AustralianSuper delivers strong returns despite complex investment backdrop

AustralianSuper has reported a 9.52 per cent return for its Balanced super option for the 2024–25 financial year, as markets delivered another year of strong performance despite the complex investing environment.

The fund’s Choice Income retirement Balanced option also posted a solid return of 10.41 per cent, while the High Growth super option recorded a return of 10.61 per cent for the year to 30 June 2025.

Over the longer term, the Balanced option has delivered average annual returns of 8.72 per cent over three years, 8.53 per cent over five years, 7.94 per cent over 10 years, and 8.69 per cent over 15 years, after investment fees and taxes.

CIO Mark Delaney highlighted the good outcome for AustralianSuper’s members despite a “complex investing environment”.

“It has been a challenging 12 months for active investors so being able to deliver this strong result for members is pleasing,” Delaney said. “It is important to remember super is a long-term investment and we always invest through short-term economic and geopolitical cycles.”

Over a 20-year period, AustralianSuper’s Balanced option delivered an average return of 7.62 per cent, which equates to $434,546 as at 30 June this year for $100,000 invested in 2005 (excluding additional contributions).

Delaney added the fund was over two years into a plan to enhance member services, stating the fund has made “big steps” with more to follow.

“There are 3.5 million AustralianSuper members today and we expect to grow to five million within the decade. We’ve invested more than $200 million this financial year to transform how we support members and this is only the beginning,” he said.

The fund further noted other achievements over the financial year, such as the opening of a bereavement centre in April 2024, reduced complaint volumes of 32 per cent, and escalated AFCA complaints by 40 per cent, along with lowered insurance premiums and bolstered security measures for its membership base.

“We have also delivered help, guidance and advice to about 20 per cent of members to help them plan for their future,” Delaney added.

Meanwhile, Australia’s second-largest super fund, Australian Retirement Trust (ART), outperformed AustralianSuper over this financial year, with returns of 11.2 per cent and 11.9 per cent for its balanced pool option and higher growth pool option.

Speaking to Super Review sister brand InvestorDaily, ART general manager of total portfolio management and resilience, Andrew Fisher, said: “In the most recent financial year it was more of a domestic exposure.

“Australian equities and domestic infrastructure were two of the biggest drives of that relative outperformance.”

According to Fisher, domestic infrastructure assets, such as airports, had a particularly strong financial year.