SBI ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

SBI ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹258.5558 as of 09 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹5,355 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -0.82%, 8.54% and 8.23% respectively, and it carries a High Risk label.

Our view is that this is a fund for investors who can stay patient through uneven short-term swings. The portfolio is anchored by large financials and selected cyclicals, so the long-term case depends more on durability of the portfolio than on smooth month-to-month progress.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹258.5558 as of 09 Sep 2026
AUM	₹5,355 Cr
Expense Ratio	1.35%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	1% on or before 1Y, Nil after 1Y
Fund Managers	Rohit Shimpi

The fund is managed by Rohit Shimpi.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-4.07%	-4.69%
3M	2.84%	0.93%
1Y	-0.82%	-7.16%
3Y	8.54%	6%
5Y	8.23%	5.87%

In the most recent month, the fund fell less than the benchmark, which tells us the decline was still present but milder than the market move it is measured against. Over three months, it recovered better than the benchmark, showing that the portfolio has been able to participate in the rebound with more strength than the index.

The one-year picture is also better than the benchmark, but both numbers are negative, so the last year was still difficult for equity investors. That matters because it shows the fund did not fully escape the broader drawdown; it simply held up better than Nifty 50 over that span.

The longer record is stronger. The 3-year return is ahead of the benchmark, and the 5-year return also stays above it, which suggests the fund has compounded more steadily than the index over fuller market cycles. The recent improvement fits that longer pattern, even though the ride has not been smooth.

From a pattern perspective, the time path points to periods of pressure followed by recovery rather than a straight-line climb. That is consistent with a High Risk equity strategy: the fund can lag in difficult stretches, but it has also shown the ability to regain ground and preserve an edge over the benchmark over longer periods.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD SBI ESG Exclusionary Strategy?

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
SBI ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan	-0.82%	8.54%	8.23%
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	71.49%	36.55%	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan	30.08%	Data not available	Data not available
Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	28.85%	Data not available	Data not available
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	28.6%	Data not available	Data not available
PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	27.47%	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 one-year return is well below the stronger peer 1-year figures in this set, while its longer-term numbers are more balanced. That creates a split picture: peers with sector-focused or momentum-led mandates have delivered much higher recent gains, but the current fund’s 3-year and 5-year numbers are more relevant for judging whether it can compound across a longer holding period.

On that longer horizon, the fund’s 3-year and 5-year returns are solid but not exceptional relative to the available peer set. The comparison suggests a steadier, more diversified equity profile rather than the sharp short-term surges seen in some peers. For an investor, that means recent underperformance versus fast-moving peers does not necessarily change the longer-term case, but it does show that the fund is not a short-term momentum story.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
ICICI Bank Ltd.	Bank	9.2%
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Bank	7.13%
Larsen & Toubro Ltd.	Infrastructure	4.2%
Bajaj Finance Ltd.	Finance	4.14%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.	Bank	4.04%
State Bank of India	Bank	3.96%
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	3.9%
Tech Mahindra Ltd.	IT	3.21%
TVS Motor Company Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	3.15%
JSW Steel Ltd.	Iron & Steel	3%

The largest holding, ICICI Bank Ltd., stands at 9.2%, so no single position dominates the portfolio in an absolute sense. The gap from the largest holding to the tenth holding is not extreme, but it is still meaningful: the top line of the portfolio stays led by banks, while the weights gradually taper into industrials, autos, technology and steel.

The displayed top 10 holdings account for approximately 45.93% of the portfolio, and the full disclosed holding set includes 44 positions. That combination suggests a core portfolio that is reasonably spread out, but with a clear influence from the biggest names at the top. The longer tail may help diversification, yet the leading holdings are still likely to have greater influence on performance than the smaller positions below them.

To see all holdings, visit the SBI ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can accept High Risk volatility and are comfortable with equity ups and downs over a multi-year horizon. The one-year result has been weak, but the 3-year and 5-year records are better than the benchmark, which points to a strategy that may work better when held through full market cycles rather than judged on a single year.

The main trade-off is that you are accepting a portfolio that can move unevenly in the short run in exchange for the possibility of steadier compounding over time. The holdings also show a meaningful tilt toward banks and other large listed businesses, so the fund may appeal more to investors who want an equity core with a clearly active stock-selection style than to those seeking very smooth returns.

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% on or before 1 year; nil after 1 year.

Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of SBI ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹258.5558 as of 09 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is -0.82%, its 3-year return is 8.54%, and its 5-year return is 8.23%.

How does the fund compare with Nifty 50?
It is ahead of Nifty 50 over 3 years and 5 years, and it also fell less than the benchmark over 1 month and 1 year. Over 3 months, it recovered more strongly than the benchmark.

Which peer fund has the strongest 1-year return in the comparison set?
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan shows the strongest 1-year return in the comparison set at 71.49%.

Is there a minimum SIP amount?
Yes, the minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Rohit Shimpi. The exit load is 1% on or before 1 year and nil after 1 year.

Bottom line

SBI ESG Exclusionary Strategy Fund Direct Growth Plan has looked uneven over the last year, but its 3-year and 5-year records are more constructive than the benchmark. The peer set shows that some focused funds have delivered far stronger short-term gains, yet this fund’s longer-term results are more measured and may be easier to view as part of a patient equity allocation. With a High Risk profile and a portfolio led by large banks and other sizeable holdings, it fits investors who can tolerate volatility in exchange for longer-horizon compounding potential.

Published on 10 September 2026 at 1:02 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.