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

Aditya Birla SL Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹13.4418 as of 28 August 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹105 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 4.6038%, 6.8067% and Data not available, and it carries a Medium Risk tag. Our view is that this is a relatively steady debt scheme with a defensive mix, but its recent return pattern is still modest rather than standout.

The portfolio is dominated by government securities, which gives it a conservative structure within debt. That can help keep the ride smoother, but it also means returns may be more measured than higher-yielding fixed-income alternatives.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Harshil Suvarnkar and Bhupesh Bameta.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Performance has been uneven in the short run, but the fund has stayed positive over the key periods we can assess. Over 1 month, it was slightly ahead of the benchmark in a weak market patch, and over 3 months it trailed the benchmark by a narrow margin. That pattern suggests the fund has not been dramatically different from its benchmark recently, but it has still held its ground better in the one-month window.

The 1-year return is more useful for judging the recent trend. At 4.60%, the fund was well ahead of the benchmark’s -2.29% over the same period, which points to a more resilient result during a difficult year for the benchmark. This is a meaningful advantage for investors who want steadier debt-oriented performance rather than sharp swings.

The 3-year return of 6.81% is also slightly ahead of the benchmark’s 6.40%. That tells us the medium-term pattern has been constructive, but only by a small margin. The 5-year figure is not available because the scheme has a shorter track record, so we would avoid reading too much into long-horizon compounding beyond the available history.

Looking at the return path together, the fund seems to have shown moderate stability rather than rapid acceleration. Our view is that it has behaved more like a measured debt allocation than a high-octane return engine, which fits its portfolio mix.

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 numbers, the fund trails Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan and Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan, while staying very close to ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan. On 3-year numbers, it remains competitive and is ahead of Axis Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan, but it is slightly behind ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan. The short-term comparison therefore looks a bit weaker than the 3-year comparison, which supports the view that the fund has been steadier than spectacular.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap bucket is entirely under Other Cap at 100%, so the usual large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap split does not apply here. For this debt scheme, that is consistent with its fixed-income style rather than an equity-style market-cap mix.

The biggest influence on behaviour is likely to come from government securities, because that sleeve is far larger than the other two. At 77.57%, it clearly dominates the portfolio and can shape how the scheme responds to rate movements and bond-market conditions.

Corporate debt is the next meaningful sleeve at 18.5%, but it is still much smaller than government securities. That gap matters, because it suggests the fund is not relying heavily on credit exposure to drive returns. The cash and cash equivalents bucket is small at 3.57%, so it is more of a liquidity buffer than a return driver.

Overall, the structure looks fairly concentrated within sovereign and high-quality fixed-income exposure. Our view is that this mix may suit investors who prefer a conservative debt allocation and are comfortable with returns that can be steadier than equity-linked or more credit-heavy options.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with medium-risk debt exposure and want a relatively stable fixed-income allocation rather than a high-growth profile. The 1-year return has been stronger than the benchmark, while the 3-year return is only modestly ahead, so the scheme looks better at preserving a steady pattern than at delivering a big upside surprise.

The investment horizon should be medium to long term, because the portfolio is built around government securities and corporate debt rather than short-dated cash-like instruments. The main trade-off is that the heavier sovereign-bond mix can support stability, but it may also limit upside when investors expect faster return acceleration. For investors who want a measured debt holding with no exit load and a small SIP entry point, that balance may be acceptable.

Tax and exit load

Exit load: No exit load.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹13.4418 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is 4.6038% and its 3-year return is 6.8067%. The 5-year return is Data not available.

How has the fund done versus the benchmark?
It has done better than the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years. The benchmark was -2.29% over 1 year and 6.40% over 3 years, while the fund returned 4.60% and 6.81%.

How does it compare with peer funds on 1-year returns?
It trails Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan and Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan on 1-year return, and it is close to ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

Who manages the fund and what is its exit load?
The fund is managed by Harshil Suvarnkar and Bhupesh Bameta. It has no exit load.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steadier medium-term pattern than a dramatic one, with a stronger 1-year outcome and a slightly better 3-year result than the benchmark. In peer terms, its latest return sits below the stronger 1-year comparables but remains close to one of the listed peers on the same horizon. The portfolio is heavily tilted toward government securities, which supports a conservative debt profile. That mix is most relevant for investors who want measured fixed-income exposure rather than aggressive return seeking.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 4:25 PM IST