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

Aditya Birla SL Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹165.3731 as of 08 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹7,971 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.24%, 12.79% and 10.78%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a focused equity fund with a return profile that has stayed above its benchmark over 3- and 5-year horizons, but the recent 1-year stretch has been weaker. The portfolio is concentrated in a limited set of holdings, so it may suit investors who can tolerate sharper swings in exchange for a style that can still compound over longer periods.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹165.3731 as of 08 Sep 2026
AUM	₹7,971 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.87%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	1% on or before 90D, Nil after 90D
Fund Managers	Kunal Sangoi

The fund is managed by Kunal Sangoi.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-3.53%	-3.86%
3M	4.7%	1.69%
1Y	5.24%	-5.72%
3Y	12.79%	6.3%
5Y	10.78%	6.05%

Recent performance has been mixed rather than one-directional. The fund was still negative over 1 month, but the decline was less severe than the benchmark, and the 3-month figure recovered more strongly than the index. That tells us the near-term path has improved after a soft patch, even though it has not been smooth.

The longer view is more constructive. Over 1 year, the fund returned 5.24% while the benchmark declined 5.72%, which is a clear relative outperformance. The gap remains positive over 3 years and 5 years as well, with the fund at 12.79% and 10.78% versus 6.3% and 6.05% for the benchmark. That combination suggests the strategy has compounded better than the index across medium and longer horizons.

What matters for investors is that the recent weakness does not fully match the stronger 3-year and 5-year path. The time pattern suggests intermittent drawdowns, but the longer record still shows the fund has been able to recover and build value over time. In our view, that is more important than a single weak month, especially for a focused equity portfolio.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Focused?

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 Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.24%	12.79%	10.78%
Motilal Oswal Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	30.05%	14.14%	10.79%
Old Bridge Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	19.03%	Data not available	Data not available
ITI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	14.68%	19%	Data not available
SBI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	14%	15.94%	12.38%
Quant Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	13.31%	13.26%	13.86%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On recent performance, the fund trails the stronger 1-year numbers among the peer set, although its 5.24% still holds up better than the benchmark’s negative 1-year return. Over 3 years and 5 years, it is broadly competitive and, in this set, sits above several peers on 3-year performance while remaining close to one of the stronger 5-year figures.

The short-term and longer-term stories are different. In the latest year, some peers have delivered much sharper gains, but over 3 and 5 years this fund has held up better than the benchmark and remains in the same broad range as the better longer-horizon focused funds. That makes the comparison less about a single strong year and more about whether an investor values steadier longer-run compounding from a concentrated portfolio.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
ICICI Bank Ltd.	Bank	5.92%
Reliance Industries Ltd.	Crude Oil	5.27%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	4.74%
Shriram Finance Ltd.	Finance	4.3%
Coforge Ltd.	IT	4.21%
Eternal Ltd.	Retailing	4.11%
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Bank	3.97%
Bajaj Finance Ltd.	Finance	3.95%
State Bank of India	Bank	3.78%
AU Small Finance Bank Ltd.	Bank	3.69%

The largest holding, ICICI Bank Ltd., carries a 5.92% weight, so no single position dominates the portfolio by itself. The tenth holding still stands at 3.69%, which shows a fairly gradual decline from the top slot rather than a steep drop-off. That pattern suggests the fund may be spreading active bets across several major positions instead of relying on one very large anchor.

The top 10 holdings together account for approximately 43.94% of the portfolio, and the disclosed list contains 33 holdings in total. That combination points to moderate concentration at the top with a longer tail beneath it, which can be useful for diversification but still leaves the fund sensitive to the behaviour of its larger positions. In our view, the mix is concentrated enough to matter, yet broad enough that performance is unlikely to depend on just one or two names alone.

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

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better suited to investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and can stay invested through uneven periods. The 1-year return has lagged stronger peer outcomes, but the 3-year and 5-year figures show that the strategy has still compounded ahead of the benchmark over time.

A longer horizon matters here because the portfolio is focused and the short-term path can be choppier than a broad market fund. The main trade-off is that you accept more movement in exchange for a portfolio that has shown the ability to recover and build value over multi-year periods. Investors who want a focused equity allocation and can tolerate swings may find the profile easier to work with than those who prefer smoother month-to-month results.

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 is 1% on or before 90D, and nil after 90D.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

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

The current NAV is ₹165.3731 as of 08 Sep 2026.

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

The fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.24%, 12.79% and 10.78%.

How does the fund compare with the benchmark?

It has outperformed the Nifty 50 over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The benchmark was -5.72% over 1 year, 6.3% over 3 years and 6.05% over 5 years, while the fund was positive in each of those periods.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?

Its 1-year return is below several peers, but its 3-year and 5-year figures remain competitive within the group. The comparison is strongest over longer horizons rather than over the latest year.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

What risk and portfolio features stand out most?

The fund is in the High Risk category and its portfolio is led by ICICI Bank Ltd. at 5.92%. The top 10 holdings account for approximately 43.94% of the portfolio, so the strategy is focused rather than widely spread.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed short-term picture but a steadier longer-term record, with 3-year and 5-year returns that have stayed ahead of the benchmark. Against peers, the latest year looks less impressive, yet the longer view remains competitive. The High Risk profile and focused portfolio mean investors need comfort with swings, but the spread across 33 holdings and a 43.94% top-10 weight suggest a concentrated style that still leaves room for diversification within the fund.

Published on 9 September 2026 at 4:38 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.