the benchmark figures.
How does it compare with peer funds on available returns?
Its 1-year return is lower than the peer funds with available 1-year numbers in this set, and its 3-year and 5-year figures are also below the peers that have multi-year data available.
Is there a minimum SIP amount?
Yes, the minimum SIP amount is ₹500.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Sanjay Bembalkar, Gaurav Chopra, Parijat Agrawal and Vishal Thakker. The exit load is 1% on or before 15D, and Nil after 15D.
Bottom line
Union Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan has a softer recent year than its longer record, but the 3-year and 5-year returns still remain ahead of the benchmark. Against peers with comparable numbers, its return profile is weaker on the available horizons, so the appeal is more about the strategy and structure than about standout performance. The portfolio’s top holdings are reasonably spread out, and the scheme’s 79 disclosed holdings suggest a longer tail beyond the largest names. It is best viewed as a multi-year, high-risk hybrid option for investors who can accept uneven shorter-term results.
Published on 15 September 2026 at 3:50 PM IST
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RIA disclosure
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. This review is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. (earlier known as Uniapps Global Research Pvt. Ltd.) under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639 for general informational purposes and is not personalized investment advice.