SuperRatings has named AustralianSuper as the top-performing superannuation fund over the past decade.
AustralianSuper’s ‘balanced’ option delivered an average annual return of 9.6 per cent in the 10 years to 31 July 2019, according to the SuperRatings SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index.
The SuperRatings index had Hostplus at number two, with its balanced option averaging 9.5 per cent, and UniSuper at number three, with its balanced option averaging 9.4 per cent.
The index as a whole averaged 8.3 per cent per annum over the decade.
SuperRatings defines balanced options as funds with exposure to growth-style assets of between 60 and 76 per cent. Returns are net of investment fees, tax and implicit asset-based administration fees.
SuperRatings SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index for 10 years to July 2019
| Fund | Average annual return |
|---|---|
| AustralianSuper | 9.6% |
| Hostplus | 9.5% |
| UniSuper | 9.4% |
| Cbus | 9.2% |
| CareSuper | 9.1% |
| QSuper | 9.1% |
| Mercy Super | 9.0% |
| HESTA | 8.9% |
| VicSuper | 8.9% |
| TelstraSuper | 8.9% |
Data accurate as at 4th September 2019. Figures subject to change.
How AustralianSuper invests
AustralianSuper has two investment objectives for its balanced option:
- Outperform the return of the median balanced fund (after fees and taxes)
- Deliver an average annual return, over the medium to long term, that is 4 percentage points higher than the inflation rate (which is currently at 1.6 per cent)
Members’ superannuation is divided between eight different asset classes. The breakdown, as of 30 June, was:
| Asset class | Allocation (share) |
|---|---|
| International shares | 33.9% |
| Australian shares | 22.7% |
| Fixed interest | 13.6% |
| Infrastructure | 11.7% |
| Direct property | 7.2% |
| Cash | 4.8% |
| Private equity | 3.8% |
| Credit | 2.4% |
Data accurate as at 4th September 2019. Figures subject to change.
