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

UTI Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan is priced at ₹465.2997 as of 03 Sep 2026, with an AUM of ₹26,727 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.56%, 6.99% and 6.35%, and the fund is tagged as Medium Risk. In our view, it fits investors who want a liquid fund with steady longer-horizon compounding rather than sharp short-term bursts.

The fund has stayed close to its benchmark over the longer run, while the recent period has been less stable. That combination points to a conservative cash-management role, where capital preservation and liquidity matter more than chasing higher return swings.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹465.2997 as of 03 Sep 2026
AUM	₹26,727 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.15%
Launch Date	31 Dec 2012
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	Medium 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 after 7D
Fund Managers	Amit Sharma

The fund is managed by Amit Sharma.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.57%	-3.01%
3M	-89.83%	1.95%
1Y	6.56%	-4.4%
3Y	6.99%	5.74%
5Y	6.35%	6.27%

At the longer end, the fund has compounded in a fairly narrow band. The 3-year and 5-year figures are both positive and close to each other, which usually signals a return path that has been more measured than dramatic. That is useful for a liquid fund, where investors generally expect smoother carry rather than equity-like momentum.

The benchmark comparison is mixed but informative. The fund is ahead of the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years, and only slightly behind over 5 years. That tells us the fund has generally held up well against its reference index over time, even if the latest short-term stretch has been uneven.

The recent pattern is where the story changes. The 1-month reading is still positive, but the 3-month result is sharply negative, while the benchmark remained positive over the same window. That gap suggests the fund experienced a weaker recent patch than its longer history would imply. We would read that as a short-term disturbance rather than a break from the broader compounding trend, because the 3-year and 5-year numbers still look stable relative to one another.

For a liquid fund, consistency matters more than dramatic upside. Our view is that this one has delivered that kind of profile over multi-year periods, even though the latest quarter is noticeably less comfortable than the longer-term record.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD UTI 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
UTI Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.56%	6.99%	6.35%
Axis Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.61%	7.03%	6.38%
Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.61%	7.03%	6.37%
Aditya Birla SL Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.6%	7.03%	6.39%
JioBlackRock Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.6%	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.

The current fund sits just below the nearest peer returns on 1-year, 3-year and 5-year figures, but the spread is small. The 1-year gap is modest, and the 3-year and 5-year differences are only a few basis points, so the longer-run picture is broadly similar across the group. The more notable contrast is that some peers have cleaner short-term stability, while this fund’s latest quarter looks more volatile than its own multi-year trend. On the available numbers, the comparison points to a fund that is competitive on longer horizons, with a recent patch that deserves more caution than the multi-year record alone would suggest.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
91 Days T-Bill -20/08/2026	Treasury Bills	7.71%
CP National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development	Commercial Paper	4.65%
CP Reliance Retail Ventures Limited	Commercial Paper	3.52%
CP Kotak Securities Ltd.	Commercial Paper	3.44%
CD – HDFC Bank Ltd – 10/09/2026	Certificate of Deposit	3.07%
CP ICICI Securities Ltd.	Commercial Paper	2.99%
CP Grasim Industries Ltd.	Commercial Paper	2.97%
CP Small Industries Development Bank of India	Commercial Paper	2.97%
CP Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.	Commercial Paper	2.79%
CD – ICICI Bank – 15/09/2026	Certificate of Deposit	2.78%

The largest holding is 91 Days T-Bill -20/08/2026 at 7.71%, which is large enough to matter but not so large that it dominates the portfolio on its own. From the first holding to the tenth, weights taper down fairly steadily into the high-2% range, which suggests a measured spread across multiple short-duration instruments rather than an all-in position on one issuer.

The top 10 holdings together account for approximately 36.89% of the portfolio. With 59 total disclosed holdings, the fund appears to keep a broad tail beyond the largest names, so the visible sleeve may influence outcomes without concentrating everything in just a few positions. That structure could help reduce dependence on any single line item, though the commercial paper and certificate-of-deposit mix means credit selection can still be important.

In practical terms, this kind of layout may suit a liquidity-oriented allocation where spread-out exposure is preferred over concentration. The portfolio does not look narrowly packed at the top, yet the leading holdings are still meaningful enough that short-term issuer and instrument choices could affect the fund’s path.

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

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is best understood as a conservative liquidity option for investors who are comfortable with a Medium Risk label and want a steady, short-duration parking place rather than a return-chasing product. The 1-year figure is ahead of the benchmark, and the 3-year and 5-year figures remain close to the benchmark, which supports a case for patient, low-drama holding periods. The main trade-off is that recent short-term behaviour has been weaker than the longer record, so investors need to accept some near-term unevenness in exchange for a comparatively stable multi-year profile.

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

The exit load is 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 after 7 days.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of UTI Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹465.2997 as of 03 Sep 2026.

What are the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?

The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.56%, 6.99% and 6.35%.

How does the fund compare with its benchmark?

It has stayed close to the benchmark over the longer run and is ahead over 1 year and 3 years. Over 5 years, it is slightly behind the benchmark.

How does it compare with peer liquid funds on available return data?

Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year figures are close to the peer set, but a few peers show slightly higher available returns on the same horizons. One peer has unavailable 3-year and 5-year figures.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Amit Sharma. The exit load tapers from Day 1 through Day 6 and becomes NIL after 7 days.

Bottom line

UTI Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a longer-term pattern that is steadier than its recent short-term stretch, with multi-year returns staying close to the benchmark and peers. The fund is in the Medium Risk bucket, and the portfolio is spread across 59 disclosed holdings rather than being dominated by only a handful of positions. That mix supports a liquidity-focused role where gradual compounding matters more than sudden outperformance, even though the latest quarter was noticeably weaker than the multi-year picture.

Published on 4 September 2026 at 4:36 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.