Union Liquid Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Union Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has an NAV of ₹2737.1667 as of 03 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹7,564 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.54%, 6.99% and 6.36% respectively, and the fund sits in the Balanced Risk category.

Our view is that this is a steady liquid fund rather than a return-chasing one. The portfolio is anchored by short-duration and money-market style instruments, which fits the fund’s low-volatility profile and makes it more suitable for investors looking for cash management or parking surplus funds with a measured return profile.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Devesh Thacker and Parijat Agrawal.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Performance

The recent numbers show a fund that has stayed reasonably consistent, with the 1-month and 3-month figures pointing to modest positive traction rather than sharp swings. That kind of pattern is typical of a liquid fund and is more about capital preservation and smooth accrual than aggressive upside.

Over the medium term, the 1-year return at 6.54% is comfortably positive while the benchmark was negative over the same period, which tells us the fund held up far better through a difficult phase for the benchmark. The 3-year return at 6.99% also sits above the benchmark’s 5.74%, showing a better compounding path across a fuller cycle.

The 5-year picture is more balanced. The fund’s 6.36% is close to the benchmark’s 6.27%, so the long-run edge is present but not wide. For investors, that means the fund has not relied on one strong stretch alone; it has shown a steadier pattern across periods, with the recent trend remaining aligned to its longer-term profile.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Peer comparison

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On 1-year performance, the fund is slightly below the stronger peer figures available here, though the gap is narrow. Its 3-year return is also a touch lower than the better peer readings, and the 5-year return sits just behind the peer cluster rather than clearly ahead of it.

Short-term and longer-term comparisons tell a similar story: the fund is competitive, but it does not pull decisively away from the peer set. That makes the comparison more about consistency than standout outperformance, especially since the available figures cluster closely together across the liquid-fund universe.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The largest holding, 91 Day Treasury Bills, is 18.67% of the portfolio, so it is likely to have greater influence on the fund’s day-to-day behaviour than any single credit or bank exposure below it. After that, weights fall away fairly quickly into the 4% to 3% range, which suggests no single corporate name dominates the way a concentrated equity portfolio might.

The tenth holding is 2.63%, so the spread from the largest holding to the tenth is wide enough to show a layered structure rather than a tightly bunched book. That shape may help the fund keep returns smoother, because the leading position is meaningful but the rest of the portfolio still carries a broad mix of issuers and instruments.

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 49.28% of the portfolio, and the full disclosed list contains 49 holdings. That points to a portfolio that is not fully concentrated in just a few positions, even though the first few holdings still matter a lot. The longer tail could help diversify issuer-specific movement, while the leading treasury exposure keeps the overall posture conservative.

To see all holdings, visit the Union Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can accept low-to-moderate volatility and want a liquid parking option rather than a high-growth product. The Balanced Risk category, steady multi-period returns, and close benchmark tracking pattern point to an investor base that values stability, access and disciplined money-market style exposure.

The main trade-off is simple: you are giving up the chance of large upside in exchange for a steadier return profile and short-duration positioning. That makes the fund more relevant for shorter horizons, cash-like reserves or temporary deployment of surplus money, especially when the goal is to avoid sharp swings.

Tax and exit load

Exit load applies on a declining scale during the first six days: 0.007% for Day 1, 0.0065% for Day 2, 0.0060% for Day 3, 0.0055% for Day 4, 0.0050% for Day 5 and 0.0045% for Day 6. There is no exit load on or after 7D.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Union Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹2737.1667 as of 03 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?

The fund’s returns are 6.54% over 1 year, 6.99% over 3 years and 6.36% over 5 years.

How has it performed versus the benchmark?

It has stayed ahead of the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years, while the 5-year figure is broadly close to the benchmark’s 6.27% return. The shorter periods show steadier resilience than the benchmark’s more uneven pattern.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?

The fund sits close to the peer cluster on available return figures, but the peer funds shown have slightly higher 1-year, 3-year and 5-year readings where data is available. JioBlackRock Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan does not have 3-year or 5-year figures available here.

Does the fund have a minimum SIP amount?

Yes. The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Devesh Thacker and Parijat Agrawal. Exit load declines from Day 1 through Day 6 and becomes nil on or after 7D.

Bottom line

Union Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steadier return pattern over time, with recent numbers that remain consistent with its longer-term profile rather than diverging sharply from it. Against the peer figures available here, it is competitive but slightly behind the stronger readings. The fund’s Balanced Risk stance, treasury-heavy leading holding and broad 49-holding disclosed book point to a conservative liquid-fund structure that may suit investors seeking stability and short holding periods more than high upside.

Published on 4 September 2026 at 4:39 PM IST