
Balanced Advantage Mutual Funds combine equity and debt exposure with dynamic asset allocation to manage volatility across market cycles. These funds are often evaluated for systematic withdrawal plans due to their comparatively balanced risk-return structure.
As of January 2026, several balanced advantage funds have demonstrated consistent long-term performance based on 5-year CAGR. The following analysis ranks the top performing balanced advantage mutual funds strictly using the provided data.
| Name | AUM (₹ crore) | Expense Ratio (%) | Absolute Returns 1Y (%) | CAGR 5Y (%) | Sharpe Ratio |
| HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund | 108,205.06 | 0.73 | 8.03 | 19.63 | 0.57 |
| Baroda BNP Paribas Balanced Advantage Fund | 4,748.18 | 0.74 | 8.83 | 13.2 | 0.62 |
| ICICI Pru Balanced Advantage Fund | 70,534.59 | 0.86 | 12.65 | 13.13 | 1.52 |
| Axis Balanced Advantage Fund | 3,810.49 | 0.74 | 7.57 | 12.64 | 0.61 |
| Nippon India Balanced Advantage Fund | 9,724.68 | 0.57 | 8.23 | 12.57 | 0.71 |
Note: Data as of January 8, 2026.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund tops the list with a 5-year CAGR of 19.63%, well ahead of its peers. It also commands the largest asset base at ₹108,205.06 crore.
Baroda BNP Paribas Balanced Advantage Fund and ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund follow, posting 5-year CAGRs of 13.2% and 13.13%, respectively. Axis Balanced Advantage Fund and Nippon India Balanced Advantage Fund deliver closely clustered long-term returns ranging between 12.57% and 12.64%.
Absolute 1-year returns across the listed funds range from 7.57 to 12.65. ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund recorded the highest 1-year return at 12.65.
Sharpe Ratios vary significantly, with ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund reporting the highest Sharpe Ratio at 1.52, indicating stronger risk-adjusted performance over time. Other funds recorded Sharpe Ratios between 0.57 and 0.71, reflecting moderate risk-adjusted returns.
| Name | AUM (₹ crore) |
| HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund | 108,205.06 |
| ICICI Pru Balanced Advantage Fund | 70,534.59 |
| SBI Balanced Advantage Fund | 39,337.41 |
| Kotak Balanced Advantage Fund | 17,959.16 |
| Tata Balanced Advantage Fund | 9,857.07 |
Note: Data as of January 8, 2026.
ReadMore: Best Equity Mutual Funds in January 2026 Based on 5-Year CAGR.
Based solely on 5-year CAGR, HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund stands out with notably higher long-term returns, followed by Baroda BNP Paribas and ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Funds. Other schemes display closely aligned performance levels.
Differences in AUM size, expense ratios, and risk-adjusted returns offer distinct fund profiles despite similar long-term growth rates. The table provides a consolidated view of performance metrics relevant for comparative assessment.
Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.
Published on: Jan 8, 2026, 2:19 PM IST

Akshay Shivalkar
Akshay Shivalkar is a financial content specialist who strategises and creates SEO-optimised content on the stock market, mutual funds, and other investment products. With experience in fintech and mutual funds, he simplifies complex financial concepts to help investors make informed decisions through his writing.
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