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

Aditya Birla SL Medium to Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹140.8769 as of 28 Aug 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹1,780 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 4.60%, 6.39% and 5.74%, and the fund sits in the Medium Risk bucket. Our view is that this is a debt fund for investors who want relatively steady participation in the debt market, but with returns that have been moderate rather than strong across longer holding periods.

The fund’s portfolio is heavily tilted toward government securities and corporate debt, which makes the return profile more linked to interest-rate movements and credit allocation than to equity-like growth. The current setup suggests a conservative core debt holding for investors who can stay invested long enough to smooth out short-term swings.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Bhupesh Bameta.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

The fund has been stable over the very recent period, but the 1-month return is flat and the 3-month figure is only modestly positive. That tells us the recent phase has not been particularly powerful, even though the benchmark has moved around more sharply over the same windows.

Over one year, the fund has done better than the benchmark, which was negative in the same period. That is an important sign of resilience. It suggests the portfolio has been able to avoid the full effect of weaker benchmark conditions, even if the absolute return is still moderate.

The longer pattern is more mixed. The 3-year return is almost identical to the benchmark, while the 5-year return trails the benchmark by a noticeable margin. That means the fund has not consistently converted its debt positioning into a clear long-run edge over the benchmark, even though the path of returns has been relatively orderly.

From a compounding angle, the fund looks steadier than adventurous. The return pattern points to gradual progress rather than a sharp upward run, and that usually appeals more to investors who value predictability over aggressive upside. It is also worth noting that recent performance does not materially change the longer-term picture; the fund remains a moderate-return debt option rather than a standout compounding story.

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.

The fund’s 1-year return is below the peer set shown here, while several peer corporate bond funds have produced stronger recent numbers. That matters because the short-term comparison does not point to a clear recent advantage for this fund.

The longer-term picture is also softer. Its 3-year return is below the peer figures shown, and the 5-year figure trails the stronger entries in the comparison set as well. So, both the medium-term and long-term comparisons lean in the same direction: this fund has delivered steadier but less forceful compounding than the stronger peer examples available here.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Market-cap distribution

The portfolio is concentrated in debt instruments rather than market-cap buckets, which is why the “other cap” allocation is 100%. Within that debt mix, government securities are the main anchor at 60.89%, and corporate debt is also meaningful at 32.75%. Together, those two buckets dominate the portfolio and may shape most of the fund’s behaviour.

The gap between the largest sector and the next one is wide enough to matter. Government securities are materially larger than corporate debt, so duration and sovereign-rate sensitivity are likely to carry more influence than any smaller sleeve. The cash and securitised debt pieces are much smaller and may mainly provide support rather than define outcomes.

On balance, the fund’s behaviour is likely to be influenced most by government securities, with corporate debt acting as the second key driver. That combination usually suits investors who want a debt-first allocation with limited exposure to equity-style volatility, while still accepting that interest-rate movements can affect short-term returns.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with Medium Risk and who can stay invested through periods when returns are modest rather than exciting. The 1-year return has been better than the benchmark, but the 3-year and 5-year record shows a more mixed picture, so the fund works better for patience than for quick results.

It is more suitable for a medium to long investment horizon, especially for investors seeking a debt allocation with a government-security-heavy portfolio. The main trade-off is that the fund may offer steadier positioning and lower volatility than many growth-oriented options, but it may also lag stronger peer corporate bond funds in long-run return delivery.

Tax and exit load

Exit load

No exit load after holding period.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Medium to Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹140.8769 as of 28 Aug 2026.

What are the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is 4.60%, the 3-year return is 6.39%, and the 5-year return is 5.74%.

How has the fund compared with the benchmark?
It has outperformed the benchmark over 1 year, matched it closely over 3 years, and trailed it over 5 years.

How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?
Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are below the stronger peer figures shown in the comparison table, especially over the longer periods.

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

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
Bhupesh Bameta manages the fund. There is no exit load after the holding period.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Medium to Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan looks like a steady debt fund rather than a high-return standout. Its short-term performance has held up better than the benchmark, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers are more muted and sit below the stronger peer examples shown here. The portfolio is dominated by government securities and corporate debt, so the fund’s behaviour is likely to be shaped mainly by debt-market movements rather than equity-like upside. It suits investors who value a conservative debt structure and can accept moderate return expectations.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 4:35 PM IST