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

Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹40.84 as of 02 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹1,073 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 20.18%, 23.02% and 14.52%, and it is tagged as High Risk. Our view is that the fund has rewarded patient investors over longer stretches, but its sector-focused construction means returns can move unevenly, so it fits investors who can tolerate sharp swings in pursuit of healthcare-led growth.

The fund’s recent numbers are solid rather than smooth, and that matters for investor expectations. With a concentrated portfolio and only one sector cluster driving most of the exposure, it is better viewed as a thematic equity holding than a broad market substitute.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹40.84 as of 02 Sep 2026
AUM	₹1,073 Cr
Expense Ratio	1.03%
Launch Date	10 Jul 2019
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	Dhaval Shah

The fund is managed by Dhaval Shah.

Source data date: as of 02 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.81%	-3.47%
3M	11.68%	2.17%
1Y	20.18%	-3.84%
3Y	23.02%	5.80%
5Y	14.52%	6.30%

The fund has been clearly ahead of NIFTY 50 across every period shown, which tells us the strategy has added value relative to a plain market benchmark. That advantage is especially visible over 1 year and 3 years, where the benchmark is far behind or only modestly positive while the fund stays comfortably in double digits.

The short-term pattern is also better than the benchmark. The 1-month figure is mild, but it still sits above a negative benchmark month, and the 3-month return shows stronger momentum than the index. That kind of move suggests the portfolio has been able to absorb sector volatility and still keep positive traction.

What matters more for long-term investors is that the 3-year return is stronger than the 5-year return, which tells us the fund has had a better recent phase than its full five-year average suggests. In other words, longer-term compounding has been good, but the path has not been linear.

That uneven path fits a healthcare and pharma-focused equity strategy. The pattern is consistent with a fund that can deliver strong stretches, but one that may still lag in quieter phases or when the sector cycle cools.

Source data date: as of 02 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare?

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 Pharma & Healthcare? 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
Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	20.18%	23.02%	14.52%
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	69.33%	35.82%	Data not available
SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan	31.67%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan	29.18%	22.59%	16.39%
Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	29.04%	Data not available	Data not available
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	28.66%	Data not available	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 of the peer figures listed here, while its 3-year number is close to the better mid-range comparables and its 5-year return is still respectable. That combination tells us the fund has not led the short-term peer set, but it has kept a steadier long-horizon profile than many newer or more return-spiky thematic funds.

The short-term and long-term pictures are not identical. Some peers have much higher recent 1-year returns, yet several of those do not have usable longer-horizon figures here, so the comparison is strongest on the available 3-year and 5-year numbers. On that basis, this fund looks competitive over time rather than exceptional in the latest year.

Source data date: as of 02 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.	Healthcare	9.94%
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.	Healthcare	9.75%
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.	Healthcare	7.08%
Cipla Ltd.	Healthcare	4.56%
Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.	Healthcare	4.29%
Ajanta Pharma Ltd.	Healthcare	4.17%
Sai Life Sciences Ltd.	Domestic Equities	3.89%
Mankind Pharma Ltd.	Healthcare	3.58%
Lupin Ltd.	Healthcare	3.51%
Abbott India Ltd.	Healthcare	3.35%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 54.12% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding, Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd., stands at 9.94%, so no single stock dominates the fund on its own. Even so, the first three holdings together already make up a meaningful share, which means individual stock moves may still matter to returns.

Weight then eases down from the top names to the rest of the list, with the tenth holding at 3.35%. That gap suggests the portfolio is not evenly spread across the top positions; instead, it is anchored by a handful of larger bets and then tapers into mid-sized positions.

Because the disclosed top 10 holdings already account for 54.12% of the portfolio out of 39 holdings in total, the fund appears moderately concentrated within its disclosed core. That structure may give the manager room to express a clear sector view, but it also means investors are taking more single-stock and sector-cycle risk than they would in a diversified large-cap equity fund.

Source data date: as of 02 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and who can hold through sector swings. The 1-year return is strong, and the 3-year and 5-year numbers show the strategy has worked well over a full cycle, but the journey has not been smooth.

Its benchmark comparison is favourable, and its peer comparison is also respectable on the available longer-horizon numbers, but the trade-off is clear: you are accepting a healthcare- and pharma-led portfolio that may move differently from the broader market. The concentrated top holdings and sector-heavy construction make a longer investment horizon more sensible than a short holding period.

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 30 days; nil after 30 days.

Source data date: as of 02 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Pharma & Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹40.84 as of 02 Sep 2026.

How has the fund performed over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years?
Its returns are 20.18% over 1 year, 23.02% over 3 years and 14.52% over 5 years.

How does it compare with NIFTY 50?
It has outpaced NIFTY 50 across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years based on the available return figures.

How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?
Its 1-year return is lower than several peers shown, but its 3-year and 5-year figures compare well with the peers that have longer-horizon data available.

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

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

Bottom line

This fund has a stronger long-term story than its latest year alone suggests, and it has stayed ahead of NIFTY 50 across all the periods shown. Compared with the peer figures available here, it looks steady rather than extreme on longer horizons, while its short-term return is less eye-catching than some peers. The portfolio is fairly concentrated in healthcare names, led by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., so the fund suits investors who can accept sector-driven volatility in exchange for focused equity exposure.

Published on 3 September 2026 at 12:04 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.