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

Aditya Birla SL Gold Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹47.8359 as of 28 August 2026 and manages ₹1,665 Cr in scheme assets. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 55.34%, 37.95% and 26.32% respectively, and the scheme is tagged High Risk. Our view is that this fund can suit investors who want gold-linked exposure through a fund of fund structure and can tolerate sharp swings, but it is more appropriate for a longer holding period than for short-term capital protection.

The fund’s strong multi-year numbers stand out, but the recent path has also been uneven, which matters for anyone expecting a straight-line move. The portfolio is fully in the other-cap bucket and is almost entirely tied to gold ETF exposure, so the fund’s behaviour is likely to remain closely linked to gold-market trends rather than equity-style diversification.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

The recent 1-month return was very strong, which suggests a sharp upswing in the fund’s underlying gold exposure. That said, the 3-month return is more modest and only slightly below the benchmark, so the shorter window does not show the same strength as the 1-month figure.

Over 1 year, the fund has clearly outpaced the benchmark, and the 3-year and 5-year figures also remain well ahead of the benchmark’s returns. This tells us the longer-run trend has been constructive even though the path has not been smooth. The 1-year series also shows some pullback after a strong rise, which is normal for a gold-linked fund and is one reason the risk label matters.

What matters for investors is that the fund has not delivered its returns in a straight line. The 3-year and 5-year records still support the case that the strategy has worked better over fuller market cycles, while the weaker 3-month read shows that short periods can look quite different from the longer pattern.

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 available return data, this fund trails the silver-focused peers on 1-year performance, while its own 3-year and 5-year records remain materially stronger than the peer figures that are available for those horizons. That creates a clear split between short-term and longer-term comparison. The short window highlights how different gold and silver-linked moves can be, while the longer windows show that this fund has compounded steadily enough to remain relevant for investors focused on gold exposure.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The portfolio is entirely in the other-cap bucket, which is consistent with a fund of fund that invests through another scheme rather than directly across equity market-cap buckets. That means the usual large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap split does not really apply here, and the fund’s movement is likely to be driven far more by the gold exposure than by company-selection across market segments.

The first sector at 79.94% is materially larger than the next listed sector at 20.01%, so the portfolio is very concentrated around one core theme. In practical terms, the gold ETF exposure may have the greatest influence on behaviour, while the second bucket appears to be a smaller satellite allocation within the same broad idea.

Because the holdings are tied to a single underlying gold ETF name, the fund’s day-to-day pattern may stay closely linked to gold price moves and related fund-level changes. That can be useful for investors who want gold exposure in mutual-fund form, but it also means diversification benefits are limited.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better suited to investors who can accept High Risk and who are looking for a longer horizon rather than a short trading window. The 1-year return is much stronger than the benchmark, and the 3-year and 5-year records are also ahead of the benchmark, but the shorter 3-month spell shows that the journey can be choppy.

The main trade-off is simple: you get focused gold-linked exposure through a fund of fund structure, but you do not get broad market diversification from the portfolio itself. Investors who want a satellite allocation linked to gold and can live with volatility may find the return pattern and portfolio construction acceptable, while those who need smoother short-term outcomes may find the swings too wide.

Tax and exit load

Exit load is nil after 15 days. If units are sold on or before 15 days, the exit load is 1%.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Gold Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹47.8359 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 55.34% for 1 year, 37.95% for 3 years and 26.32% for 5 years.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark across 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, while the 3-month return has been slightly below the benchmark.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

What kind of risk and portfolio structure does it have?
It is tagged High Risk and the portfolio is fully in the other-cap bucket. The largest sector allocation is 79.94% in domestic mutual fund units linked to gold.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar. Exit load is 1% if units are sold on or before 15 days, and nil after 15 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Gold Fund Direct Growth Plan has a stronger long-term return pattern than its benchmark, but the recent path has not been uniform, which is important for investors to recognise. On the available peer return data, its 1-year performance is below the silver-focused comparables, yet its 3-year and 5-year numbers remain solid. The High Risk tag, combined with a concentrated gold-linked portfolio, makes it more suitable for investors who want thematic exposure and can stay patient through volatility.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 3:19 PM IST