Legal Super delivered the highest returns, according to Chant West data, followed by Vanguard, Colonial First State and Australian Retirement Trust. (Source: AAP/Chant West)
Australian superannuation funds have posted a “tremendous” result for the 2025 financial year, despite a bumpy second half of the year. The median growth fund returned double digits.
Chant West research has revealed the top-performing growth super funds for the year, with niche fund Legal Super found to deliver the highest returns at 12.9 per cent. Growth funds are defined by the research house as those with 61 to 80 per cent in growth assets, with most default MySuper options falling into the category.
Vanguard came in second place with an 11.8 per cent return, followed by Colonial First State, Australian Retirement Trust and NGS in third place with growth of 11.2 per cent.
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The median growth fund returned 10.5 per cent, following returns of 9.1 per cent in 2024 and 9.2 per cent in 2023.
Chant West senior investment research manager Mano Mohankumar said the strong financial year results, despite trade tensions and the conflict in the Middle East, were due to “resilient share markets”, along with all major asset classes generating positive returns.
“International shares and Australian shares, which have average weightings of about 31 per cent and 24 per cent respectively within a typical growth portfolio, both returned 13.7 per cent,” he said.
“Foreign currency was also a meaningful contributor due to the depreciation of the Australian dollar, with the international shares return of 13.7 per cent (reflected in hedged terms) translating to 18.6 per cent in unhedged terms.”
Chant West said the results were achieved despite volatility caused by trade tensions and the Middle East conflict. (Source: Getty)
Unlisted property is expected to finish with a positive result in the 2 to 5 per cent range. Mohankumar noted Australian and international bonds had their best year since 2019, posting returns of 6.8 and 5.4 per cent respectively, and cash posting a 4.4 per cent return.
SuperRatings said the first half of the year brought back “some much-needed stability to fund returns” but the second half saw “extreme ups and downs as global events threw markets into turmoil”.
“With so many global events over the year there has been an increased level of uncertainty around fund returns this year,” SuperRatings director Kirby Rappell said.
“However, superannuation is designed to build and maintain wealth for retirement and since most of us will have plenty of time until we retire and begin accessing our superannuation, it is important to block out as much of the noise as possible and focus on how we are doing over the long term.”
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Here were the top 10 performing growth funds, according to Chant West.
Legal Super MySuper Balance 12.9 per cent
Vanguard Super SaveSmart Growth 11.8 per cent
CFS FirstChoice Growth 11.2 per cent
Australian Retirement Trust Balanced 11.2 per cent
NGS Super Diversified (MySuper) 11.2 per cent
smartMonday Balanced Growth 11.1 per cent
AMP Future Directions Balanced 11 per cent
UniSuper Growth 11 per cent
Award Super Balanced 10.9 per cent
Brighter Super MySuper 10.9 per cent
Looking at longer-term returns, here were the top 10 growth funds for the 10 years to June 30, 2025.
Hostplus Balanced 8.3 per cent
Australian Retirement Trust Balanced 8.2 per cent
AustralianSuper Balanced 8 per cent
UniSuper Balanced 7.9 per cent
Cbus Growth (MySuper) 7.7 per cent
Vision Super Balanced Growth 7.7 per cent
HESTA Balanced Growth 7.6 per cent
Legal Super MySuper Balanced 7.6 per cent
Aware Super Balanced 7.6 per cent
CareSuper Balanced 7.4 per cent
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