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

Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹2509.3561 as of 03 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹10,633 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.61%, 7.03% and 6.37%, and the fund carries a Balanced Risk label. In our view, that profile suits investors who want liquid-fund style short-term parking with relatively steady compounding rather than sharp market-linked upside.

The portfolio leans heavily on treasury bills, commercial paper and cash-like exposure, which helps explain the fund’s steady return pattern. That makes it more relevant for conservative capital deployment and near-term cash management than for investors looking for aggressive growth.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹2,509.3561 as of 03 Sep 2026
AUM	₹10,633 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.13%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹1,000
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 on or after 7D
Fund Managers	Sandeep Agarwal, Kumaresh Ramakrishnan, Ronak Shah

The fund is managed by Sandeep Agarwal, Kumaresh Ramakrishnan and Ronak Shah.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.56%	-3.01%
3M	1.83%	1.95%
1Y	6.61%	-4.4%
3Y	7.03%	5.74%
5Y	6.37%	6.27%

The recent return pattern is stable rather than dramatic. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund has kept moving positively, while the benchmark has been choppy and weaker at the 1-month point. That tells us the fund has continued to behave like a defensive liquid allocation, with small and steady changes rather than large swings.

Over 1 year, the fund has clearly held up better than the benchmark, which has been negative over the same period. That gap matters because it shows the fund has protected short-term value more effectively than a broad equity benchmark would. For investors, that is a reminder that liquid funds are about capital preservation and smoother short-term compounding, not benchmark chasing.

The longer trend is also constructive. The 3-year and 5-year returns remain close to each other and both sit in a narrow band around the mid-single digits, which suggests consistency rather than high volatility. The 3-year figure is stronger than the 5-year figure, so the more recent medium-term run has been slightly better than the full five-year period. Overall, the fund’s behaviour points to steady compounding with limited drawdown-style movement, which is what many liquid-fund investors look for.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Sundaram 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.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.61%	7.03%	6.37%
Axis Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.61%	7.03%	6.38%
Aditya Birla SL Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.60%	7.03%	6.39%
JioBlackRock Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.60%	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.

On 1-year returns, this fund is very close to the peer set, with the current figure matching the strongest available 1-year figures in the list. That means the near-term outcome is broadly in line with the better recent liquid-fund runs rather than lagging them.

On 3-year and 5-year numbers, the fund also stays tightly grouped with the peers that have history. The 3-year return sits alongside the same 7.03% cluster, while the 5-year return is only marginally below one peer and equal to another. Short-term and longer-term comparison therefore tell a similar story: the fund has stayed competitive within a narrow band, without needing unusually high swings to do so.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	17.62%
91 Days – T Bill – 05/11/2026	Treasury Bills	4.14%
Export Import Bank of India – 04/11/2026**	Commercial Paper	3.26%
91 Days – T Bill – 22/10/2026	Treasury Bills	2.51%
National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development – 11/09/2026**	Commercial Paper	2.20%
Small Industries Development Bank of India – 11/09/2026**	Commercial Paper	2.20%
REC Ltd – 23/11/2026**	Commercial Paper	2.17%
Tata Capital Housing Finance Ltd – 23/11/2026	Commercial Paper	2.17%
Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd – 16/09/2026**	Commercial Paper	1.65%
Tata Power Company Ltd – 10/09/2026**	Commercial Paper	1.65%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 39.57% of the portfolio.

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

The largest holding, TREPS, is 17.62%, so a meaningful share of the portfolio sits in a cash-equivalent instrument. After that, the weights step down fairly quickly, with the second and third holdings both well below 5%. That pattern suggests the portfolio is not relying on a single security for most of its outcome, even though the largest position is still sizeable.

By the tenth holding, the weight is 1.65%, which shows a clear drop from the top position and a much flatter tail among the rest of the disclosed holdings. The difference between the largest holding and the smaller commercial-paper positions may help keep single-issuer influence contained, although the largest cash-like position remains the most meaningful driver among the top lines.

We also note that the top 10 holdings together account for 39.57% of the portfolio, while 85 holdings are disclosed in total. That means the visible list is only part of a longer tail, so the fund may be relatively diversified across many short-duration instruments even though the headline weights remain concentrated in a few larger positions.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors with a low-to-moderate tolerance for volatility who want a liquid allocation rather than equity-style growth. The Balanced Risk label and the cash-heavy portfolio support that view, while the return pattern points to steady compounding instead of sharp upside or deep swings.

A short to medium holding horizon is the most natural fit, especially for money that may be needed soon and where stability matters more than beating an equity index. The main trade-off is that the fund can offer steadier outcomes, but the return potential will generally stay close to the mid-single-digit range reflected in its recent history.

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, and nil on or after 7 days.
• No exit load applies after the holding period.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The NAV is ₹2509.3561 as of 03 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.61%, 7.03% and 6.37%.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, while the benchmark’s 1-year return is negative.

Which peer funds look closest on return data?
Axis Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan, Aditya Birla SL Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan and Edelweiss Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan are very close on the available return figures.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹1,000.

Who manages the fund?
The fund is managed by Sandeep Agarwal, Kumaresh Ramakrishnan and Ronak Shah.

Bottom line

Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steady return pattern that is consistent with its liquid-fund profile, and its shorter-term numbers are broadly in line with its medium- and long-term track record. It compares closely with peers on the available return data, which points to a competitive but not flashy outcome set. The cash-heavy portfolio, along with a large share of treasury bills and commercial paper, reinforces the fund’s role as a stability-first holding for investors who value liquidity and controlled portfolio behaviour.

Published on 4 September 2026 at 9:59 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.