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 has a NAV of ₹26.14 as of 28 August 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹1,123 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.78%, 8.48% and 7.23%, and the fund sits in the Medium Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors who want a hybrid-style allocation with measured volatility rather than sharp equity-like swings.

The fund’s longer run is steady rather than standout, and its portfolio leans heavily on banks with a meaningful allocation to debt-style and other non-equity exposures. That mix can support a more balanced experience, but it also means the return profile is likely to remain moderate compared with a pure equity strategy.

Quick facts

Detail	Value
NAV	₹26.14
AUM	₹1,123 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% if units are sold on or before 7 days; nil after 7 days
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 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.54%	-0.85%
3M	3.08%	3.39%
1Y	6.78%	-2.29%
3Y	8.48%	6.40%
5Y	7.23%	7.13%

The recent picture is better than the benchmark in the shorter 1-month and 1-year windows, while the 3-month result is slightly behind. That pattern suggests the fund has been able to protect better than the benchmark during some weaker stretches, but it has not always captured the full upside in every short period.

Over 3 years, the fund’s 8.48% return is ahead of the benchmark’s 6.40%, which points to a stronger medium-term compounding trend. Over 5 years, the gap is narrow: 7.23% for the fund versus 7.13% for the benchmark. That tells us the fund has broadly kept pace over longer holding periods rather than pulling far ahead.

The performance pattern also looks smoother than a pure equity approach would usually be. The monthly and multi-month paths show some ups and downs, but not a sharp, one-way move. For investors, that matters because the fund’s behaviour seems shaped more by balance and consistency than by aggressive market capture.

Our view is that the fund is useful when the goal is a steadier return path with a hybrid structure, not when the objective is to maximise upside in strong equity rallies. The benchmark comparison supports that reading: the fund has generally held its own, with a clearer edge in the 3-year period than in the most recent 3-month window.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 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	6.78%	8.48%	7.23%
HSBC Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	10.412%	13.7874%	11.5697%
Edelweiss Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	9.4013%	11.817%	10.0806%
WOC Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.8187%	Data not available	Data not available
Mahindra Manulife Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.4856%	10.2314%	9.4352%
Capitalmind Flexi Cap Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.0628%	Data not available	Data not available

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

Against the peer set, the fund’s 1-year return is below the stronger available figures, and that same pattern continues over 3 years and 5 years where multiple peers have delivered higher numbers. The short-term comparison therefore leans against the fund on raw return momentum. The longer-term comparison is more nuanced, because the fund still shows a stable multi-year track rather than a sharp drop-off, but it does not lead the peer set on the available figures.

That split matters: short-term numbers show the fund lagging the faster-moving peers, while the longer-term numbers suggest a more restrained compounding style rather than a high-octane outcome. For investors, this is less about chasing the strongest return series and more about deciding whether the fund’s steadier profile fits the rest of the portfolio.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Market-cap bucket	Weight
Large Cap	48.45%
Mid Cap	16.82%
Small Cap	5.63%
Other Cap	29.10%

Sector	Weight	Key holdings
BANK	32.26%	KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LIMITED (12.61%), HDFC BANK LIMITED (5.16%)
DOMESTIC MUTUAL FUNDS UNITS	7.86%	ADITYA BIRLA SUN LIFE MONEY MANAGER FUND – GROWTH – DIRECT PLAN (3.18%), ADITYA BIRLA SUN LIFE LIQUID FUND – GROWTH – DIRECT PLAN (2.52%)
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES	7.05%	GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (13/11/2030) (1.61%), GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (14/08/2033) (1.6%)
AUTOMOBILE & ANCILLARIES	5.53%	MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED (2.19%), WABCO INDIA LIMITED (1.31%)
FINANCE	5.18%	NEXUS SELECT TRUST (1.07%), BAJAJ FINANCE LIMITED (1.01%)

The market-cap mix is anchored by large-cap exposure at 48.45%, with another 29.10% shown under other-cap exposures, so the portfolio does not look concentrated in only one equity style. Mid-cap and small-cap exposure together account for 22.45%, which adds some return potential but also some variability.

Banks are the clearest sector influence at 32.26%, and that is materially larger than the next sectors listed. In practice, this means financial-sector movement is likely to have the greatest influence on how the portfolio behaves, especially because Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Bank together form the largest stock-level weights in the table.

The remaining sectors are much smaller and provide diversification rather than dominance. Government securities and domestic mutual fund units indicate that the portfolio is not built as a pure equity bet, so the overall profile may stay more balanced than a concentrated stock portfolio, even though bank exposure remains the main watchpoint.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with Medium Risk and want a hybrid allocation rather than a pure equity stance. The return path shows moderate long-term compounding, with a stronger 3-year stretch than the 5-year number and a recent 1-year return that has held up better than the benchmark.

It is better suited to a medium-to-long investment horizon, because the fund’s strength comes from steadier accumulation rather than a sudden return burst. The main trade-off is that investors may accept a more restrained upside in exchange for a portfolio that mixes equity, debt-style and other exposures more evenly than a concentrated equity fund.

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% if units are sold on or before 7 days.
• No exit load after the holding period.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹26.14 as of 28 August 2026.

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

The fund’s returns are 6.78% for 1 year, 8.48% for 3 years and 7.23% for 5 years.

How does it compare with the benchmark?

It has been ahead of the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years, while the 5-year return is broadly in line with it.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

What risk category does this fund fall under?

It falls under the Medium Risk category and has a lower-volatility style suited to conservative investors who still want market-linked participation.

How concentrated is the portfolio?

The portfolio is led by banks at 32.26%, with large-cap exposure at 48.45% and mid-cap plus small-cap exposure together at 22.45%. That makes banks the main sector influence, while the overall mix still remains diversified across equities and other exposures.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Equity Savings Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a steadier long-term profile than a strong upside story. It has held up better than the benchmark in some recent periods and over 3 years, but its 5-year return is only marginally ahead of the benchmark and below several peer returns. The Medium Risk label, the large-cap tilt and the meaningful bank exposure point to a balanced hybrid structure. For investors who want measured participation rather than aggressive equity-style gains, that mix can be appropriate.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 2:54 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.