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

SBI PSU Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹38.0851 as of 27 August 2026, with an AUM of ₹6,678 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 12.958%, 23.8739% and 24.869%, and the scheme is tagged High Risk.

Our view is that this is a sector-focused equity fund with a strong long-term return record, but one that can move sharply over shorter periods. The portfolio leans heavily toward large-cap names, and the main exposures sit in banks, power, capital goods, gas transmission and crude oil, so it suits investors who can stay invested through sector cycles.

Quick facts

Metric	Value
NAV	₹38.0851
AUM	₹6,678 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.85%
Launch Date	02 January 2013
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	0.50% if units are sold on or before 30 days; nil after 30 days
Fund Managers	Rohit Shimpi

The fund is managed by Rohit Shimpi.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.71%	0.44%
3M	-1.5%	2.31%
1Y	12.96%	-2.53%
3Y	23.87%	6.72%
5Y	24.87%	7.06%

The recent picture is mixed. Over one month, the fund stayed slightly ahead of the benchmark, but the three-month stretch was softer and turned negative while the benchmark remained positive. That suggests the fund has still been sensitive to short swings, which is typical for a sector-heavy strategy.

The longer view is much stronger. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are comfortably above the benchmark, which tells us the fund has rewarded patience better than broad market exposure over these periods. The gap is especially visible over 3 years and 5 years, where the benchmark return is much lower.

The pattern in the return path also matters. The fund has not moved in a straight line, and the shorter-term dip shows that gains can pause or reverse even when the longer-term compound trend remains intact. For investors, that means the fund has been better for holding through cycles than for timing entry around short bursts of momentum.

Overall, the performance mix is consistent with a high-risk sector equity fund that can lag in a weaker patch and then recover strongly over longer periods. That combination is why the longer horizon is more relevant than the latest few months when judging this scheme.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD SBI PSU?

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 PSU Fund Direct Growth Plan	12.96%	23.87%	24.87%
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	82.46%	39.16%	Data not available
SBI Automotive Opportunities Fund Direct Growth Plan	35.50%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity Fund Direct Growth Plan	29.89%	23.54%	17.01%
Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan	28.19%	Data not available	Data not available
Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	28.01%	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 is well below the stronger peer readings shown here, so the latest period looks weaker than the faster-moving sector peers. The longer picture is more balanced: its 3-year return is in line with one peer that has a comparable 3-year figure, while its 5-year return is stronger than that same peer’s 5-year number. That tells us the fund’s recent slowdown does not fully match its longer-run record.

The comparison also shows different stories across horizons. Some peers have much higher 1-year numbers but lack longer histories, while this fund has a steadier long-term trail across all three horizons that are visible. Our read is that the scheme looks less stretched on the latest year but more dependable when the lens is widened to 3 and 5 years.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Market-cap distribution

Market cap bucket	Allocation
Large cap	70.52%
Mid cap	20.73%
Small cap	6.54%
Other	2.21%

Sector mix

Sector	Weight	Key holdings
BANK	24.61%	STATE BANK OF INDIA (16.12%), BANK OF BARODA (5.18%)
POWER	17.14%	NTPC LTD. (8.47%), POWER GRID CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD. (8.28%)
CAPITAL GOODS	11.21%	BHARAT ELECTRONICS LTD. (8.6%), BHARAT HEAVY ELECTRICALS LTD. (2.61%)
GAS TRANSMISSION	10.97%	GAIL (INDIA) LTD. (8.45%), INDRAPRASTHA GAS LTD. (1.49%)
CRUDE OIL	10.58%	BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD. (5%), OIL & NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LTD. (3.62%)

The portfolio is tilted clearly toward large-cap exposure, which may help keep the scheme anchored in bigger, more established companies. At the same time, the mid-cap and small-cap pockets are still meaningful enough to add movement around the edges, so this is not a purely defensive equity mix.

Among sectors, banking is the largest block at 24.61%, and it is materially larger than the next sector, power at 17.14%. That difference matters because it means banking is likely to have the greatest influence on near-term portfolio behaviour, especially through the weight in State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda.

The rest of the portfolio is spread across power, capital goods, gas transmission and crude oil, which gives the scheme a strong public-sector and infrastructure tilt. That concentration may support strong upside when these themes are in favour, but it can also make the fund more sensitive to the same set of sector drivers over time.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and can stay invested for a longer horizon. The 1-year return has been positive, but the 3-month patch was weaker, so short-term volatility is part of the experience.

It may suit investors who want a sector-led PSU strategy rather than a broad market fund, and who are prepared for performance to move differently from the benchmark in the short run. The stronger 3-year and 5-year numbers make the case for patience, not for quick trading.

The main trade-off is simple: you get the chance to benefit from concentrated sector leadership, but you also accept that the same concentration can weigh on results when those sectors cool off. That makes the fund more appropriate for investors who understand cyclicality and can tolerate uneven return paths.

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

0.50% if units are sold on or before 30 days; nil after 30 days.

Source data date: as of 27 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of SBI PSU Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹38.0851 as of 27 August 2026.

What are the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is 12.96%, the 3-year return is 23.87% and the 5-year return is 24.87%.

How does the fund compare with the benchmark?
It has beaten the benchmark across the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods, while the shorter 3-month patch was weaker than the benchmark.

How much SIP investment does it allow?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

What is the risk category of this scheme?
It is classified as High Risk and is suited to investors who can handle sharp swings.

Who manages the fund and what does the portfolio look like?
Rohit Shimpi manages the fund. The portfolio is led by large-cap holdings and is concentrated in banks, power, capital goods, gas transmission and crude oil.

Bottom line

SBI PSU Fund Direct Growth Plan has a clear split between weaker recent momentum and stronger longer-term compounding. Its shorter-term behaviour has been uneven, but the 3-year and 5-year returns remain well ahead of the benchmark and compare reasonably with available peer data. The scheme carries High Risk and is built around a concentrated PSU and infrastructure mix, with banking as the largest sector weight. That makes it more suitable for investors who can tolerate volatility and are looking at a longer holding period rather than a quick outcome.

Published on 28 August 2026 at 10:50 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.