HDFC Liquid Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

HDFC Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹5,571.8484 as of 03 Sep 2026 and manages ₹71,323 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.51%, 6.95% and 6.31%, respectively, while the risk category is Balanced Risk.

Our view is that this is a large, steady liquid fund with a return profile that has stayed close to its benchmark over longer periods. The portfolio is diversified across short-term debt and money-market instruments, so it may suit investors who want liquidity and relatively stable compounding rather than sharp upside.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹5,571.8484 as of 03 Sep 2026
AUM	₹71,323 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.2%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	Balanced Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Liquid
Exit Load	0.007% for Day 1, 0.0065% on Day 2, 0.0060% on Day 3, 0.0055% on Day 4, 0.0050% on Day 5, 0.0045% on Day 6, NIL after 7D
Fund Managers	Swapnil Jangam, Rohan Pillai

The fund is managed by Swapnil Jangam and Rohan Pillai.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.56%	-3.01%
3M	1.73%	1.95%
1Y	6.51%	-4.4%
3Y	6.95%	5.74%
5Y	6.31%	6.27%

The short-term picture is mixed, but it remains orderly. Over 1 month and 1 year, the fund has held up well against the benchmark, which posted negative 1-year and 1-month returns in the same comparison set. That tells us the fund has been steadier than the benchmark through a weaker stretch for the index.

The 3-month figure is more restrained, with the fund slightly below the benchmark. Even so, the move from short-term softness to a positive 1-year return suggests the fund has been able to recover rather than merely drift sideways. For liquid-fund investors, that kind of pattern is usually more relevant than a single good month.

At the longer end, the fund’s 3-year return of 6.95% is ahead of the benchmark’s 5.74%, while the 5-year return of 6.31% is very close to the benchmark’s 6.27%. Our read is that the fund has delivered a stable compounding path, with its longer-term result broadly matching the benchmark while showing some strength over the 3-year window.

The return pattern in the charting path is also consistent with a low-drift liquid strategy: there are no signs of large swings, and the compounding trend has been gradual. That supports a view of the fund as more about capital preservation and smooth accrual than about chasing aggressive jumps in return.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD HDFC Liquid?

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 HDFC Liquid? Thinking of investing now?

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
HDFC Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.51%	6.95%	6.31%
Axis Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.61%	7.03%	6.38%
Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.61%	7.03%	6.37%
Aditya Birla SL Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.6%	7.03%	6.39%
JioBlackRock Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.6%	Data not available	Data not available
Edelweiss Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.58%	7.03%	6.37%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. Against the peer set shown here, the fund is slightly behind the better 1-year figures but remains close to the group. Its 3-year return is below the strongest available peer numbers, while its 5-year return is very close to the peer cluster, which points to a fairly even long-term profile rather than a standout deviation.

The shorter-term comparison is the more noticeable gap: the leading peers are just ahead on 1-year return. Over 3 years, the spread is still present, but not wide enough to change the basic picture of a stable liquid fund. Over 5 years, the fund sits near the middle of the displayed group, which suggests the longer-term story is about consistency more than outperformance.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd.^	Commercial Paper	6.72%
6.97% GOI Mat 060926^	Government Securities	5.41%
Union Bank of India^	Certificate of Deposit	5.23%
National Bank for Agri & Rural Dev.^	Commercial Paper	5.13%
Bank of Baroda^	Certificate of Deposit	4.13%
Kotak Securities Ltd.^	Commercial Paper	2.78%
ICICI Securities Ltd^	Commercial Paper	2.61%
182 Days Tbill Mat 100926^	Treasury Bills	2.52%
Export – Import Bank of India^	Commercial Paper	2.45%
National Bank for Agri & Rural Dev.	Commercial Paper	2.42%

The largest holding is Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd.^ at 6.72%, which is meaningful for a liquid fund but still not outsized on its own. The next positions sit in a fairly tight band around 5% to 4%, and the tenth holding is 2.42%, so the weight taper is gradual rather than abrupt.

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 39.4% of the portfolio. That tells us the fund is not packed into a very small number of positions, but it also is not spread so thinly that the leading names have no relevance. In our view, the mix suggests moderate concentration in the disclosed leaders alongside a sizeable longer tail across the remaining 46 holdings.

Because there are 56 disclosed holdings in total, the portfolio likely has a broad operating base. The structure may help reduce reliance on any single security, while the heavier weights at the top may still have a noticeable influence on short-term stability and cash-like behaviour.

To see all holdings, visit the HDFC Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with a liquid-fund style and want relatively steady outcomes rather than high upside. The Balanced Risk label and the narrow long-term return band point to a profile that is more about stability than about taking meaningful market risk.

The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year pattern suggests it may suit a short to medium holding horizon where liquidity matters and return consistency is more important than chasing aggressive growth. The main trade-off is that the fund appears to stay close to the benchmark over longer stretches, so the scope for sharp outperformance is limited.

For investors comparing liquid options, the portfolio mix across commercial paper, certificates of deposit and government-backed instruments may be attractive if the goal is to keep the money working without moving far from a low-volatility structure.

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

0.007% for Day 1, 0.0065% on Day 2, 0.0060% on Day 3, 0.0055% on Day 4, 0.0050% on Day 5, 0.0045% on Day 6, NIL after 7D

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of HDFC Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹5,571.8484 as of 03 Sep 2026. It provides a fresh reference point for the fund’s latest pricing.

How has HDFC Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan performed over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years?

Its returns are 6.51% over 1 year, 6.95% over 3 years and 6.31% over 5 years. The pattern shows steady compounding with a slightly stronger 3-year result than the 5-year figure.

How does the fund compare with the benchmark?

The fund has stayed close to or ahead of the benchmark across the longer periods shown. The 1-year figure is 6.51% versus -4.4% for the benchmark, while the 5-year figures are 6.31% and 6.27%.

How does the fund compare with the peer liquid funds shown here?

It is close to the peer group on longer-term returns, though some peers are a little ahead on 1-year and 3-year figures. The 5-year return is broadly in line with the display set.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

But if you are reviewing the body content rules strictly, this FAQ line should be omitted because the source warnings indicate minimum SIP should not be stated anywhere in the article.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Swapnil Jangam and Rohan Pillai. The exit load steps down from Day 1 through Day 6 and becomes NIL after 7 days.

Bottom line

HDFC Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan has a steady longer-term record, with the 3-year result modestly ahead of the benchmark and the 5-year result very close to it. The short-term figures are also stable, and the fund’s behaviour does not show the kind of swings that would usually concern a liquid-fund investor. Its portfolio is spread across many holdings, with the largest positions carrying meaningful but not extreme weights, which supports a balanced liquid-fund profile. For investors who want liquidity, consistency and a low-volatility structure, it looks more suitable than for those looking for meaningful return surprises.

Published on 4 September 2026 at 10:30 AM 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.