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

Aditya Birla SL Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan is valued at ₹26.03 as of 10 Sep 2026, with a scheme AUM of ₹1,129 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.64%, 8.07% and 6.64%, and the fund sits in the Medium Risk bucket. Our view is that it suits investors who want a hybrid allocation with a steadier profile than a pure equity fund, while still accepting that returns can vary around market moves.

The scheme has also kept a relatively controlled cost structure with an expense ratio of 0.54%. The mix of equity exposure, liquid instruments and cash-like holdings helps explain why the return path has been moderate rather than aggressive, which can appeal to conservative investors who are comfortable with measured participation in equity markets.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹26.03 as of 10 Sep 2026
AUM	₹1,129 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.54%
Launch Date	28 Nov 2014
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Hybrid
Exit Load	0.25% on or before 7D, Nil after 7D
Fund Managers	Lovelish Solanki, Harshil Suvarnkar, Rohit Karan

The fund is managed by Lovelish Solanki, Harshil Suvarnkar and Rohit Karan.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-0.46%	-4.06%
3M	2.52%	1.37%
1Y	5.64%	-7.31%
3Y	8.07%	6.07%
5Y	6.64%	5.91%

Recent behaviour has been steadier than the benchmark. Over 1 month, the fund was slightly negative, but it still held up far better than the benchmark’s deeper fall in the same window. That pattern matters because it suggests the portfolio has not been taking the full force of equity swings when markets weaken.

At the 3-month mark, the fund stayed ahead of the benchmark, which supports the view that short-term volatility has been manageable. The broader 1-year picture is even stronger: the fund delivered a positive return while the benchmark was negative. That gap shows how the fund’s hybrid structure can cushion investors when plain equity markets are under pressure.

Looking further out, the 3-year and 5-year returns are both positive and comfortably above the benchmark. The 3-year figure is stronger than the 5-year figure, which tells us that the fund’s more recent multi-year phase has been a little better than its longer compounding average. The overall trend is therefore constructive, but not in a straight line. We see a fund that has recovered from weaker patches and has still ended up with a steady long-run record rather than a high-octane growth profile.

For investors, the main takeaway is that this scheme has not relied on aggressive market timing to stay ahead of the benchmark. Its performance pattern is more consistent with a balanced hybrid fund that aims to limit downside strain while still building capital over time.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Equity Savings?

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 Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.64%	8.07%	6.64%
Edelweiss Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.49%	11.44%	9.76%
HSBC Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.33%	12.82%	11.09%
WOC Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.61%	Data not available	Data not available
Mahindra Manulife Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.05%	9.37%	8.93%
Capitalmind Flexi Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.10%	Data not available	Data not available

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

The fund’s 1-year return trails the stronger peer figures in this set, with HSBC Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan and Edelweiss Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan both ahead. The same pattern continues over 3 years and 5 years, where the current fund’s returns are positive but still below the better-performing peer figures that have available longer-term numbers. That tells us the scheme has been competitive, but not among the strongest return generators in this peer group.

The comparison is more nuanced on shorter horizons. The current fund has done better than the benchmark and remains solidly positive, which means it has preserved a reasonable multi-period record even if some peers have moved ahead more strongly. So the short-term story and the long-term story point in the same direction: stable, acceptable performance, but with peers offering higher returns across the same holding periods.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
ICICI Bank Ltd.	Bank	7.84%
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Bank	5.10%
UPL Ltd.	Chemicals	4.73%
Aditya Birla Sun Life Liquid Fund Direct Plan Growth	Domestic Mutual Funds Units	4.63%
Aditya Birla Sun Life Money Market Fund – Growth – Direct Plan	Domestic Mutual Funds Units	3.75%
Reliance Industries Ltd.	Crude Oil	3.59%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	3.29%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.	Bank	2.98%
Patanjali Foods Ltd.	FMCG	2.76%
GMR Airports Ltd.	Infrastructure	2.45%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 41.12% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding, ICICI Bank Ltd., stands at 7.84%, which is meaningful but not dominant on its own. The weight then steps down fairly gradually through the next few positions, with HDFC Bank Ltd. at 5.10% and UPL Ltd. at 4.73%, so the portfolio is not leaning on a single stock to drive outcomes.

The tenth holding is 2.45%, which shows a fairly moderate spread across the top positions. Because the disclosed top 10 together account for about 41.12% of the portfolio, the visible part of the book is only partly concentrated. The rest is spread across a longer tail of 43 disclosed holdings, so individual positions may still influence returns, but the structure suggests a diversified mix rather than a highly concentrated equity bet.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund may suit investors who are comfortable with Medium Risk and want a hybrid scheme that is less volatile than a pure equity allocation. The return pattern supports a patient horizon: the 1-year number is positive and the 3-year and 5-year figures show that the fund has been able to compound over time, even though the path has not been smooth.

It may fit investors who want some equity participation but also value portfolio balance and a benchmark-aware approach. The main trade-off is that the fund’s steadier profile can come with more modest upside than a more aggressive equity fund, which is visible in its return profile versus stronger peers. That makes it more relevant for investors who prioritise balance and consistency over chasing the highest possible market-linked gains.

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: 0.25% on or before 7 days; nil after 7 days.

Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹26.03 as of 10 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 5.64% for 1 year, 8.07% for 3 years and 6.64% for 5 years.

How has it performed against the benchmark?
It has stayed ahead of the benchmark across the available periods, including 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is especially clear over 1 year, where the fund is positive and the benchmark is negative.

How does it compare with peer funds on available return data?
It trails several peer funds on 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns, although it still shows a positive multi-year record. The short-term comparison and the longer-term comparison both point to steadier, but not leading, performance within the peer set.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

Who manages the fund and what is its exit load?
The fund is managed by Lovelish Solanki, Harshil Suvarnkar and Rohit Karan. The exit load is 0.25% on or before 7 days, and nil after 7 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan has a moderate, benchmark-aware return profile that looks steadier than the benchmark across the available periods, but weaker than several peers on the same horizons. Its Medium Risk tag and hybrid structure make it more suitable for investors who prefer balance and some downside cushion over higher-octane equity exposure. The portfolio is also fairly spread out, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 41.12% of disclosed positions, which supports a diversified but still meaningful stock-selection approach.

Published on 11 September 2026 at 3:40 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.