Eight out of the superannuation funds with the largest percentage of five Crown-rated funds are industry super funds, according to FE fundinfo data.
In the latest rebalance of the FE fundinfo Crown Fund Ratings, Australian Super stood out on top with 63.6% of its investment options given a five Crown rating.
The ratings are a quantitative rating determined using FE fundinfo’s performance scorecard process which analyses a fund’s performance over the last three years and favours consistency.
The score is made up of three components – alpha, relative volatility, and a consistently good performance.
Following Australian Super was First State Super and QSuper (both at 50%), NGS Super (46.2%), Sunsuper (45%), Australian Ethical (42.5%), CARE Super (41.7%), Statewide Super (33.3%), Telstra Super (30%), and rounding out the top 10 was VicSuper (28.6%).
Seven out of the 10 Australian Super funds received a five Crown rating, with all of these funds retained the five Crown rating from the last rebalance in September, 2019. Its lowest rated fund was its International Shares Option with a one Crown rating.
Since the previous rebalance, Australian Super has jumped seven places (50% in September) to number one. The previous fund group with the largest percentage of five Crown funds was NGS Super at 75%, now sits at fourth with 46.2%.
Super fund groups with at least one five Crown-rated fund
Group name |
Percentage of five Crown funds |
Australian Super |
63.6% |
First State Super |
50% |
QSuper |
50% |
NGS Super |
46.2% |
Sunsuper |
45% |
Australian Ethical Investment Ltd |
42.9% |
CARE Super Pty Ltd |
41.7% |
Statewide Super |
33.3% |
Telstra Super Pty Ltd |
30% |
VicSuper |
28.6% |
Commonwealth Custodial Ser Ltd |
25% |
HESTA |
25% |
EISS Super |
20% |
Suncorp Life and Superannuation |
18.9% |
Russell Investment Management |
18.2% |
Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited |
16.7% |
REST Industry Super |
13.3% |
AMP Capital |
12.4% |
Australian Catholic Superannuation |
11.8% |
ANZ Managed Investments |
10% |
BUSSQ Building Super |
10% |
Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
9.2% |
OnePath Life |
8.8% |
OnePath Custodians |
8.2% |
Macquarie Investment Management |
8.1% |
SmartMonday |
7.7% |
Perpetual Investment Management |
6.9% |
AMP Life |
6.7% |
OnePath Funds Management |
6.3% |
Colonial First State |
5.8% |
MLC Investments Limited |
5.7% |
Zurich Financial Services |
4.3% |
ClearView |
3.2% |
BT Financial Group |
2.4% |
Looking at the performance of balanced funds from the top 10 groups with the most five Crowns, Australian Super also took the top spot with a return of 37% over the three years to 29 February, 2020.
Within the group, the poorest performing fund was First State’s balanced fund at 24.43%.
Performance of top 10 fund groups’ with the most five Crowns balanced option v sector over the three years to 29 February 2020
The profit-to-member super funds are officially operating as a merged entity, set to serve over half a million members.
Super Review announced 21 winners at the annual Super Fund of the Year Awards, including the recipient of the prestigious Fund of the Year Award.
A research firm has given UniSuper a glowing review, praising its strong leadership and “compact team”, as well as its “creditable governance” structure.
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has defended the government’s plan to modestly cut tax concessions for Australia’s wealthiest superannuation accounts, saying it is a “fairer outcome”.