HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund vs HDFC Children's Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund is a Balanced Advantage fund and HDFC Children's Fund is a Solution fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct) returned 10.5% a year and HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) returned 8.0% a year. HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund charges 0.77% a year and HDFC Children's Fund 1.03% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 39.1%: they hold 61 of the same securities.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund
Balanced Advantage
- 3 year return
- 10.5%
- Expense ratio
- 0.77%
- NAV
- ₹546.24
Which is better, HDFC Balanced Advantage or HDFC Children's? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- HDFC Balanced Advantage returned more over 5 years: 13.0% a year against 9.3%.
- HDFC Balanced Advantage returned more over 3 years: 10.5% a year against 8.0%.
- HDFC Balanced Advantage costs less: 0.77% a year against 1.03% (Direct plans).
- HDFC Children's swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 9.6% a year against 9.8%.
- HDFC Children's fell less in its worst fall since 01-01-2013: −28.9% against −34.2%.
- HDFC Balanced Advantage holds more in large companies: 54.4% of the fund in large caps against 36.7%.
- HDFC Balanced Advantage is the larger fund: ₹1,02,534 Cr against ₹10,339 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 39.1%: 61 of the same holdings.
Past returns do not promise future returns. This page is information, not investment advice.
Key facts
From each fund's scheme summary document and AMFI
| Fact | HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund | HDFC Children's Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | HDFC Mutual Fund | HDFC Mutual Fund |
| Category | Balanced Advantage | Solution |
| AUM | ₹1,02,534 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹10,339 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹546.24 (Direct) | ₹311.41 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.77% | 1.03% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.30% | 1.81% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | NIFTY 50 Hybrid Composite Debt 50:50 Index | NIFTY 50 Hybrid Composite Debt 65:35 Index (Total Returns Index) |
| Launch date | 01-02-1994 | 02-03-2001 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | None | 5 years, or until the child turns 18 if earlier |
| Fund managers | Gopal Agrawal, Ihab Dalwai, Nandita Menezes, – Mr. Arun Agarwal, Anil Bamboli | Chirag Setalvad, Gopal Agrawal, Anil Bamboli |
| Exit load | Exit Load for units in excess of 15% of the investment,1% will be charged for redemption within 1 year. | (i) For existing investments by investors including SIP / SWAP registrations, etc (until May 22, 2018). In respect of units subject to lockin period: Nil In case of Units not subject to Lock-in Period: -3% if the Units are redeemed / switched-out within one year from the date of allotment. - 2% if the Units are redeemed / switched-out between first and second year of the date of allotment. - 1% if the Units are redeemed / switched-out between second and third year of the date of allotment. - Nil if the Units are redeemed / switched-out after third year from the date of allotment (ii) Fresh investments by investors including SIP/ SWAP registrations, etc (effective May 23, 2018): Nil |
HDFC Balanced Advantage vs HDFC Children's: Returns Comparison
Returns as on 30-10-2026. Up to one year they are absolute returns. Longer periods are a rate per year.
| Fund | 1M | 3M | 6M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct) | −0.67% | −4.30% | −2.27% | −5.25% | +10.53% | +13.03% | +13.61% |
| HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | −1.71% | −3.88% | −0.62% | −6.09% | +7.95% | +9.25% | +12.30% |
| Balanced Advantage average | −0.55% | −2.88% | +0.08% | −2.08% | +9.14% | +8.35% | +9.91% |
Category average: the average of the 38 Balanced Advantage funds, same plan type.
HDFC Balanced Advantage vs HDFC Children's: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Balanced AdvantageHDFC Balanced Advantage | Children'sHDFC Children's |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −5.77% | −6.11% |
| 2025 | +7.87% | +3.18% |
| 2024 | +17.44% | +17.03% |
| 2023 | +32.13% | +27.95% |
| 2022 | +19.56% | +7.69% |
| 2021 | +27.11% | +27.53% |
HDFC Balanced Advantage vs HDFC Children's: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,667 of them, one for each trading day from 01-01-2016 to 30-10-2026: the yearly return (CAGR) of each, plotted on the day it ended. One lucky or unlucky start day cannot flatter or hide a fund.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct)
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
to
Nov 2016Sept 2015
to
Sept 2018Jul 2017
to
Jul 2020May 2019
to
May 2022Mar 2021
to
Mar 2024Dec 2022
to
Dec 2025
How the periods spread
| Fund | Below 0% | 0-5% | 5-10% | 10-15% | 15-20% | 20-25% | Above 25% | Mean | Median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Balanced Advantage | 1.8 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 33.6 | 27.9 | 14.4 | 10.5 | 15.9% | 15.5% | −3.7% | 33.8% |
| HDFC Children's | 0.2 | 3.6 | 10.3 | 30.0 | 41.2 | 11.5 | 3.1 | 15.3% | 15.6% | −1.6% | 30.9% |
The table shows the % of periods in each return band; a darker cell holds more of them. Lumpsum: the yearly rate (CAGR) from a period's first NAV to its last. SIP: the XIRR of the monthly instalments. Every fund is measured over the days all of them have, from 01-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
HDFC Balanced Advantage vs HDFC Children's: SIP and Lumpsum Returns
What the same monthly or one-time investment would be worth in each fund today, from their own NAV history
Growth of an investment
₹10,000 on the first trading day of every month, from 01-01-2013 to 30-10-2026: 166 instalments, ₹16,60,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Balanced AdvantageHDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹46,90,351 | ₹30,30,351 | 13.9% |
| HDFC Children'sHDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹42,94,755 | ₹26,34,755 | 12.8% |
HDFC Balanced AdvantageHDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct)
HDFC Children'sHDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
Amount invested
From each plan's published NAV (Growth option), over the same days. Return a year: XIRR for a SIP, CAGR for a lumpsum, shown for a year or more. It does not include exit load, stamp duty or tax. Past returns do not promise future returns.
HDFC Balanced Advantage vs HDFC Children's: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct) | HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −5.25% | −6.09% |
| Standard deviation | 9.95% | 9.47% |
| Sharpe ratio | -1.05 | -1.20 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.39 | -1.58 |
| Maximum drawdown | −10.2% (30-03-2026) | −11.1% (30-03-2026) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
From daily NAVs, 30-10-2025 to 30-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
| Measure | HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct) | HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +10.53% | +7.95% |
| Standard deviation | 9.77% | 9.57% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.46 | 0.20 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.61 | 0.27 |
| Maximum drawdown | −10.2% (30-03-2026) | −12.4% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
From daily NAVs, 30-10-2023 to 30-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
| Measure | HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct) | HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +13.03% | +9.25% |
| Standard deviation | 9.68% | 9.66% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.75 | 0.36 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.01 | 0.48 |
| Maximum drawdown | −10.2% (30-03-2026) | −12.4% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
From daily NAVs, 29-10-2021 to 30-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
| Measure | HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct) | HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +13.51% | +14.00% |
| Standard deviation | 14.22% | 10.71% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.52 | 0.74 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.71 | 1.00 |
| Maximum drawdown | −34.2% (23-03-2020) | −28.9% (23-03-2020) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
From daily NAVs, 01-01-2013 to 30-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
Drawdowns
How far below its previous high each one was on every day: the falls an investor had to sit through. 0% means it was at a new high.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct)
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct) | −34.2% | 04-07-2019 | 23-03-2020 | 03-12-2020 | 8 months | −6.5% |
| HDFC Children's Fund (Direct) | −28.9% | 24-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 26-08-2020 | 5 months | −6.5% |
From daily values since 01-01-2013, the first day every fund has.
Rolling standard deviation
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 1-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct)
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 3-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct)
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 5-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Direct)
HDFC Children's Fund (Direct)
HDFC Balanced Advantage vs HDFC Children's: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund, September 2026; HDFC Children's Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 39.1%
- Held by both
- 61
- Only in HDFC Balanced Advantage
- 250
- Only in HDFC Children's
- 47
| Security | % of HDFC Balanced Advantage | % of HDFC Children's |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Ltd. | 5.06% | 6.62% |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. | 4.32% | 6.19% |
| State Bank of India | 3.28% | 3.25% |
| Reliance Industries Ltd. | 3.64% | 2.85% |
| Larsen and Toubro Ltd. | 2.52% | 3.58% |
| 7.18% GOI MAT 140833 | 2.04% | 3.74% |
| Axis Bank Ltd. | 2.65% | 1.81% |
| Eternal Limited | 1.68% | 1.70% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | 3.05% | 1.67% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | 1.58% | 3.00% |
| Infosys Limited | 1.45% | 1.63% |
| ITC LIMITED | 1.10% | 0.99% |
| Lupin Ltd. | 1.13% | 0.74% |
| Hyundai Motor India Limited | 0.79% | 0.72% |
| Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. | 0.61% | 0.59% |
| State Bank of India (Tier 2 - Basel III) | 0.58% | 1.40% |
| 6.9% GOI MAT 150465 | 0.55% | 1.08% |
| 7.1% GOI MAT 080434 | 0.48% | 2.99% |
| Ipca Laboratories Ltd. | 0.47% | 1.39% |
| 7.18% GOI MAT 240737 | 0.42% | 0.82% |
| Torrent Power Ltd. | 0.42% | 0.48% |
| Small Industries Development Bank | 0.39% | 0.72% |
| Vishal Mega Mart Limited | 0.37% | 0.31% |
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | 0.29% | 0.97% |
| United Spirits Limited | 0.28% | 1.57% |
| TEGA INDUSTRIES LIMITED | 0.25% | 0.93% |
| Punjab National Bank | 0.24% | 0.93% |
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | 0.24% | 0.47% |
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | 0.32% | 0.23% |
| National Housing Bank | 0.21% | 0.24% |
| National Bank for Agri & Rural Dev. | 0.19% | 0.48% |
| Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Co. Ltd. | 0.17% | 0.43% |
| REC Limited. | 0.16% | 0.33% |
| Muthoot Finance Ltd. | 0.15% | 0.48% |
| Small Industries Development Bank | 0.15% | 0.34% |
| Bank of Baroda (Tier 2 - Basel III) | 0.24% | 0.14% |
| Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. | 0.12% | 0.47% |
| 6.94% GOI MAT 110536 | 0.10% | 0.24% |
| Power Finance Corporation Ltd. | 0.10% | 0.24% |
| Power Finance Corporation Ltd. | 0.10% | 0.24% |
| Indian Railways Finance Corp. Ltd. | 0.17% | 0.09% |
| National Bank for Agri & Rural Dev. | 0.09% | 0.23% |
| TENNECO CLEAN AIR INDIA LIMITED | 0.08% | 0.42% |
| 7.26% GOI MAT 220832 | 0.07% | 0.24% |
| 7.29% Rajasthan SDL ISD 191125 Mat 191137 | 0.07% | 0.14% |
| L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd | 0.07% | 0.70% |
| Small Industries Development Bank | 0.07% | 0.19% |
| 7.34% GOI MAT 220464 | 0.74% | 0.05% |
| 7.3% GOI MAT 190653 | 0.05% | 0.09% |
| 7.64% Gujarat SDL ISD 170124 MAT 170133 | 0.05% | 0.43% |
| Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. | 0.05% | 0.23% |
| National Bank for Agri & Rural Dev. | 0.05% | 0.24% |
| 7.64% % Gujarat SDL ISD 170124 Mat 170134 | 0.04% | 0.29% |
| 7.63% Gujarat SDL ISD 240124 Mat 240133 | 0.04% | 0.24% |
| LIC Housing Finance Ltd. | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| 6.79% GOI MAT 071034 | 0.03% | 0.66% |
| 7.63% Gujarat SDL ISD 240124 Mat 240134 | 0.03% | 0.19% |
| 7.63% Gujarat SDL - MAT 100637 | 0.03% | 0.09% |
| 7.23% GOI MAT 150439 | 0.02% | 0.29% |
| National Bank for Agri & Rural Dev. | 0.02% | 0.48% |
| Aster DM Quality Care Limited | 0.01% | 2.53% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 39.1% means 39.1% of each fund's money sits in positions the other also holds. Matched by ISIN. Cash and hedged positions are left out.
Largest holdings only in HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| NTPC Limited | 2.00% |
| Coal India Ltd. | 1.77% |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | 1.55% |
| Maruti Suzuki India Limited | 1.42% |
| HCL Technologies Ltd. | 1.21% |
Largest holdings only in HDFC Children's Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| eClerx Services Limited | 2.55% |
| Finolex Cables Ltd. | 2.24% |
| 7.1% GOI MAT 180429 | 2.20% |
| Voltamp Transformers Ltd. | 1.77% |
| S.J.S. Enterprises Limited | 1.58% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | HDFC Balanced Advantage | HDFC Children's |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 73.4% | 70.5% |
| Debt | 23.6% | 26.4% |
| Cash and others | 2.9% | 3.2% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | HDFC Balanced Advantage | HDFC Children's |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 54.4% | 36.7% |
| Mid Cap | 9.4% | 6.5% |
| Small Cap | 9.4% | 25.6% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.2% | 1.6% |
Share of the whole fund. Groups follow AMFI's latest list: Large Cap is the 100 largest companies, Mid Cap the next 150, Small Cap the rest.
Largest sectors
| Sector | HDFC Balanced Advantage | HDFC Children's |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 18.8% | 21.3% |
| Industrial Products | 0.3% | 5.8% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 5.6% | 2.1% |
| Petroleum Products | 5.2% | 3.4% |
| IT - Software | 4.5% | 2.9% |
| Construction | 3.7% | 3.8% |
| Retailing | 2.8% | 3.5% |
| Automobiles | 3.5% | 0.9% |
| Auto Components | 1.1% | 3.4% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
HDFC Balanced Advantage vs HDFC Children's: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund | HDFC Children's Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.77% | 1.03% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.64% | 0.84% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.30% | 1.81% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.09% | 1.50% |
The expense ratio comes out of the fund's assets every day, so every return on this page is already after it. Base expense ratio: the fund house's own fee. The total adds brokerage, transaction costs, and levies with GST.
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HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund vs HDFC Children's Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund and HDFC Children's Fund?
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund is a Balanced Advantage fund, HDFC Children's Fund is a Solution fund, run by HDFC Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 39.1%. HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund charges 0.77% a year and HDFC Children's Fund 1.03%.
Which has given higher returns, HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund or HDFC Children's Fund?
Over 1 year: HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund −5.25%, HDFC Children's Fund −6.09%. Over 3 years: HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund +10.53% a year, HDFC Children's Fund +7.95% a year. Over 5 years: HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund +13.03% a year, HDFC Children's Fund +9.25% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund or HDFC Children's Fund?
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund charges less: 0.77% a year against 1.03%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund and HDFC Children's Fund overlap?
39.1%. They hold 61 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being ICICIBANK, HDFCBANK, SBIN. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund or HDFC Children's Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund is rated Very High and HDFC Children's Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 9.77% and 9.57% a year.
Which is better for SIP, HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund or HDFC Children's Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,84,851 in HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (XIRR 9.9% a year) and ₹7,31,165 in HDFC Children's Fund (XIRR 7.1% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund and HDFC Children's Fund?
Yes. 39.1% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund and HDFC Children's Fund?
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund: Gopal Agrawal, Ihab Dalwai, Nandita Menezes, – Mr. Arun Agarwal, Anil Bamboli. HDFC Children's Fund: Chirag Setalvad, Gopal Agrawal, Anil Bamboli.
Sources: NAV and expense ratio from AMFI. Holdings from each fund house's monthly portfolio statement. Fund facts from each scheme summary document.
This page is information, not investment advice. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks; read all scheme related documents carefully. Past returns do not promise future returns. Figures come from AMFI, NSE, BSE and each fund house's own documents.