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

Aditya Birla SL Intl. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan is at ₹57.2672 as of 28 August 2026, with AUM of ₹326 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 21.00%, 20.97% and 12.20%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a fund for investors who can handle a sharp equity swing in exchange for exposure that is almost entirely overseas. The recent return pattern is stronger than the benchmark across the visible periods, but the portfolio is concentrated enough that the fund can behave very differently from a broad India equity scheme.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Dhaval Joshi.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

The fund has been stronger than the benchmark over the 1-month, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods, but it lagged over 3 months. That pattern tells us the fund has not moved in a straight line; short bursts of weakness have appeared even while the longer trend has stayed constructive.

The 1-year figure is the clearest sign of resilience. At 21.00%, it stands well above the benchmark’s negative 2.29%, which indicates the fund was able to hold up far better through the latest one-year window. The 3-year return of 20.97% also stays comfortably ahead of the benchmark’s 6.40%, showing that the medium-term compounding pattern has remained strong.

The 5-year return of 12.20% is still ahead of the benchmark’s 7.13%, but the gap is narrower than the 1-year difference. In our view, that points to a fund that has rewarded patience over time, while still remaining sensitive to periods of market rotation and currency-linked volatility that can affect international equity exposure.

The recent 3-month softness matters because it shows the fund can pull back even when the broader medium-term trend remains positive. For investors, that means the recent move should be read as part of a choppy path rather than as a complete change in long-term behaviour.

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 recent 1-year measure, the fund trails several of the listed peers, especially those with very strong sector-driven gains. That does not weaken the fund’s own showing in absolute terms, but it does mean the latest 12-month return has been more moderate than the most aggressive peer outcomes.

Over 3 years and 5 years, the picture is more mixed. The fund is ahead of the available peer with a 5-year return in the list, and its 3-year return also compares favourably with the peer names where that figure is available. The short-term comparison and the longer-term comparison therefore do not tell the same story: the fund is not the standout on the latest 1-year number, but its medium-term track record remains steady relative to the available peer set.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap mix is fully classified as Other Cap at 100%, with no large-cap, mid-cap or small-cap allocation shown separately. That tells us the fund’s exposure is not built around the usual domestic market-cap buckets and is instead positioned outside the standard India equity framework.

The overseas equity allocation is overwhelmingly dominant, and that may make foreign markets, sector leadership in the US and broad global risk appetite more influential than domestic India market behaviour. The second sector is only a small cash and near-cash sleeve, so it is not large enough to dilute the international character of the portfolio in any meaningful way.

Within the overseas allocation, the named holdings show a tilt toward large global technology and internet franchises, with NVIDIA CORP at 5.83% and ALPHABET INC A at 4.03%. Those individual weights are meaningful, so the behaviour of a few global leaders could have a greater influence on returns than a broad spread of smaller positions.

Overall, this is a concentrated international equity structure rather than a diversified domestic market-cap blend. That concentration can support strong upside when global growth and technology leadership are favourable, but it can also increase sensitivity to sector rotation and overseas market corrections.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk exposure and who can stay invested through uneven short-term moves. The 1-year and 3-year numbers show strong medium-term delivery, while the 3-month period shows that the path can still be choppy.

A longer horizon is important because the portfolio is heavily tilted to overseas equities and is not anchored to standard domestic market-cap segments. Investors who want a simple India large-cap style profile may find the fund’s behaviour too different, while those who want international equity exposure may see the trade-off as worthwhile.

The main compromise is between stronger long-term compounding potential and higher volatility from concentrated overseas holdings. In our view, the fund is better suited to investors who can accept that the benchmark relationship may vary from one period to the next and who are prepared for a less predictable ride than a broad domestic equity fund.

Tax and exit load

Exit load

• 1% if units are sold on or before 30 days.
• No exit load after 30 days.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Intl. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹57.2672 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
Its 1-year return is 21.00%, its 3-year return is 20.97% and its 5-year return is 12.20%.

How has it performed versus the benchmark?
It has outperformed the benchmark across 1 month, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, while lagging over 3 months. The 1-year benchmark return is -2.29%, the 3-year return is 6.40% and the 5-year return is 7.13%.

How does it compare with the listed peer funds?
Its 1-year return is below several peers in the list, but its 3-year and 5-year figures compare more steadily where those peer numbers are available. The short-term and longer-term comparisons tell different stories.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹1000.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
Dhaval Joshi manages the fund. The exit load is 1% if units are sold on or before 30 days, and there is no exit load after 30 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Intl. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan has a stronger medium-term showing than its latest short-term wobble suggests. It has stayed ahead of the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, but the peer comparison shows that the latest 12-month result is more measured than some of the higher-return international or thematic peers. The portfolio is heavily tilted to overseas equities, which makes the fund more concentrated and more dependent on global market conditions. That profile suits investors who can accept High Risk exposure and want international equity participation with a long holding horizon.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 3:25 PM IST