Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹24.41 as of 28 August 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹3,859 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.85%, 12.87% and 10.36% respectively, and the fund carries a High Risk label. Our view is that it suits investors who can accept marked swings in return behaviour in exchange for a hybrid structure that has still delivered steady longer-term compounding.

The fund’s recent return pattern is softer than its 3-year and 5-year track record, while its benchmark behaviour has also been uneven over shorter windows. That makes it more suitable for investors who can stay invested through periodic volatility rather than those looking for smooth short-term outcomes.

Quick facts

Metric	Value
NAV	₹24.41
AUM	₹3,859 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.74%
Launch Date	01 August 2017
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Hybrid
Exit Load	Nil for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments if sold within 12 months; no exit load after 12 months
Fund Managers	Jayesh Sundar, Devang Shah, Hardik Shah

The fund is managed by Jayesh Sundar, Devang Shah and Hardik Shah.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.12%	-0.85%
3M	3.96%	3.39%
1Y	5.85%	-2.29%
3Y	12.87%	6.40%
5Y	10.36%	7.13%

Recent performance has been mixed rather than one-directional. The fund was broadly steady over the latest month and quarter, with the 1-month return just above zero and the 3-month return showing a firmer gain. That is useful, but it does not by itself indicate a strong trend.

The more important point is that the fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark over every period shown. The gap is especially clear over 1 year, where the benchmark is still negative while the fund remains positive. That tells us the scheme has handled a difficult market backdrop better than the index in the recent past.

The longer-term picture is also constructive. The 3-year return is stronger than the 5-year figure, which suggests the fund has compounded better over the middle part of the cycle than over the full five-year span. Still, both longer windows remain above the benchmark, which supports the case that the strategy has added value versus passive market exposure.

At the same time, the recent path has not been smooth. The shorter-window behaviour shows a fund that can move around even when the broader direction stays positive. For investors, that means the fund may work better as part of a multi-asset allocation than as a short-term return solution.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Axis Balanced Advantage?

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
Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.85%	12.87%	10.36%
Baroda BNP Paribas Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	11.29%	13.71%	12.35%
Aditya Birla SL Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	10.11%	12.96%	11.14%
Edelweiss Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	9.10%	11.95%	10.49%
Bajaj Finserv Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.90%	Data not available	Data not available
Bank of India Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.88%	10.60%	11.12%

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

On the latest 1-year figures, the fund trails several peers that show stronger recent gains, even though it still stays positive. Over 3 years, the gap narrows and the fund remains competitive versus the peer set, and the same is true over 5 years, where its return sits in the middle of the available outcomes rather than at the extremes.

The short-term picture therefore looks weaker than the longer-term one. That split matters: the fund has not matched the strongest peer recent returns, but its 3-year and 5-year numbers suggest a more durable compounding profile than the latest year alone would imply.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap mix is spread across large-cap at 23.54%, mid-cap at 4.56%, small-cap at 3.99% and other categories at 40.43%. That points to a portfolio where listed equity exposure is only part of the structure, and the rest sits in other instruments or cash-like allocations.

Sector	Weight	Top holdings
BANK	30.61%	KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LIMITED (18.38%), HDFC BANK LIMITED (4.48%)
CORPORATE DEBT	13.45%	8.4% MUTHOOT FINANCE LIMITED (28/08/2028) ** (0.84%), 8.52% MUTHOOT FINANCE LIMITED (07/04/2028) ** (0.71%)
CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS AND NET ASSETS	12.68%	NET RECEIVABLES / (PAYABLES) (10.63%), CLEARING CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD (2.05%)
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES	4.56%	7.18% GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (14/08/2033) (0.79%), 7.61% GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (09/05/2030) (0.73%)
AUTOMOBILE & ANCILLARIES	4.26%	MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED (2.17%), WABCO INDIA LIMITED (1.00%)

The bank sector is materially larger than any other named sector and is likely to have the greatest influence on portfolio behaviour. Within that bucket, Kotak Mahindra Bank is the single largest holding shown, so banking exposure may matter more than any other equity theme in the near term.

The debt and cash-linked buckets are also meaningful, which suggests the fund is not running a pure equity book. That mix may help moderate the behaviour of the portfolio compared with an equity-only strategy, although the overall risk label remains High Risk.

Large-cap exposure is clearly more visible than mid-cap and small-cap exposure, while the presence of other categories keeps the portfolio from looking narrowly equity-focused. In our view, this structure could make the fund behave differently from a simple benchmark tracker because returns may be shaped by both equity and non-equity allocation decisions.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better aligned with investors who can accept High Risk and hold through periods when short-term returns lag longer-term expectations. The 1-year return is weaker than the 3-year and 5-year figures, so patience matters more than trying to judge the fund on a single window.

Its benchmark comparison is supportive, because the fund has stayed ahead of the Nifty 50 across the periods shown. The trade-off is that the path has not been smooth, and the portfolio mix still leaves room for noticeable variation in returns. Investors with a medium-to-long horizon and comfort with an uneven journey may find that balance acceptable.

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

• Nil for 10% of investments and 1% for the remaining investments if sold within 12 months.
• No exit load after 12 months.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹24.41 as of 28 August 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 5.85%, 12.87% and 10.36% respectively.

How does the fund compare with the Nifty 50 benchmark?

It has stayed ahead of the Nifty 50 across the 1-month, 3-month, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods shown. The widest gap is in the 1-year figure, where the benchmark remains negative while the fund is positive.

How does it compare with peer balanced advantage funds on 1-year returns?

Its 1-year return is below several peers in the table, while still remaining positive. The longer-window returns look more competitive than the latest year alone suggests.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

What is the risk level and who manages the fund?

The fund is marked High Risk and is managed by Jayesh Sundar, Devang Shah and Hardik Shah. That combination fits investors who can handle uneven short-term behaviour and stay focused on a longer horizon.

Bottom line

Axis Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed near-term profile but a stronger longer-term shape. The fund has stayed ahead of its benchmark across the periods shown, and its 3-year and 5-year returns point to decent compounding even though the latest year is softer. The portfolio is anchored by banking exposure and also carries notable debt and cash-linked allocations, which gives it a distinct mixed-asset character. For investors who can live with High Risk and prefer a longer holding period, the fund offers a reasonable balance of return history and portfolio structure.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 5:21 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.