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

Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹121.22 as of 03 September 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹1,219 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 16.35%, 18.17% and 18.63%, and the scheme is tagged High Risk.

Our view is that this is a thematic equity fund with a strong longer-run return profile, but the ride can be uneven. The recent numbers are steadier than the benchmark, and the portfolio is built around infrastructure and other economy-linked businesses, so it may suit investors who can stay invested through sharper swings.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹121.22 as of 03 Sep 2026
AUM	₹1,219 Cr
Expense Ratio	1.41%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D
Fund Managers	Jonas Bhutta

The fund is managed by Jonas Bhutta.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.71%	-3.01%
3M	6.77%	1.95%
1Y	16.35%	-4.4%
3Y	18.17%	5.74%
5Y	18.63%	6.27%

The fund has held up well in the short term, with a 1-month return of 0.71% while the benchmark was down 3.01%. Over 3 months, it also stayed comfortably ahead of the benchmark at 6.77% versus 1.95%. That is a useful sign for investors who care about near-term resilience as much as long-term growth.

The 1-year return of 16.35% is especially notable because the benchmark was still negative at -4.4% over the same stretch. That gap suggests the fund has benefited from its sector mix even when the broad market was not fully supportive. At the same time, the path has not been linear, which is typical for a concentrated thematic equity strategy.

Looking further out, the 3-year and 5-year returns of 18.17% and 18.63% show that the fund has maintained a strong compounding pattern over a longer cycle. The benchmark’s 3-year and 5-year returns of 5.74% and 6.27% are much lower, so the fund has clearly outpaced the index over both horizons.

Our read-through is that the recent stretch is consistent with the longer record rather than a one-off spike. The fund still carries high-risk characteristics, but the return pattern suggests it has been able to convert that risk into sustained upside better than the broad benchmark across the periods available here.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure?

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 Infrastructure Fund Direct Growth Plan	16.35%	18.17%	18.63%
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	69.39%	36.34%	Data not available
SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan	31.34%	Data not available	Data not available
Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	28.01%	Data not available	Data not available
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	27.49%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.54%	22.36%	15.89%

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

The current fund’s 1-year return is below the faster-moving thematic peers listed here, but that does not weaken its longer-term case on its own. Its 3-year and 5-year returns remain solid, and the gap versus the benchmark is still clear. Compared with the peer set, the fund looks more balanced across horizons than the most aggressive short-term performers, while still trailing some peers on the most recent 1-year figure.

For investors, that creates two different stories: the short-term peer comparison shows that some thematic funds have surged more sharply over the last year, while the longer-term comparison shows this fund has still compounded well over 3 and 5 years. That mix may appeal to investors who want theme exposure but also want a record that is not dependent only on one recent market phase.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Larsen & Toubro Ltd.	Infrastructure	5.06%
Bharti Airtel Ltd.	Telecom	5.05%
Reliance Industries Ltd.	Crude Oil	3.85%
Ultratech Cement Ltd.	Construction Materials	3.29%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	3.25%
NTPC Ltd.	Power	3.24%
GMR Airports Ltd.	Infrastructure	3.01%
Indo-Mim Ltd.	Domestic Equities	2.61%
Interglobe Aviation Ltd.	Aviation	2.28%
Acme Solar Holdings Ltd.	Power	2.24%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 33.88% of the portfolio.

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

The largest holding, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., carries a 5.06% weight, so no single position dominates the portfolio on its own. The gap from the first holding to the tenth holding is modest, ending at 2.24%, which suggests the visible part of the portfolio is spread across several mid-sized positions rather than concentrated in one or two names.

Even so, the top 10 holdings together account for 33.88% of the portfolio, leaving a meaningful tail across the remaining disclosed positions. With 58 holdings in total, the fund could have broader diversification beneath the top slice, but the visible allocation still shows a clear tilt toward a handful of names that are likely to influence returns more than the smaller positions.

That structure may suit an investor who wants infrastructure-led exposure without a single-stock style concentration. At the same time, the presence of sector-linked names such as infrastructure, power, telecom, aviation and construction materials means the portfolio can still move with cyclical sentiment and project-related activity.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund may suit investors with a high risk tolerance and a long enough horizon to absorb swings in a thematic equity strategy. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns show that it has been able to compound well over time, but the benchmark comparison and the portfolio mix also point to meaningful volatility along the way.

It is more appropriate for someone who wants equity exposure linked to infrastructure and related businesses, and who is comfortable with periods when returns may move differently from the broad market. The main trade-off is that stronger long-term upside may come with a less stable ride than a diversified core 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 applies at 1% if units are sold on or before 30 days. There is no exit load after 30 days.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹121.22 as of 03 September 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 16.35%, 18.17% and 18.63%.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has outpaced the Nifty 50 across the available periods. The gap is especially wide over 1 year, where the fund returned 16.35% and the benchmark was at -4.4%.

How does it compare with peer funds on recent returns?
Its 1-year return is lower than several thematic peers in the comparison set, but its 3-year and 5-year record remains strong. That gives it a more balanced long-term profile than some peers with very sharp recent gains.

Is there a minimum SIP amount?
Yes. The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
Jonas Bhutta manages the fund. Exit load is 1% if units are sold on or before 30 days, and nil after 30 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure Fund Direct Growth Plan combines a stronger long-term return record with a more uneven short-term path, which is what we would expect from a high-risk thematic equity fund. It has stayed ahead of the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, but the peer set shows that some rivals have posted sharper recent gains. The portfolio is fairly spread across 58 holdings, yet the top names still matter. It may fit investors who want infrastructure-linked equity exposure and can stay patient through volatility.

Published on 4 September 2026 at 1:03 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.