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

Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹121.72 as of 28 August 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹1,219 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 18.995%, 19.2792% and 20.0972%. The fund sits in the High Risk category, so our view is that it suits investors who can stay patient through sharp swings and want infrastructure-led equity exposure over a longer horizon.

What stands out is that the fund has stayed well ahead of the benchmark across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods, while its portfolio leans meaningfully toward automobile ancillaries, capital goods and infrastructure. That mix can help in a strong capex cycle, but it also means the fund can move differently from a broad market index. For investors who want a focused equity sleeve rather than a diversified core holding, this is a relevant feature.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Jonas Bhutta.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

The recent numbers show that the fund has continued to outpace the benchmark in both the 1-month and 3-month windows. That matters because it suggests the portfolio has not just relied on an older upcycle; it has also held up in the short run, while the benchmark was softer over 1 month and still modest over 3 months.

Over the longer periods, the fund’s edge remains clear. The 1-year return of 19% sits well above the benchmark’s -2.29%, and the 3-year and 5-year returns also stay comfortably ahead of the index. Our view is that this pattern points to sustained compounding rather than one isolated surge, although the rise and pullback visible in the return path also remind us that the ride is not smooth.

The mid-term path has had stretches of firmness, then some give-back, and then recovery again. That shape is consistent with a focused equity fund tied to cyclical themes: it can move strongly when the underlying sectors support it, but it can also cool when the market changes tone. For investors, the key point is that the fund has shown resilience across multiple windows, not just one favourable month or quarter.

Compared with NIFTY 50, the fund has been ahead in every displayed period. The gap is especially visible over 1 year, but it also persists over 3 years and 5 years, so the benchmark comparison is not a one-off story. That consistency supports the view that the fund’s sector mix has been working better than a broad market approach during the same stretch.

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 1-year return, the fund trails the strongest peer figures in this set, especially the more specialised thematic peers. Even so, its 3-year and 5-year numbers are more complete than several peers that do not have longer-period figures available, and that makes the comparison more balanced than the 1-year gap alone suggests.

The longer-term view is mixed but still useful. Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure Fund Direct Growth Plan is ahead of Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan on 5-year return, while its 3-year return is lower than that peer’s. Against peers with unavailable longer-period figures, the fund’s own 3-year and 5-year track record gives investors a clearer picture of how it has behaved through time.

So the short-term comparison leans against the fund, but the longer-term comparison is steadier. That difference matters: recent performance has been solid, yet the most aggressive peer returns in this group have come from narrower themes, while this fund shows a more established multi-year history.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The portfolio tilts toward large-cap names, but it is not a pure large-cap fund. Large caps account for 40.7%, small caps 36.22%, mid caps 14.51% and other exposure 8.57%, so the mix is spread across market segments rather than concentrated in one size bucket. That combination can support upside in stronger industrial and infrastructure phases, but it can also raise day-to-day movement.

The sector mix is led by automobile ancillaries, capital goods and infrastructure, and those three together dominate the portfolio’s direction. Automobile & ancillaries at 24.18% is clearly larger than the next sector, capital goods at 20.72%, and both are ahead of infrastructure at 16.04%. That makes the top part of the portfolio fairly concentrated around the industrial and infrastructure theme.

Among individual stocks, WABCO INDIA LTD at 7.73% and IRB INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPERS LIMITED at 5.62% stand out as important positions, but the broader sector weights matter more for understanding behaviour. Capital goods and infrastructure may have greater influence when capital spending and project activity improve, while the sizeable small-cap allocation can add extra sensitivity. Overall, the mix looks geared toward a cyclical recovery style rather than a defensive balance.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who can tolerate High Risk exposure and are comfortable with a portfolio that is tied to cyclical sectors. The return record across 1 year, 3 years and 5 years is strong versus the benchmark, but the path is not steady enough for short-horizon or low-volatility investors.

The more suitable horizon is longer term, because the fund has shown its best case over multi-year periods rather than as a short tactical trade. The main trade-off is clear: you get meaningful upside participation in infrastructure and industrial themes, but you also accept sharper swings than a broad market equity fund would typically deliver.

Tax and exit load

Exit load: 1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹121.72 as of 28 August 2026.

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

The fund’s returns are 18.995% for 1 year, 19.2792% for 3 years and 20.0972% for 5 years.

How has the fund performed against NIFTY 50?

It has outperformed NIFTY 50 across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is especially wide over 1 year, where the fund is positive while the benchmark is negative.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?

Its 1-year return is lower than several peer returns in this set, but its 3-year and 5-year figures are more complete than many peers that do not have longer-period numbers available. That gives investors a stronger multi-year reference point.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP is ₹100.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Jonas Bhutta. The exit load is 1% on or before 30 days and nil after 30 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a stronger multi-year return pattern than the benchmark, and its recent numbers also remain positive. The peer set tells a mixed story: the fund is behind the most aggressive short-term peer returns, but its longer history gives a steadier picture than several peers with missing longer-period figures. With High Risk classification and a portfolio tilted toward automobile ancillaries, capital goods and infrastructure, it is best viewed as a cyclical equity option for investors who can stay invested through volatility.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 3:22 PM IST