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

Aditya Birla SL Intl. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹57.4829 as of 08 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹328 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 20.35%, 20.89% and 11.86%, and the scheme is tagged as High Risk. Our view is that this is a growth-oriented overseas equity fund with strong mid-term numbers, but the benchmark gap and portfolio mix make it better suited to investors who can tolerate sharp swings.

The fund’s recent return pattern looks steadier than the benchmark, and its longer-term compounding is well ahead of Nifty 50 over 5 years. The portfolio is dominated by overseas equities and the top positions are meaningfully concentrated, so the return story comes with a higher level of stock-specific and market-specific risk.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹57.4829 as of 08 Sep 2026
AUM	₹328 Cr
Expense Ratio	2.08%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹1,000
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D
Fund Managers	Dhaval Joshi

The fund is managed by Dhaval Joshi.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.33%	-3.86%
3M	2.78%	1.69%
1Y	20.35%	-5.72%
3Y	20.89%	6.30%
5Y	11.86%	6.05%

The short-term picture is constructive. Over 1 month, the fund stayed positive while the benchmark was weaker, and over 3 months it held a better pace than the index. That matters because it shows the fund has not simply depended on one strong year; it has also handled recent market softness better than the benchmark in the very near term.

The 1-year number is especially notable at 20.35% versus -5.72% for Nifty 50. That gap suggests the portfolio has been operating with a very different return driver than the domestic benchmark, which is consistent with an international equity allocation. Even so, the path has not been smooth, and the time pattern shows periods of drawdown and recovery rather than a straight climb.

Over 3 years, the fund’s 20.89% return is still well above the benchmark’s 6.30%, and the 5-year figure of 11.86% is also ahead of the benchmark’s 6.05%. So the longer-term trend remains stronger than the index. Our read is that the fund has combined resilience in the recent window with a solid multi-year compounding profile, but the journey has come with meaningful volatility.

For investors, the key point is that this is not a conservative benchmark-like outcome. The fund has outpaced Nifty 50 across every tracked period here, yet the pattern also reflects a riskier overseas equity profile that can move differently from domestic large-cap markets.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Intl. Equity?

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 Intl. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan	20.35%	20.89%	11.86%
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	71.27%	36.22%	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan	30.45%	Data not available	Data not available
PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	27.47%	Data not available	Data not available
Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	27.38%	Data not available	Data not available
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	27.02%	Data not available	Data not available

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On 1-year returns, the fund trails the strongest peer figure in this set, although several peers also sit above it on the same horizon. On 3 years, it stands well below the strongest available peer figure, but it still shows a clear multi-year result while several peers do not have longer-history figures available. The 5-year number is available for this fund and shows a steadier long-run record than the shorter-history one-year comparison might suggest.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Nvidia Corporation	Overseas Equities	5.44%
Alphabet Inc.	Overseas Equities	4.52%
Apple Inc.	Overseas Equities	2.94%
Amazon.Com Inc	Overseas Equities	2.56%
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturin Co Ltd	Overseas Equities	2.41%
Equitable Holdings Inc	Overseas Equities	2.4%
Seagate Technology Holdings PLC	Overseas Equities	2.4%
Visa Inc	Overseas Equities	2.31%
Western Digital Corp	Overseas Equities	2.09%
Microsoft Corporation	Overseas Equities	2.06%

The largest holding, Nvidia Corporation, carries a weight of 5.44%, which is meaningful but not overpowering on its own. The drop from the first holding to the tenth is fairly gradual rather than abrupt, moving from 5.44% to 2.06%. That suggests the portfolio’s lead positions are important, but the largest name does not dominate the table by itself.

At the same time, the top 10 holdings together account for approximately 29.13% of the portfolio, and the fund discloses 67 holdings in total. That combination points to a portfolio that is spread across a long tail of positions even though the leading names remain influential. In our view, the mix may create a balance between concentration in a few global franchises and diversification across many other holdings.

Because all 10 disclosed top positions are classified under Overseas Equities, the fund’s performance may be more sensitive to overseas market conditions than a domestic-heavy equity fund. That can help explain why the return pattern does not track the Nifty 50 closely.

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

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with High Risk and can hold through uneven moves. The 1-year and 3-year figures are strong, but the benchmark comparison and the portfolio’s overseas equity concentration show that returns may not arrive in a steady domestic-market pattern.

Our view is that the fund suits a medium-to-long horizon, because its 5-year return is more useful than any short stretch when judging the compounding profile. The main trade-off is clear: investors may get access to global equity themes and stronger multi-year numbers, but they also need to accept higher volatility and a return pattern that can differ sharply from Nifty 50.

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% if units are sold on or before 30 days, and nil after 30 days.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

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

The current NAV is ₹57.4829 as of 08 Sep 2026.

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

The fund’s returns are 20.35% for 1 year, 20.89% for 3 years and 11.86% for 5 years.

How does the fund compare with the benchmark?

It has outpaced Nifty 50 across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is especially wide over 1 year and 3 years.

Which peer fund has the strongest available 1-year return in this set?

ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan has the strongest available 1-year return in this set at 71.27%.

Is there a minimum SIP amount for this fund?

No minimum SIP amount is stated here.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Dhaval Joshi. Exit load is 1% if units are sold on or before 30 days, and nil after 30 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Intl. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan has a stronger longer-term record than its benchmark, and its recent numbers remain positive rather than fading. In peer comparison, the fund’s 1-year and 3-year returns are competitive but not the highest available, while its 5-year result shows a more complete compounding history than many peers in this set.

The key feature is the overseas-equity portfolio, led by Nvidia Corporation and other global names, which gives the fund a distinct return driver and a High Risk profile. It is best viewed as an investor option for those seeking international equity exposure and who can stay invested through volatility.

Published on 9 September 2026 at 4:11 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.