Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- August 31, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan is priced at ₹23.99 as of 11 Sep 2026, with a scheme AUM of ₹3,835 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 2.52%, 11.2% and 9.54%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that this is a hybrid fund for investors who can stay patient through short swings while looking for a smoother equity-debt style experience than a pure equity fund.
The recent return pattern has been softer, but the longer-term numbers are more balanced, and the portfolio is led by financials, large private banks and a few index-heavy names. That combination may suit investors who want a diversified hybrid allocation and can accept that near-term performance can move well away from the longer-run trend.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹23.99 as of 11 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹3,835 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.74% |
| Launch Date | 01 Aug 2017 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Hybrid |
| Exit Load | Nil for 10% of investments and 1% for remaining investments on or before 12M, Nil after 12M |
| Fund Managers | Jayesh Sundar, Devang Shah, Hardik Shah |
The fund is managed by Jayesh Sundar, Devang Shah and Hardik Shah.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -2% | -3.66% |
| 3M | 0.71% | -1.91% |
| 1Y | 2.52% | -7.62% |
| 3Y | 11.2% | 6.22% |
| 5Y | 9.54% | 5.84% |
Recent performance has been uneven. The 1-month return is still negative, and the 3-month figure is only mildly positive, which tells us the fund has not had a clean upward run in the near term. Even so, it held up better than the benchmark over both short windows, so the relative picture is better than the absolute one.
The 1-year return of 2.52% is modest, but it still stayed ahead of the benchmark’s -7.62%. That matters because it shows the fund preserved more value than the index during a weaker stretch for markets. For investors, that kind of relative resilience can be more important than a single headline return number, especially in a hybrid strategy.
Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund has compounded at 11.2% and 9.54%, both above the benchmark’s 6.22% and 5.84%. Our view is that the longer-run trend is more constructive than the recent period suggests. The path has not been smooth, but the fund has converted that volatility into a stronger multi-year outcome than the benchmark.
The time pattern also suggests a fund that can recover after softer phases rather than move in a straight line. That makes it better suited to patient capital than to investors who want steady month-to-month gains. The fund’s longer-term edge over the benchmark is clear, but the latest figures remind us that short-term outcomes can still lag broader expectations.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Axis Balanced Advantage?
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 Axis Balanced Advantage? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 2.52% | 11.2% | 9.54% |
| Unifi Dynamic Asset Allocation Fund Direct Growth Plan | 8.6% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Baroda BNP Paribas Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.04% | 11.75% | 11.16% |
| Aditya Birla SL Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.7% | 11.45% | 10.36% |
| 360 ONE Balanced Hybrid Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.55% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Edelweiss Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.46% | 10.37% | 9.51% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The current fund’s 1-year return is lower than every peer listed here, including peers with stronger short-term momentum such as Unifi Dynamic Asset Allocation Fund Direct Growth Plan and Baroda BNP Paribas Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan. That said, the longer-term picture is more competitive: its 3-year return is ahead of Edelweiss Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan, and its 5-year return is slightly above Edelweiss as well.
What stands out is the split between short-term and longer-term positioning. On a recent basis, the fund trails the better-performing peers, but over 3 years and 5 years it sits in the middle to upper part of the available comparison set on return figures. That makes the comparison more nuanced than the 1-year number alone. The fund’s recent softness does not erase the stronger multi-year compounding profile.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Net Receivables / (Payables) | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 13.41% |
| ICICI Bank Limited | Bank | 6.08% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 5.38% |
| Reliance Industries Limited | Crude Oil | 4.54% |
| State Bank of India | Bank | 3.53% |
| Infosys Limited | IT | 2.39% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | Telecom | 2.34% |
| Larsen & Toubro Limited | Infrastructure | 2.32% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | Bank | 2.29% |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Limited | Automobile & Ancillaries | 2.29% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 44.57% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The biggest line item is net receivables / payables at 13.41%, which is materially larger than the first equity holding. After that, the portfolio steps down into a cluster of large banks and a few diversified operating businesses. That pattern suggests the top sleeve may have a meaningful influence on day-to-day movement, especially because the largest holding is not a single company but a cash-and-net-assets line.
The drop from the first holding to the tenth is fairly steep, moving from 13.41% to 2.29%. The fall in weight is not perfectly even, but the top positions are clearly more influential than the smaller names listed here. ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Reliance together form a second layer of meaningful exposure, while the rest of the table becomes progressively smaller.
At 44.57% across the top 10 holdings, the portfolio is not fully concentrated in only a handful of positions, but neither is it broadly spread across the disclosed sleeve. With 68 total holdings disclosed, the fund likely has a longer tail beyond the table, yet the visible weight still points to a structure where the leading positions may matter more than the rest.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund may suit investors who can tolerate High Risk behaviour and are comfortable with a hybrid allocation that can move around in the short run. The 1-year return has been soft, so it is not a fund for anyone expecting smooth monthly progress.
Our view is that the stronger fit is for a medium- to long-term horizon, because the 3-year and 5-year numbers are more stable relative to the benchmark than the latest 1-year result. The main trade-off is that investors may have to accept short-term unevenness in exchange for a more balanced, multi-asset style return pattern over time.
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: Nil for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments if units are sold within 12 months; no exit load after 12 months.
Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The NAV is ₹23.99 as of 11 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The returns are 2.52% for 1 year, 11.2% for 3 years and 9.54% for 5 years.
How does the fund compare with its benchmark?
It has stayed ahead of the Nifty 50 over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The benchmark figures are -7.62%, 6.22% and 5.84% over those same periods.
How does the fund compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its 1-year return is lower than the peer funds shown here, but its 3-year and 5-year returns remain competitive versus peers with available longer-term data.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Jayesh Sundar, Devang Shah and Hardik Shah. The exit load is nil for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments if units are sold within 12 months, and there is no exit load after 12 months.
Bottom line
Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan has a weaker recent stretch, but the longer-term numbers are more constructive and remain ahead of the benchmark. In peer comparisons, the fund’s short-term return trails the better recent performers, while its 3-year and 5-year figures remain more competitive. The High Risk label still matters, and the portfolio’s large cash-and-net-assets line plus several bank holdings mean the top sleeve can influence outcomes. This is a better fit for patient investors who can accept uneven near-term performance in a hybrid structure.
Published on 15 September 2026 at 3:26 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.