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

Aditya Birla SL Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan had a NAV of ₹169.7495 as of 28 August 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹8,016 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 9.14%, 14.84% and 12.20%, respectively, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a focused equity fund with a fairly large-cap-heavy portfolio and a history of steady long-term compounding. The recent return pattern is softer than the 3-year pace, and the benchmark comparison suggests the fund has held up better than Nifty 50 over longer periods, even if short-term swings remain visible.

Quick facts

Particulars	Details
NAV	₹169.7495
AUM	₹8,016 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% if units are sold on or before 90 days; nil after 90 days
Fund Managers	Kunal Sangoi

The fund is managed by Kunal Sangoi.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.30%	-0.85%
3M	6.75%	3.39%
1Y	9.14%	-2.29%
3Y	14.84%	6.40%
5Y	12.20%	7.13%

The fund’s recent trend is constructive, but it is not a straight-line move. The 1-month and 3-month numbers show modest positive momentum after a mixed stretch, which suggests the portfolio has been able to recover without becoming fully defensive. That matters because focused equity funds often see sharper swings than broader market funds.

Over longer periods, the picture is stronger. The 3-year return is clearly ahead of the 1-year pace, which tells us that the fund has still delivered meaningful compounding through a fuller market cycle. The 5-year return remains above the benchmark as well, so the fund has added value versus Nifty 50 over medium and long holding periods.

At the same time, the gap between the 3-year return and the 1-year return indicates that performance has cooled from its stronger phase. We read that as a reminder that the fund can be cyclical: good long-term results have not come from uninterrupted outperformance, but from preserving a reasonably healthy compounding path through volatility.

Compared with Nifty 50, the fund is ahead across every period shown here. The edge is most visible over 1 year and 3 years, while the 5-year comparison still favours the fund. For an investor, that combination suggests the fund has been able to do more than simply track the market, but it has also experienced enough movement that short-term return snapshots can look very different from the longer record.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 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	9.14%	14.84%	12.20%
Motilal Oswal Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	30.92%	15.69%	11.64%
Old Bridge Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	22.82%	Data not available	Data not available
SBI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	19.34%	17.41%	13.73%
Quant Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	16.69%	16.15%	15.12%
ITI Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan	15.95%	20.29%	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 several peers that have posted stronger recent gains, so the short-term comparison is not especially favourable. The more balanced part of the picture appears in the middle and longer horizons, where its 3-year and 5-year returns remain solid and compare reasonably well with funds that have broader available histories.

That mix tells us the fund is not leading the peer set on recent momentum, but it still offers a respectable long-term profile. The 3-year figure is particularly useful here because it shows the fund has maintained a decent compounding pace even while some peers have run harder over the last year. The 5-year number also helps show that the fund has held up as a persistent long-horizon option rather than a one-period story.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap mix is 72.90% large-cap, 18.59% mid-cap, 3.82% small-cap and 4.69% other. That makes the fund meaningfully tilted toward large companies, while still leaving a useful mid-cap sleeve that can add return potential.

Sector	Weight	Top holdings
BANK	31.39%	KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LIMITED (10.87%), ICICI BANK LIMITED (4.3%)
IT	10.27%	INFOSYS LIMITED (4.15%), TECH MAHINDRA LIMITED (2.62%)
RETAILING	6.82%	TRENT LIMITED (3.76%), ETERNAL LIMITED (2.45%)
HEALTHCARE	6.01%	METROPOLIS HEALTHCARE LIMITED (2.87%), SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED (1.78%)
FINANCE	5.45%	SHRIRAM FINANCE LTD (2.81%), BAJAJ FINANCE LIMITED (1.59%)

Banks are clearly the most important sector here, and at 31.39% the allocation is materially larger than the next sector, IT, at 10.27%. That gap means portfolio behaviour may be strongly shaped by financials, especially the largest bank names inside the sector.

The next three sectors are much smaller and closer to one another, so they are more likely to act as supporting exposure than as the main return driver. Large-cap dominance also suggests the portfolio may behave with somewhat more stability than a more mid- and small-cap-heavy focused fund, although the concentrated format still leaves room for active swings.

Overall, Bank is likely to have the greatest influence on portfolio behaviour, followed by IT. The mid-cap allocation is meaningful enough to add some growth sensitivity, but the overall structure still looks anchored by large companies and by a few dominant sector exposures rather than a broad, evenly spread market basket.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and who can stay invested through periods when short-term returns may lag the longer trend. The return record shows useful compounding over 3 and 5 years, but the 1-year figure is softer than the 3-year pace, so patience matters.

The benchmark comparison is also helpful: the fund has stayed ahead of Nifty 50 across the periods shown, but that advantage has not come in a smooth line. In our view, it fits investors looking for a focused equity allocation with a large-cap tilt and a willingness to accept cyclicality in exchange for long-term growth potential.

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: 1% if units are sold on or before 90 days; nil after 90 days.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹169.7495 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 9.14% over 1 year, 14.84% over 3 years and 12.20% over 5 years.

How does it compare with Nifty 50?
It is ahead of Nifty 50 across the 1-month, 3-month, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods shown here. The margin is especially clear over 1 year and 3 years.

How many peer funds are shown, and how do their returns compare?
Five peer funds are shown, and several have stronger 1-year returns than this fund. However, the fund’s 3-year and 5-year numbers remain competitive against peers with available longer-horizon figures.

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

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
Kunal Sangoi manages the fund. The exit load is 1% if units are sold on or before 90 days, and nil after 90 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Focused Fund Direct Growth Plan has delivered a steadier long-term picture than its recent 1-year figure alone suggests. It has stayed ahead of Nifty 50 across the periods shown, while some peers have posted stronger short-term runs. The portfolio is heavily tilted toward large-cap stocks and especially banks, which may support stability but also increases sector dependence. For investors who can accept High Risk equity exposure and want focused portfolio construction with a long horizon, it offers a credible long-term case.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 2:59 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.