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

SBI Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan is a debt scheme with a current NAV of ₹6,555.6412 as of 04 Sep 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹11,880 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.58%, 7.21% and 6.45%, and it carries a Medium Risk label. Our view is that it suits investors who want a relatively steady debt allocation with moderate return potential, rather than a very short-horizon parking option.

The fund has held up better than its benchmark over the longer periods and has also shown a stronger recent pattern than the index. The portfolio is built around cash, CDs, treasury bills and other short-duration credit exposure, which supports a conservative-to-moderate profile, although the risk label still reminds us that it is not a capital-guaranteed product.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹6,555.6412 as of 04 Sep 2026
AUM	₹11,880 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.35%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Debt
Exit Load	No exit load
Fund Managers	Sudhir Agarwal

The fund is managed by Sudhir Agarwal.

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.63%	-2.95%
3M	2.01%	2.27%
1Y	6.58%	-4.43%
3Y	7.21%	5.88%
5Y	6.45%	6.29%

The short-term pattern is constructive. Over 1 month, the fund has shown a positive result while the benchmark has slipped, and over 1 year the gap is even wider in the fund’s favour. That tells us the scheme has recently offered a smoother path than the index, even though the 3-month difference is small and the benchmark has been slightly ahead there.

The longer view is still positive. The 3-year return is above the benchmark and the 5-year return remains ahead, which suggests the fund has preserved a stable compounding profile across different market phases. The month-to-month path in the return series is not perfectly linear, but it does not show any sharp breakdown in the way a higher-volatility strategy might.

What matters most for an investor is that the fund has not depended on one strong quarter to create the story. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year figures line up fairly well, so the recent result is not an outlier against the broader track record. Relative to the benchmark, our read is that the scheme has delivered a more dependable debt-like pattern, though the benchmark’s 3-month edge shows that very short windows can still fluctuate.

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD SBI Ultra Short Term?

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 Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.58%	7.21%	6.45%
Nippon India Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.07%	7.61%	6.97%
Axis Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.89%	7.48%	6.76%
Invesco India Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.85%	7.38%	6.6%
ICICI Pru Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.83%	7.45%	6.76%
DSP Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.83%	7.46%	6.64%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. The fund sits below the strongest peer 1-year figure in this set, but the gap is not large. In the 3-year and 5-year columns, the scheme is also behind the better peer numbers, which points to a steadier but slightly less competitive return profile over the full cycle.

The short-term and longer-term pictures point in the same direction rather than conflicting with each other. Peers with available data have generally delivered somewhat higher figures across 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, while this fund has still stayed close enough to remain relevant for investors who care more about consistency than chasing the highest headline return.

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	9.65%
Punjab National Bank	Certificate of Deposit	8.17%
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development	Certificate of Deposit	8.13%
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Certificate of Deposit	6.91%
91 Day T-Bill 22.10.26	Treasury Bills	6.69%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.	Certificate of Deposit	6.51%
Canara Bank	Certificate of Deposit	5.93%
Bank of Baroda	Certificate of Deposit	5.72%
Muthoot Fincorp Ltd.	Commercial Paper	4.9%
Muthoot Finance Ltd.	Corporate Debt	4.81%

The largest holding is TREPS at 9.65%, which is meaningful but not overwhelming on its own. The gap from the first holding to the tenth holding is modest, because the list still includes several positions between roughly 5% and 8%, so the portfolio does not appear to depend on a single dominant issuer.

The top 10 holdings together account for approximately 67.42% of the portfolio, and the scheme discloses 30 holdings in total. That combination suggests a mix of concentration and breadth: the visible book is anchored by cash equivalents, CDs, treasury bills and a few corporate exposures, while a longer tail beyond the top 10 may still matter for overall behaviour.

For an investor, this structure may help keep day-to-day swings in check compared with a more aggressive debt portfolio, but it also means returns are likely to be shaped by the credit and liquidity profile of several short-duration instruments. We think that balance is consistent with the fund’s medium-risk label.

To see all holdings, visit the SBI Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with a Medium Risk debt scheme and want a return pattern that has stayed fairly consistent across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods. The benchmark comparison also helps: the fund has generally behaved better than the index over the longer windows, which supports a steadier debt allocation view.

The main trade-off is that the scheme may not lead the field in every period, especially against the stronger peer figures in the comparison set. Investors seeking a longer holding period and a balance between stability and moderate return potential may find it more suitable than those who want the highest short-term number or a capital-preservation substitute.

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: No exit load.

Source data date: as of 04 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of SBI Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹6,555.6412 as of 04 Sep 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 6.58%, 7.21% and 6.45%.

How has it performed versus the benchmark?
It has outperformed the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, while the benchmark has only been slightly ahead over 3 months.

How does it compare with peer funds on returns?
It trails several peers on the available 1-year, 3-year and 5-year figures, but the differences are not dramatic.

Is there a minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

What are the risk label, portfolio style and exit load?
The fund carries a Medium Risk label. Its largest holding is TREPS at 9.65%, and it has no exit load. The fund is managed by Sudhir Agarwal.

Bottom line

SBI Ultra Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a fairly consistent return pattern, with the recent 1-year figure broadly in line with the longer-term record and ahead of the benchmark across 1-, 3- and 5-year periods. Against peers, it is competitive but not the strongest on the available return data. The portfolio leans on cash equivalents, CDs and treasury bills, which supports a measured debt profile. Our view is that it can suit investors who want medium-risk debt exposure with a stable compounding style rather than the highest short-term outcome.

Published on 5 September 2026 at 3:03 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.