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

Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹45.24 as of 28 August 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹1,266 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 31.21%, 23.54% and 17.08%, respectively, and it sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a manufacturing-themed equity fund with meaningful small-cap exposure and a heavy tilt toward automobiles, so it can suit investors who are comfortable with sharper swings and can stay invested for a longer period. The return pattern is strong over 1 year and still solid over 3 and 5 years, but the portfolio mix means the journey may be uneven.

Quick facts

Particulars	Details
NAV	₹45.24
AUM	₹1,266 Cr
Expense Ratio	1.33%
Launch Date	03 Feb 2015
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	Dhaval Joshi

The fund is managed by Dhaval Joshi.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	5.95%	-0.85%
3M	12.99%	3.39%
1Y	31.21%	-2.29%
3Y	23.54%	6.40%
5Y	17.08%	7.13%

The recent numbers are notably stronger than the benchmark, especially over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year. That matters because the fund has also held up well across 3-year and 5-year periods, so the shorter-term surge is not happening in isolation.

At the same time, the pattern is not smooth. The return path over the 1-year and 3-year windows shows bursts of outperformance mixed with brief softness, which is typical of a focused equity strategy rather than a broad, steady index-style profile. For investors, that means the fund has shown the ability to compound faster than Nifty 50, but it may do so with larger swings along the way.

Over 3 years, the fund’s 23.54% return compares well with the benchmark’s 6.40%. Over 5 years, the gap remains meaningful at 17.08% versus 7.13%. Our view is that the longer record suggests durable stock-selection support, while the latest 1-year strength indicates momentum has stayed intact into the current period.

Even so, the benchmark comparison also shows that this is not a passive-market-style outcome. The fund has materially outpaced the index, but that advantage comes with a concentrated sector tilt and a high-risk label, so return leadership may not be stable in every market phase.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Mfg. 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.

Already holding Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity? Thinking of investing now?

Get your portfolio analysed for FREE by SEBI-registered Investment Adviser (RIA) through Univest MF Premium

Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	74.63%	37.41%	Data not available
SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan	36.18%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan	31.21%	23.54%	17.08%
Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan	30.79%	Data not available	Data not available
Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	29.80%	Data not available	Data not available

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

In the recent 1-year window, the fund trails ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan and SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan, but it is ahead of the other peer funds shown here. That makes the latest stretch competitive without being the strongest in the peer set.

On longer periods, the picture is more balanced. The fund’s 3-year and 5-year returns are both available and respectable, while several peers have missing medium-term figures. Against the peers with available longer-term numbers, the fund’s 3-year and 5-year record remains meaningful, but ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan has the stronger 3-year figure among the funds with that data point.

The short-term and longer-term views therefore point in different directions: the recent 1-year comparison is solid but not leading, while the 3-year and 5-year record still shows a capable compounding profile for a focused manufacturing strategy.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Market-cap segment	Weight
Large cap	31.76%
Mid cap	22.95%
Small cap	36.49%
Other	8.80%

Sector	Weight	Top holdings
AUTOMOBILE & ANCILLARIES	35.19%	WABCO INDIA LIMITED (7.46%), MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED (3.48%)
CAPITAL GOODS	11.08%	TD POWER SYSTEMS LIMITED (4.15%), BHARAT ELECTRONICS LIMITED (2.04%)
HEALTHCARE	7.78%	SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED (2.25%), AJANTA PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED (1.42%)
IRON & STEEL	7.63%	TATA STEEL LIMITED (2.52%), JINDAL STEEL & POWER LIMITED (2.07%)
NON – FERROUS METALS	7.12%	HINDALCO INDUSTRIES LIMITED (3.99%), VEDANTA LIMITED (2.05%)

The market-cap mix is tilted toward small caps, with a sizeable large-cap block and a smaller mid-cap layer. That combination usually means the fund can still participate in established businesses while keeping enough room for sharper stock-specific moves.

AUTOMOBILE & ANCILLARIES is materially larger than every other sector in the portfolio at 35.19%. The next biggest sector, CAPITAL GOODS, is far lower at 11.08%, which tells us the portfolio is meaningfully concentrated in one industry theme rather than spread evenly across manufacturing.

Because of that, automobile exposure is likely to have greater influence on portfolio behaviour than any other single sector. CAPITAL GOODS and the metals bucket may also matter, but their weights are much smaller. For investors, the key point is that this is a focused sector fund rather than a diversified broad-market equity portfolio.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund may suit investors who can tolerate High Risk and stay invested for several years. The 1-year return is strong, and the 3-year and 5-year numbers remain above the benchmark, which supports a longer holding horizon rather than a short trading-style approach.

The main trade-off is concentration. The portfolio is heavily skewed toward automobiles and also carries a large small-cap component, so returns may move sharply when sector leadership changes. Investors who want a focused manufacturing theme and can accept uneven periods may find the profile suitable, while those seeking steadier, broad-based equity exposure may prefer a wider fund style.

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. No exit load after 90 days.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹45.24 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 31.21% for 1 year, 23.54% for 3 years and 17.08% for 5 years.

How does the fund compare with Nifty 50?
It has outperformed Nifty 50 across the available periods. The benchmark return is -2.29% for 1 year, 6.40% for 3 years and 7.13% for 5 years, while the fund is higher on each of those periods.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its latest 1-year return is ahead of some peers and behind others, while its 3-year and 5-year record remains meaningful where those figures are available. The peer set also has several missing medium-term return figures, so the comparison is strongest on the periods that are available for each fund.

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

What are the fund’s risk and portfolio characteristics?
The fund is in the High Risk category and has a strong tilt toward AUTOMOBILE & ANCILLARIES, with 35.19% in that sector. It also has a sizeable small-cap exposure at 36.49%, which can add to return swings.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan has a better recent and longer-term return profile than Nifty 50, but the path has not been smooth. Against the peer funds shown here, the latest 1-year number is competitive, while the longer-term record still looks credible even where peer data is incomplete. The fund’s High Risk tag, small-cap tilt and heavy automobile concentration mean it is best read as a focused manufacturing theme rather than a diversified core equity holding.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 4:29 PM IST

Explore mutual funds with Univest

Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.

Explore Univest

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.