Tata Balanced Adv Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Tata Balanced Adv Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹22.9875 as of 15 September 2026 and an AUM of ₹8,538 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 2.46%, 8.2% and 9.01% respectively, while the scheme sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that this is a hybrid fund for investors who can stay patient through uneven short-term swings and still value a portfolio that mixes equities with debt and cash holdings.

The fund’s recent return trend is softer than its longer-term numbers, but the 3-year and 5-year outcomes still show steadier compounding than the 1-year figure alone suggests. With a low minimum SIP entry, a direct-growth structure and a diversified holding list led by large-cap names, it may suit investors who want a balanced approach with meaningful market participation rather than a pure equity-only profile.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹22.9875 as of 15 Sep 2026
AUM	₹8,538 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.44%
Launch Date	28 Jan 2019
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Hybrid
Exit Load	0.50% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D
Fund Managers	Rahul Singh (Tata), Sailesh Jain, Murthy Nagarajan, Amit Somani

The fund is managed by Rahul Singh (Tata), Sailesh Jain, Murthy Nagarajan and Amit Somani.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-3.59%	-4.81%
3M	-1.66%	-3.63%
1Y	2.46%	-8.27%
3Y	8.2%	5.59%
5Y	9.01%	5.58%

The near-term pattern has been soft, with both the 1-month and 3-month figures in negative territory. Even so, the fund stayed ahead of the benchmark in each of those windows, which tells us the decline has been less severe than the market reference point used here. That matters for a hybrid fund because investors are not only looking for upside, but also for relative control when markets turn choppy.

The 1-year return is positive, yet it is modest compared with the longer history. Our reading is that the fund has recovered over time, but not in a straight line. The 3-year and 5-year figures are both meaningfully stronger than the 1-year figure, which suggests the longer holding period has been more rewarding than a one-year snapshot would imply.

Against the benchmark, the fund is ahead across all five periods shown. The gap is widest over 1 year, while the 3-year and 5-year lead is still clear. That pattern indicates the fund has done a better job than the benchmark at preserving and compounding value over full cycles, even though the latest stretch has been less comfortable.

The time pattern also points to a fund that can move through drawdowns and recoveries rather than travel in a smooth upward path. For investors, that means short-term discomfort is possible, but the longer-run record has been more constructive than the recent weakness might suggest.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Tata Balanced Adv?

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 Tata Balanced Adv? Thinking of investing now?

Get your portfolio analysed for FREE by SEBI-registered Investment Adviser (RIA) through Univest MF Premium

Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Tata Balanced Adv Fund Direct Growth Plan	2.46%	8.2%	9.01%
Unifi Dynamic Asset Allocation Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.55%	Data not available	Data not available
Edelweiss Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.46%	10.37%	9.51%
Aditya Birla SL Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.17%	10.96%	9.97%
Bank of India Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	4.92%	8.7%	10.45%
Baroda BNP Paribas Balanced Advantage Fund Direct Growth Plan	4.39%	10.99%	10.59%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

The fund’s 1-year return trails the stronger peer figures shown here, even though it still stays above the benchmark used for this review. On 3-year and 5-year numbers, it is behind several peers with available data, which suggests the longer-term compounding has been more moderate than the better-performing balanced advantage funds in this set. That said, the short-term gap and the longer-term gap do not look identical: the recent year is weaker, but the fund also lags on the multi-year periods where peers have established stronger compounding.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Reliance Industries Ltd	Crude Oil	4.24%
HDFC Bank Ltd	Bank	2.88%
Bharti Airtel Ltd	Telecom	2.87%
ICICI Bank Ltd	Bank	2.51%
I) Repo	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	2.5%
GOI – 7.34% (22/04/2064) $$	Government Securities	2.14%
Larsen & Toubro Ltd	Infrastructure	2.02%
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd	Healthcare	2%
Shriram Finance Ltd	Finance	1.98%
GOI – 6.54% (17/01/2032) $$	Government Securities	1.87%

The largest holding, Reliance Industries Ltd, is 4.24%, which is not unusually large on its own, but it is still the single biggest position and could matter more than the rest if the fund’s equity sleeve moves sharply. The drop from the top holding to the tenth holding is fairly gradual, from 4.24% to 1.87%, so the visible book does not look dominated by one or two oversized positions.

The top ten holdings together account for approximately 25.01% of the portfolio, which suggests the fund has a meaningful tail beyond the disclosed names. Since the total disclosed holding count is 75, our view is that the portfolio is spread across a relatively long list rather than concentrated only in the visible leaders. That structure may reduce dependence on any single stock, although the equity, debt and cash mix still means market movements can influence outcomes.

Because the disclosed list includes banks, telecom, infrastructure, healthcare, finance, government securities and repo, the portfolio may bring together several different return drivers. The combination of named equities and fixed-income style holdings could help smooth the experience compared with a pure equity fund, but it also means the mix can shift the return profile from one period to another.

To see all holdings, visit the Tata Balanced Adv Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk exposure and who can hold through short-term swings. The 1-year result is much lower than the 3-year and 5-year outcomes, so a shorter horizon may not capture its fuller return pattern.

We think the better fit is a medium-to-long-term investor who wants a hybrid structure with benchmark-beating history and a broad portfolio rather than a single-theme bet. The trade-off is that the fund can still have weak patches, especially in the near term, even when the longer record looks more constructive.

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 15 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Tata Balanced Adv Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹22.9875 as of 15 September 2026.

How has Tata Balanced Adv Fund Direct Growth Plan performed over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years?

Its returns are 2.46% over 1 year, 8.2% over 3 years and 9.01% over 5 years.

How does it compare with its benchmark?

It has stayed ahead of the benchmark across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is especially wide over the 1-year period.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

What is the risk category of this fund?

The fund is in the High Risk category. That makes it more suitable for investors who can handle a volatile path to returns.

Who manages Tata Balanced Adv Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The fund is managed by Rahul Singh (Tata), Sailesh Jain, Murthy Nagarajan and Amit Somani.

Bottom line

The fund’s recent return pattern is softer than its longer-term record, but the 3-year and 5-year figures remain more constructive than the 1-year outcome alone. It has also stayed ahead of the benchmark across the periods shown, while several peer funds with available data show stronger multi-year returns. With a High Risk tag and a portfolio that mixes equities, government securities and cash-like exposure, it may fit investors who want a hybrid allocation and can tolerate uneven short-term movement.

Published on 16 September 2026 at 10:00 AM IST

Explore mutual funds with Univest

Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.

Explore Univest

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.