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

Aditya Birla SL Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan is a debt scheme with a current NAV of ₹121.9584 as of 08 Sep 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹22,635 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.22%, 7.23% and 6.4%, respectively, and it sits in the Medium Risk category.

Our view is that this fund fits investors who want a corporate-bond-heavy debt allocation with moderate return consistency rather than sharp short-term upside. The longer record is steadier than the benchmark, while the portfolio is spread across government securities, corporate debt and cash-like positions, which supports a more measured profile.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹121.9584 as of 08 Sep 2026
AUM	₹22,635 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.33%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Debt
Exit Load	No exit load after holding period
Fund Managers	Kaustubh Gupta

The fund is managed by Kaustubh Gupta.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-0.18%	-3.86%
3M	1.6%	1.69%
1Y	5.22%	-5.72%
3Y	7.23%	6.3%
5Y	6.4%	6.05%

The recent picture is mixed but not weak. Over 1 month, the fund was slightly negative, yet it still held up far better than the benchmark, which fell more sharply. Over 3 months, the fund and benchmark were close, which suggests the short-term path has been relatively contained rather than highly directional.

The 1-year return is the clearest strength in the current pattern. The fund has posted a positive 5.22% while the benchmark is negative at -5.72%, so the scheme has clearly held up better over that horizon. That matters for debt investors, because it shows the portfolio has not simply tracked market stress one-for-one.

The longer view is more balanced. The 3-year return of 7.23% is ahead of the benchmark’s 6.3%, and the 5-year return of 6.4% is also above the benchmark’s 6.05%. That indicates the fund has compounded with a modest edge over a full market cycle, even though the excess over benchmark is not large.

The daily pattern behind those results suggests periods of mild volatility rather than a straight line. Our read is that this is a fund that may be more useful for patience and consistency than for chasing sudden outperformance. The recent numbers do not materially alter the longer trend; they mostly reinforce that the scheme has stayed relatively stable while delivering slightly better longer-run returns than the benchmark.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Corp Bond?

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.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Aditya Birla SL Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.22%	7.23%	6.4%
Franklin India Corporate Bond Fund-A Direct Growth Plan	6.51%	8.09%	6.76%
Baroda BNP Paribas Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.44%	7.84%	6.28%
ICICI Pru Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.25%	7.57%	6.83%
DSP Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.23%	7.42%	6.04%
Bandhan Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan	6%	7.37%	6.12%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

The fund’s 1-year return trails all five peer schemes listed here, so the recent stretch has been less strong than the peer group’s current pace. Over 3 years, it is still competitive, though it sits below the stronger peer figures of 8.09% and 7.84% and close to the mid-7% range seen across the set. On 5 years, it remains in the same broad band as most peers, with only a small gap to the better long-run numbers. The short-term comparison looks weaker than the longer-term one, which suggests the recent phase has been less favourable even though the multi-year record remains broadly stable.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Government of India (11/05/2036)	Government Securities	6.77%
Government of India (07/07/2040)	Government Securities	5.95%
7.48% National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (15/09/2028)	Corporate Debt	4.85%
Net Receivable / Payable	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	4.08%
7.30% Bharti Telecom Ltd. (01/12/2027) **	Corporate Debt	2.95%
7.43% Jamnagar Utilities & Power Pvt. Ltd. (24/10/2034) **	Corporate Debt	2.54%
Government of India (15/04/2065)	Government Securities	2.49%
7.80% Bajaj Housing Finance Ltd. (09/02/2034) **	Corporate Debt	2.17%
Government of India (18/05/2066)	Government Securities	2.03%
7.29% Small Industries Development Bank of India (09/11/2029)	Corporate Debt	1.95%

The top holding is a Government of India security at 6.77%, which is meaningful but not outsized for a debt fund. The decline from the largest holding to the tenth holding is gradual, from 6.77% to 1.95%, which suggests the portfolio does not lean too heavily on a single line item. That kind of spread can help reduce the influence of any one security on day-to-day performance.

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 35.78% of the portfolio. With 56 holdings disclosed, the scheme appears to use a fairly long tail behind the listed positions, so the visible book is not narrowly dependent on just a few names. At the same time, the biggest positions are still large enough to matter, so government securities and select corporate debt issues may contribute more to return outcomes than the smaller lines.

Overall, our view is that this is a reasonably diversified fixed-income mix rather than a highly concentrated credit book. The government exposure at the top, together with corporate debt across issuers such as NABARD, Bharti Telecom, Jamnagar Utilities and Bajaj Housing Finance, may provide a balance between quality and yield. That blend can suit investors who value a measured portfolio structure more than aggressive duration or credit positioning.

To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund may suit investors who are comfortable with medium risk and want a debt allocation that has shown steady longer-term compounding rather than dramatic short-term jumps. The 1-year result is weaker than several peers, but the 3-year and 5-year records remain broadly constructive and ahead of the benchmark, which points to a scheme that can work better for patient investors.

The main trade-off is that the recent period has not matched the stronger peer pace, even though the longer record is still respectable. Investors who want a stable corporate bond exposure, are prepared to hold through periods of mild volatility, and prefer a portfolio with both government securities and corporate debt may find the fund’s profile appropriate. It is more about consistency and controlled participation than about trying to stand out in a single year.

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: No exit load after holding period.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹121.9584 as of 08 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is 5.22%, the 3-year return is 7.23% and the 5-year return is 6.4%.

How has the fund performed against its benchmark?
It has outperformed the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is most noticeable over 1 year, where the fund is positive and the benchmark is negative.

How does it compare with the peer schemes listed here?
Its 1-year return is below the peer figures shown, while the 3-year and 5-year returns remain broadly in the same range. The short-term comparison is weaker than the longer-term picture.

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 Kaustubh Gupta. The exit load is nil after the holding period.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Corp Bond Fund Direct Growth Plan has a steadier longer-term record than its recent 1-year performance suggests. The fund stays ahead of the benchmark over 3 and 5 years, while its recent stretch has lagged some peer schemes. Its Medium Risk profile, government-security presence at the top of the book and broad spread across 56 holdings point to a measured debt allocation. This looks better suited to investors who want patience, stability and a corporate-bond tilt than to those seeking standout short-term returns.

Published on 9 September 2026 at 4:31 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.