Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 3, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹40.06 as of 15 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹1,102 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 16.45%, 20.97% and 13.83%, and the scheme is tagged High Risk. Our view is that it suits investors who can accept sharp swings in exchange for sector-led growth potential, while still expecting periods when returns can move well away from the broader market.
The fund’s return pattern has been stronger than its benchmark across the available horizons, but the recent month was weaker than the longer trend. That mix usually points to a fund that can build value over time, yet remains sensitive to healthcare sector rotation and stock-specific moves.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹40.06 as of 15 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹1,102 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 1.03% |
| Launch Date | 10 Jul 2019 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D |
| Fund Managers | Dhaval Shah |
The fund is managed by Dhaval Shah.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -1.45% | -4.81% |
| 3M | 8.04% | -3.63% |
| 1Y | 16.45% | -8.27% |
| 3Y | 20.97% | 5.59% |
| 5Y | 13.83% | 5.58% |
Over the latest month, the fund fell slightly, but it still held up better than the benchmark, which was more negative. That suggests the portfolio has not been immune to short-term weakness, yet it has shown relative resilience when the broader market softened.
The 3-month number is more encouraging. The fund posted a solid gain while the benchmark remained negative, which indicates a meaningful gap in recent medium-term momentum. For investors, that matters because it shows the fund has been able to recover faster than the market over a period when the benchmark was still under pressure.
The longer record is where the contrast becomes more visible. Both the 3-year and 5-year returns are well ahead of the benchmark, so the fund has compounded more effectively over time than the index it is being measured against. At the same time, the 1-year number shows that recent performance has not been a straight line, and the path has had some volatility rather than a smooth climb.
Our read is that this is a fund with a stronger long-term trend than its benchmark, but one that can still experience short bursts of weakness. That is typical of a concentrated sector strategy: the upside can be meaningful when the sector stays in favour, but the ride can be uneven when sentiment cools.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare?
A fund’s past returns alone don’t tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.
The right decision depends on factors such as your current allocation, purchase price, risk profile, investment horizon and the role this fund plays in your overall portfolio.
Already holding Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 16.45% | 20.97% | 13.83% |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 69.16% | 37.12% | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 27.47% | Data not available | Data not available |
| SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan | 27.05% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 26.51% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.46% | Data not available | Data not available |
On 1-year numbers, this fund trails several peers that have stronger recent returns, even though it still outpaces the benchmark comfortably. The 3-year figure is more competitive, but it remains below the best comparable figure in this group, while the 5-year record is also lower than the fund with the available long-term reading in this set.
The short-term and longer-term stories are therefore different. Recent peer comparisons suggest the fund has not been the fastest mover over the last year, but the longer record still points to respectable compounding. For investors, that means the fund’s appeal is less about current momentum and more about whether they want a healthcare-focused strategy with a steadier long-term track record than the benchmark.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | Healthcare | 9.57% |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | Healthcare | 9.19% |
| Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. | Healthcare | 6.85% |
| Cipla Ltd. | Healthcare | 5.16% |
| Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. | Healthcare | 4.53% |
| Ajanta Pharma Ltd. | Healthcare | 4.22% |
| Sai Life Sciences Ltd. | Domestic Equities | 4.20% |
| TREPS | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 3.85% |
| Mankind Pharma Ltd. | Healthcare | 3.41% |
| Lupin Ltd. | Healthcare | 3.10% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 54.08% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The largest position, Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd., carries a 9.57% weight, so it is large enough to matter on its own but not dominant by itself. The next few positions are also meaningful, with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. at 9.19% and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. at 6.85%, which keeps the portfolio anchored in a small set of healthcare names.
Weight falls gradually rather than abruptly from the first holding to the tenth, moving from 9.57% to 3.10%. That pattern suggests the portfolio may not rely on a single position for outcomes, but the top end still has more influence than the lower holdings shown here.
Because the disclosed top 10 holdings already account for 54.08% of the portfolio and the fund has 40 holdings in total, the visible allocation looks moderately concentrated. That structure may allow the fund to express strong conviction while still keeping a longer tail of positions that can add diversification across the wider sleeve.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk exposure and can stay invested through uneven periods. The 1-year return shows that short-term performance can be choppy, while the 3-year and 5-year numbers indicate the fund has still compounded better than the benchmark over time.
The main trade-off is clear: investors get focused healthcare exposure and a long-term return profile that has outpaced the benchmark, but they also accept sector concentration and periods of underperformance versus faster-moving peers. A longer holding period is more sensible than a short tactical allocation, because the fund’s edge appears more visible over multiple years than over a few months.
Tax and exit load
| Holding period | Tax rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Units held less than 1 year | 20% | Short-term capital gains tax |
| Units held more than 1 year | 12.5% | Long-term capital gains tax |
Exit load applies at 1% if units are sold on or before 30 days. No exit load is charged after 30 days.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹40.06 as of 15 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 16.45% for 1 year, 20.97% for 3 years and 13.83% for 5 years.
How does the fund compare with the benchmark?
It has beaten the benchmark across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is especially visible over 3 years and 5 years.
How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its recent 1-year return is below several peer figures shown here, but its 3-year and 5-year record still shows solid long-term compounding. The comparison is more mixed in the short run than over multiple years.
Who manages the fund?
Dhaval Shah manages the fund.
What are the exit load and tax rules?
Units sold on or before 30 days attract a 1% exit load, and there is no exit load after 30 days. For taxes, units held less than 1 year attract 20% short-term capital gains tax, while units held more than 1 year attract 12.5% long-term capital gains tax.
Bottom line
Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan has a stronger longer-term record than its benchmark, but the latest short-term reading shows that the ride can be uneven. In the peer set shown here, its recent return is not the strongest, yet the longer-horizon numbers remain respectable. The High Risk tag and the healthcare-heavy portfolio mean the fund may suit investors who want sector-specific exposure and can hold through volatility rather than rely on smooth month-to-month gains.
Published on 16 September 2026 at 1:09 PM IST
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RIA disclosure
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. This review is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. (earlier known as Uniapps Global Research Pvt. Ltd.) under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639 for general informational purposes and is not personalized investment advice.