Aditya Birla SL Gold Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- August 31, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Aditya Birla SL Gold Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹45.4179 as of 17 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹1,843 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 36.46%, 35.05% and 24.88%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that this is a focused gold-oriented fund of fund with strong longer-term compounding, but it can still move sharply in the short run.
The combination of a single-holding portfolio and a 99.93% weight in gold ETF exposure makes the scheme easy to understand, though not low-volatility. It may suit investors who want tactical or strategic gold allocation and can tolerate drawdowns when gold sentiment cools.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹45.4179 as of 17 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹1,843 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.2% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Fund of Fund |
| Exit Load | 1% on or before 15D, Nil after 15D |
| Fund Managers | Mehul Dama, Priya Sridhar |
The fund is managed by Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -1.58% | -3.66% |
| 3M | 1.94% | -3.71% |
| 1Y | 36.46% | -7.13% |
| 3Y | 35.05% | 5.82% |
| 5Y | 24.88% | 5.72% |
The recent picture is softer than the one-year number alone suggests. Over the last month, the fund declined slightly, but it still held up better than the benchmark, which fell more sharply. The three-month return turned positive, which shows a recovery after a choppy patch rather than a straight-line advance.
The one-year return is the standout figure, and it is far ahead of the benchmark. That gap tells us the fund benefited from a very different return driver than the broad equity benchmark, which was negative over the same window. For investors, that is useful because the scheme can behave differently from a conventional equity reference point.
The longer record is more important for setting expectations. The 3-year and 5-year returns remain strong, and the 5-year path shows a generally upward compounding trend with intermittent pullbacks. Our view is that this is a fund that has rewarded patient holding periods, but the shorter windows show that it does not move in a smooth line.
Against the benchmark, the fund is ahead across every period shown here. The key takeaway is that recent momentum, medium-term compounding and long-term compounding all point in the same direction, but the route has not been calm. That makes return consistency less about monthly stability and more about whether an investor is comfortable with gold-linked swings.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Gold?
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 Gold? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla SL Gold Fund Direct Growth Plan | 36.46% | 35.05% | 24.88% |
| SBI Silver ETF FOF Direct Growth Plan | 76.71% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Silver ETF FoF Direct Growth Plan | 75.91% | 45.12% | Data not available |
| Axis Silver FoF Direct Growth Plan | 74.42% | 45.18% | Data not available |
| Zerodha Silver ETF FoF Direct Growth Plan | 73.46% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nippon India Silver ETF FOF Direct Growth Plan | 72.65% | 43.94% | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. The current fund has a much lower 1-year return than the silver-linked peers listed here, but that comparison is not a like-for-like verdict because the underlying exposure is different. On the longer horizon, the fund’s 3-year return is still solid, and its 5-year return remains meaningful, which suggests steadier gold-led compounding than the more explosive one-year peer numbers.
The short-term comparison says the peers have recently delivered stronger one-year gains, while the longer-term comparison shows this fund still has a credible multi-year track record. For an investor, the distinction matters: this scheme looks less like a momentum chase and more like a portfolio diversifier whose return profile can diverge materially from both equities and silver-focused fund-of-funds.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold ETF | Domestic Mutual Funds Units – Gold | 99.93% |
The portfolio is extremely concentrated, with the single disclosed holding at 99.93%. That means the fund’s behaviour is likely to be driven almost entirely by the underlying gold ETF rather than by a spread of positions across different assets.
Because the scheme discloses only one holding row, there is no visible fall-off from a first holding to a tenth holding. In practical terms, the exposure is not spread across multiple names in the way an equity fund might be; instead, it is focused on one instrument that may closely reflect gold price movements.
The disclosed holding count is one, and that makes the structure easy to read. The combination of a near-full allocation to one ETF and a total disclosed weight of 99.93% suggests very limited diversification inside the portfolio itself, even though the fund structure can still serve a diversification role within a broader investor portfolio.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is better suited to investors who are comfortable with High Risk and are willing to hold through short-term swings. The return pattern shows a sharp one-year jump alongside still-healthy 3-year and 5-year outcomes, so the right horizon is usually longer than a few months.
Our view is that it fits investors who want gold exposure through a fund structure rather than direct holding, and who can accept that returns may move differently from equity benchmarks. The main trade-off is that the portfolio is highly concentrated in one underlying gold ETF, so the simplicity of the structure comes with limited internal diversification and a return path that can 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 15 days; nil after 15 days.
No exit load applies after the holding period.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Gold Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹45.4179 as of 17 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 36.46%, 35.05% and 24.88%.
How does the fund compare with its benchmark?
It has outperformed the benchmark across every period shown, including 1M, 3M, 1Y, 3Y and 5Y.
How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its 1-year return is lower than the silver ETF fund-of-funds shown here, while its 3-year and 5-year figures remain meaningful for a gold-focused scheme.
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 Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar. The exit load is 1% on or before 15 days and nil after 15 days.
Bottom line
Aditya Birla SL Gold Fund Direct Growth Plan has a stronger multi-year return profile than its recent one-month dip might suggest, and its 1-year performance remains well ahead of the benchmark. Compared with the peer set shown here, the short-term return is lower, but the medium- and long-term record still supports its role as a gold-linked allocation. The fund is High Risk, and its near-total dependence on one ETF makes it a concentrated, easy-to-understand structure that may appeal to investors seeking gold exposure with a longer holding horizon.
Published on 18 September 2026 at 2:58 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.