Super fund Equip's diversified options recorded double-digit returns this year, outdoing SuperRatings benchmarks.
Growth plus, which mostly hold shares, recorded a 17.1 per cent return for the year, down from last year's 23.3 per cent return, while the conservative option, which has about 20 per cent exposure to shares, returned 8.3 per cent.
Balanced growth showed net annual returns of 13.4 per cent in the year to 30 June, down from 16 per cent last year. The balanced option showed returns of 10.7 per cent, down from 11.6 per cent last year.
The super fund said the positive returns were mainly due to strong share market returns, adding even fixed interest had a "respectable" gain during the reporting period.
Fixed interest returned about 6 per cent for the year, well ahead of cash, which stood at 2.6 per cent.
Overseas bonds outperformed Australian bonds, returning 7.8 per cent, while Australian bonds returned 6.1 per cent.
The Australian share market increased by 17.3 per cent for the year, as investors preferred companies that could pay dividends, like the big banks.
Overseas shares returned 21.1 per cent, mainly driven by the European market, with the US catching up. However, Asia was behind in the market.
Equip expects continued strong returns from the share market as the domestic cash rate remains on hold for a while longer.
Vanguard Super has reported strong returns across most of its investment options, attributed to a “low-cost, index-based approach”.
The fund has achieved double-digit returns amid market volatility, reinforcing the value of long-term investment strategies for its members.
Australian super funds notched a third consecutive year of strong returns, with the median balanced option delivering an estimated 10.1 per cent over the 2024-25 financial year, but an economist has warned that the rally may be harder to sustain as key risks gather pace.
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.