Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- August 31, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹28.1729 as of 10 Sep 2026 and manages ₹1,599 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 12.96%, 13.18% and 10.91%, and the fund sits in the Medium Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors who can stay invested through cycles and want a credit-focused debt fund with a reasonably steady longer-term profile rather than a very smooth short-term path.
The fund’s recent numbers are firm, but the trailing pattern is not perfectly linear, so it is better viewed as a medium-term holding where patience matters. Compared with its benchmark, the fund has held up better across the listed horizons, and the portfolio mix is tilted toward corporate debt positions that can make outcomes more dependent on issuer quality and credit spreads.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹28.1729 as of 10 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹1,599 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.8% |
| Launch Date | 17 Apr 2015 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | Medium Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Debt |
| Exit Load | Nil upto 15% of units, For remaining units 3% on or before 1Y, 2% after 1Y but on or before 2Y, 1% after 2Y but on or before 3Y, Nil after 3Y |
| Fund Managers | Sunaina da Cunha, Mohit Sharma |
The fund is managed by Sunaina da Cunha and Mohit Sharma.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 0.41% | -4.06% |
| 3M | 2.63% | 1.37% |
| 1Y | 12.96% | -7.31% |
| 3Y | 13.18% | 6.07% |
| 5Y | 10.91% | 5.91% |
The near-term pattern has been uneven but constructive. Over one month, the fund was modestly positive while the benchmark was negative, which points to some resilience in a weak backdrop. Over three months, both were positive, though the fund moved ahead by a clear margin, suggesting that short-term credit and income contributions have been supportive.
The one-year figure is the sharpest comparison point. The fund’s 12.96% return stands well above the benchmark’s -7.31%, so the fund has clearly navigated the last year better than the index used here. That gap matters because it shows the scheme did not just protect capital; it also compounded meaningfully when the benchmark was under pressure.
Looking further out, the 3-year return of 13.18% is stronger than the 5-year return of 10.91%, which tells us the more recent multi-year stretch has been better than the full five-year window. That kind of pattern usually points to a fund whose results are improving, even if the path includes some volatility. Against the benchmark, the fund stays ahead on all listed horizons, so the longer record is also preferable on a relative basis.
For investors, the main takeaway is that this is not a sleepy, benchmark-like debt profile. The return history suggests a fund that can do better than the index over time, but the variation across periods means the ride may be less even than plain vanilla debt funds.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk?
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 Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan | 12.96% | 13.18% | 10.91% |
| Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan | 17.99% | 10.1% | 27.77% |
| DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan | 11.34% | 16.81% | 13.36% |
| Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan | 8.75% | 8.85% | 7.7% |
| ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan | 8.72% | 9.15% | 8.02% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The fund’s 1-year return is better than three of the four peers shown here, though Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan is ahead on the same horizon. Over three years, this fund sits between the stronger 16.81% showing of DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan and the lower figures from Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan and ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan. Over five years, it trails both Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan and DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan, which tells us the longer record is less forceful than the recent one.
That split matters. The short-term picture is respectable, but the longer-term comparison is more mixed because the fund’s five-year return is below the stronger peer figures available here. So the peer set suggests a fund that has improved more recently, even if it has not matched the strongest multi-year outcomes shown by some alternatives.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Want to know more? Log in to Univest for more mutual fund insights.
Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 8.73% Eris Lifesciences Ltd. (07/06/2027) ** | Corporate Debt | 4.63% |
| Jubilant Bevco Ltd. (31/05/2028) (ZCB) ** | Corporate Debt | 4.54% |
| 9.10% SK Finance Ltd. (10/08/2029) ** | Corporate Debt | 4.01% |
| 8.45% Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (12/02/2029) ** | Corporate Debt | 3.71% |
| TREPS | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 3.66% |
| JTPM Metal Traders Ltd. (29/09/2028) (ZCB) ** | Corporate Debt | 3.62% |
| 5.00% GMR Airports Ltd. (13/02/2027) ** | Corporate Debt | 3.44% |
| 7.46% REC Ltd. (30/06/2028) ** | Corporate Debt | 3.12% |
| 6.66% Small Industries Development Bank of India (25/10/2028) ** | Corporate Debt | 3.06% |
| Net Receivable / Payable | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 2.92% |
The largest holding is 8.73% Eris Lifesciences Ltd. (07/06/2027) ** at 4.63%, so no single line item dominates the disclosed list. The weight then steps down gradually, from 4.54% and 4.01% to 2.92% by the tenth holding, which suggests that influence is shared across several positions rather than concentrated in one oversized bet.
The top ten holdings account for approximately 36.71% of the portfolio, and the full disclosed list contains 50 holdings. That combination points to a portfolio with a meaningful tail beyond the largest names. In our view, the disclosed sleeve may therefore be diversified enough to avoid extreme single-position dependence, while still being focused enough that credit selection can matter.
Because most of the visible positions sit in corporate debt, the fund could remain sensitive to issuer-specific developments even when individual weights are moderate. That is useful for investors who want active credit exposure, but it also means the portfolio may behave differently from a simple high-grade debt allocation.
To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund fits investors who can accept Medium Risk and prefer a debt scheme with a credit-driven return profile rather than a very stable, government-style pattern. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year figures show a fund that has stayed ahead of the benchmark, but with enough variation that a short holding period may not capture the better multi-year trend.
We think the suitable horizon is at least medium term, because the stronger 3-year result and the weaker 5-year result together point to performance that can move around across market cycles. Relative to peers, the recent showing is competitive, but the longer record is not the strongest among the names shown here. The main trade-off is accepting issuer and credit-related variation in exchange for the possibility of better return than a plain benchmark-like debt outcome.
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 |
The exit load is nil up to 15% of units if sold on or before 1 year, 3% for the remaining units on or before 1 year, 2% after 1 year but on or before 2 years, 1% after 2 years but on or before 3 years, and nil after 3 years.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹28.1729 as of 10 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is 12.96%, its 3-year return is 13.18%, and its 5-year return is 10.91%.
How has the fund performed against its benchmark?
It has outperformed the benchmark across the listed horizons. The benchmark return is -7.31% over 1 year, 6.07% over 3 years and 5.91% over 5 years.
How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?
Its 1-year return is ahead of several peers shown here, while Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan is higher on that horizon. Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund is below the stronger peer figures available in the table.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
What is the risk profile and exit load?
The fund is in the Medium Risk category. The exit load reduces from 3% on or before 1 year to 2% after 1 year but on or before 2 years, 1% after 2 years but on or before 3 years, and nil after 3 years.
Bottom line
This fund’s recent performance looks better than its longer-term record, which suggests the last year has been stronger than the full five-year stretch. It also compares favourably with the benchmark across all listed periods, while peer comparison shows a mixed picture: solid recent returns, but less forceful five-year numbers than the stronger names shown. The Medium Risk label and the corporate-debt-heavy holdings list mean it is not a low-volatility choice, so it suits investors who can tolerate credit-related variation in pursuit of better debt-fund outcomes.
Published on 11 September 2026 at 5:35 PM IST
Explore mutual funds with Univest
Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.
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.