In this guide
In this article you can discover the top 10 performing Growth pension funds over 1 year and 10 years. We recommend that you also read our explanatory article Introduction to SuperGuide’s top 10 performing super fund lists which can help you understand how to compare the different risk categories that super investment options sit within.
What is a Growth investment option?
Investment options with a 61–80% allocation to growth assets are termed Growth by Chant West, a research company that has been analysing super fund performance for more than 20 years.
Growth investment options may appeal to people who want the high return opportunities of growth assets with the diversification of some defensive assets.
How does a Growth investment option behave?
In the short term, investment options in the Growth risk category may experience more volatility than a Balanced-style investment, but less volatility than a High Growth-style investment.
In the long term, a Growth-style investment option will generally grow more than a Balanced-style investment option but not as much a High Growth-style investment option.
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Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to June 2025
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Legalsuper | Balanced | 14.2% |
| Vanguard Super | Growth | 13% |
| Russell Investments Master Trust | Balanced Growth | 12.8% |
| AMP Super Fund | Future Directions Balanced | 12.7% |
| BUSSQ | Balanced Growth | 12.4% |
| NGS Super | Diversified | 12.4% |
| Hostplus | Balanced | 12.2% |
| Colonial First State FirstChoice | CFS Growth | 12.2% |
| SmartMonday | Balanced Growth | 12.1% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 12.1% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
- Pension fund rankings: All Growth category (96–100%)
- Pension fund rankings: High Growth category (81–95%)
- Pension fund rankings: Growth category (61–80%)
- Pension fund rankings: Balanced category (41–60%)
- Pension fund rankings: Conservative category (21–40%)
The median 1 year return for Growth investment options to 30 June 2025 was 11.5%.
Below you can find the top 10 performing Growth investment options over 1 year for previous time periods. Click the arrow to see the top 10 for each period, or continue reading to discover the top 10 performing Growth investment options over 10 years.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to December 2024
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| UniSuper | Growth | 16% |
| Colonial First State FirstChoice | CFS Growth | 15.1% |
| Vanguard Super | Growth | 14.5% |
| Team Super | Growth | 14.5% |
| SmartMonday | Balanced Growth | 14.3% |
| Legalsuper | Balanced | 14% |
| Colonial First State FirstChoice | CFS Balanced | 13.8% |
| Russell Investments Master Trust | Balanced Growth | 13.4% |
| AMP Super Fund | Future Directions Balanced | 13.4% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 13.3% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to June 2024
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Colonial First State FirstChoice | CFS Growth | 12% |
| Brighter Super | Balanced | 11.9% |
| Russell Investments Master Trust | Balanced Growth | 11.7% |
| Mine Superannuation Fund | Growth | 11.5% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 11% |
| Colonial First State FirstChoice | CFS Balanced | 11% |
| AMP Super Fund | Future Directions Balanced | 10.6% |
| Aware Super | Balanced | 10.5% |
| Mine Superannuation Fund | Balanced | 10.5% |
| MLC Super Fund | MLC Balanced | 10.4% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to December 2023
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Brighter Super | Optimiser Multi-Manager Growth | 14.9% |
| Mine Superannuation Fund | Growth | 12.8% |
| Russell Investments Master Trust | Balanced Growth | 12.6% |
| Aware Super | Balanced | 12.4% |
| HESTA | Balanced Growth | 12.2% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 12.1% |
| REI Super | Balanced | 12% |
| Mine Superannuation Fund | Balanced | 11.8% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 11.8% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 11.7% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to June 2023
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Brighter Super | Optimiser Multi-Manager Growth | 14.0% |
| Mine Super | Growth | 12.6% |
| HESTA | Balanced Growth | 11.8% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 11.8% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 11.7% |
| Brighter Super | Balanced | 11.3% |
| Catholic Super | Balanced Growth | 11.3% |
| Equip | Balanced Growth | 11.2% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 11.1% |
| REI Super | Balanced | 11.0% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to December 2022
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| CareSuper | Balanced | -1.1% |
| Qantas Super | Growth | -2.4% |
| Brighter Super | Balanced | -2.4% |
| Hostplus | Balanced | -2.8% |
| Australian Retirement Trust – Super Savings | Balanced | -2.8% |
| Australian Retirement Trust – QSuper | Balanced | -3.1% |
| Mercer | Select Growth | -3.4% |
| TelstraSuper | Lifestyle Balanced | -3.5% |
| HESTA | Balanced Growth | -4.2% |
| Catholic Super | Balanced Growth | -4.3% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to June 2022
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 2.1% |
| Qantas Super | Growth | 0.5% |
| Christian Super | Ethical Balanced Growth | 0.3% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (QSuper) | -0.1% |
| Rest | Diversified | -0.8% |
| CareSuper | Balanced | -1.0% |
| TelstraSuper | Lifestyle Balanced | -1.1% |
| Australian Catholic Super & Retirement | Balanced | -1.2% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (Super Savings) | -1.2% |
| Legal Super | Balanced | -1.3% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to December 2021
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 21.9% |
| PSSap | Aggressive | 18.5% |
| TelstraSuper | Lifestyle Balanced | 17.9% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Sunsuper) | 17.9% |
| MLC Super Fund | Horizon 4 | 17.1% |
| Christian Super | Ethical Balanced Growth | 16.9% |
| Mine Super | Growth | 16.7% |
| Suncorp | Multi-Manager Growth | 16.6% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 16.1% |
| Legalsuper | Balanced | 16.1% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to June 2021
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 25.5% |
| Mine Super | Growth | 24.4% |
| Colonial First State FirstChoice | Growth | 24.3% |
| PSSap | Aggressive | 24% |
| MLC Super Fund | Horizon 4 | 23.3% |
| Sunsuper | Balanced | 22.9% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 22.3% |
| TelstraSuper | Balanced | 22.1% |
| Suncorp | Multi-Manager Growth | 21.4% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to December 2020
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Suncorp | Multi-Manager Growth | 10.6% |
| Australian Ethical | Balanced | 7.9% |
| CSCri | Aggressive | 7.4% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 7.2% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 6.5% |
| VicSuper | Growth | 6.1% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 6.0% |
| Super SA | Balanced | 5.9% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 5.9% |
| Aware Super | Growth | 5.7% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 1 year to June 2020
| Super fund | Investment option | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Suncorp | Multi-Manager Growth | 4.0% |
| Australian Ethical | Balanced | 3.6% |
| CSCri | Aggressive | 2.5% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 2.2% |
| BUSSQ | Balanced Growth | 2.1% |
| First State Super | Growth | 1.5% |
| Catholic Super | Balanced | 1.2% |
| Cbus | Growth | 1.1% |
| VicSuper | Growth | 1.1% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 1.1% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Playing the long game
It’s important to keep an eye on how your pension is performing for you year to year (and interesting to see how other funds have performed), but for most people, superannuation will be the longest-held investment we ever have, and our lens on super should reflect that.
Longer-term figures are more significant because they incorporate the ups and downs over that entire period, and allow us to see which investment managers can consistently deliver superior performance, regardless of changing external conditions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to June 2025
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 9.3% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 9% |
| Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan | Aggressive | 8.9% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 8.7% |
| Cbus Super | Growth | 8.7% |
| Australian Ethical Super | Balanced (pension) | 8.6% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 8.5% |
| Legalsuper | Balanced | 8.4% |
| HESTA | Balanced Growth | 8.4% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 8.4% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Again median figures can provide good context. In the ten-year period to December 2024, Growth investment options as a category delivered a median return of 7.9%.
A small difference in performance makes a big difference over time
Although the difference between the top performer and the median may not seem that significant (1.4% per year), the difference builds up significantly over time due to compounding.
For example, for a 67-year-old with $500,000 in super achieving 9.3% per year, their super balance would grow to approximately $738,367 by age 75 (assuming 0.8% in fees and not withdrawing any super).
All other things being equal, achieving 7.9% instead would mean a super balance of approximately $658,428 – approximately 11% less.
But don’t forget sequencing risk
When you are nearing or in retirement it is important to allow for sequencing risk, particularly if you need to draw down a significant part of your super balance.
Below you can find the top 10 performing Growth investment options over 10 years for previous time periods. Click the arrow to see the top 10 for each period.
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Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to December 2024
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 9.3% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 9.2% |
| Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan | CSCri Aggressive | 9.1% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 8.9% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 8.8% |
| Cbus Super | Growth | 8.8% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 8.6% |
| HESTA | Balanced Growth | 8.3% |
| Legalsuper | Balanced | 8.2% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to June 2024
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan | CSCri Aggressive | 9.6% |
| Hostplus | Balanced | 9.3% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 8.9% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 8.8% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 8.8% |
| Cbus Super | Growth | 8.7% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 8.4% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 8.4% |
| CareSuper | Balanced | 8.2% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to December 2023
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan | CSCri Aggressive | 9.4% |
| Hostplus | Balanced | 9.2% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 8.8% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 8.7% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 8.6% |
| Cbus Super | Growth | 8.5% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 8.3% |
| Spirit Super | Balanced | 8.2% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 8.2% |
| Care Super | Balanced | 8% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to June 2023
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| CSCri | Aggressive | 10.0% |
| Hostplus | Balanced | 10.0% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 9.5% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 9.4% |
| Cbus | Growth | 9.3% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Super Savings) | 9.3% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 9.0% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 8.9% |
| Spirit Super | Balanced | 8.8% |
| CareSuper | Balanced | 8.7% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to December 2022
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 10.1% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 9.6% |
| Cbus | Growth | 9.4% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 9.4% |
| Australian Retirement Trust – Super Savings | Balanced | 9.3% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 9.1% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 9.0% |
| CareSuper | Balanced | 9.0% |
| TelstraSuper | Lifestyle Balanced | 8.9% |
| Legal Super | Balanced | 8.8% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to June 2022
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 10.9% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 10.3% |
| Cbus | Growth | 10.0% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 9.9% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (Super Savings) | 9.8% |
| Rest | Diversified | 9.6% |
| TelstraSuper | Lifestyle Balanced | 9.6% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 9.6% |
| CareSuper | Balanced | 9.5% |
| Legal Super | Balanced | 9.4% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to December 2021
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 11.9% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 11.9% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 11.7% |
| Cbus Super | Growth | 11.5% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 11.2% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | Balanced (ART – Sunsuper) | 11.2% |
| Aware Super | Growth (VicSuper) | 11.1% |
| TelstraSuper | Lifestyle Balanced | 10.9% |
| Aware Super | Growth | 10.8% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 10.8% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to June 2021
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 10.8% |
| Hostplus | Balanced | 10.8% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 10.7% |
| Cbus | Growth | 10.7% |
| Catholic Super | Mod Aggressive | 10.5% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 10.3% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 10.1% |
| VISSF | Balanced | 10.0% |
| Sunsuper | Balanced | 10.0% |
| CareSuper | Balanced | 9.9% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to December 2020
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| UniSuper | Balanced | 10.1% |
| Cbus | Growth | 10.0% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 9.9% |
| Hostplus | Balanced | 9.7% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 9.6% |
| Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 9.4% |
| VicSuper | Growth | 9.3% |
| Aware Super | Growth | 9.3% |
| CareSuper | Balanced | 9.3% |
| QSuper | Balanced | 9.3% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
Top 10 Growth investment options (pension funds): 10 years to June 2020
| Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
|---|---|---|
| UniSuper | Balanced | 9.8% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 9.7% |
| Cbus | Growth | 9.6% |
| Hostplus | Balanced | 9.4% |
| Prime Super | Balanced | 9.4% |
| QSuper | Balanced | 9.3% |
| VicSuper | Growth | 9.3% |
| CareSuper | Balanced | 9.2% |
| First State Super | Growth | 9.1% |
| VISSF | Balanced | 9.1% |
Source: Chant West. The top 10 is limited to Growth options with assets of $1 billion or more. Performance is shown net of investment fees and tax, and before administration and adviser commissions.
© Zenith CW Pty Ltd ABN 20 639 121 403 (Chant West), Authorised Representative of Zenith Investment Partners Pty Ltd ABN 27 103 132 672, AFSL 226872 under AFS Representative Number 1280401 2020.
The data provided by Chant West is based on information supplied by third parties and does not contain all the information required to evaluate the nominated service providers, you are responsible for obtaining further information as required. The data provided by Chant West does not constitute financial product advice. However, to the extent that this data is advice it is General Advice (s766B Corporations Act) and Chant West has not taken into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific person who may access or use this data. It is not a specific recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any product(s) and is subject to change at any time without prior notice. Individuals should consider the appropriateness of any advice in light of their own objectives, financial situations or needs and should obtain a copy of and consider any relevant PDS or offer document before making any decision. Data is provided in good faith and is believed to be accurate, however, no representation, warranty or undertaking in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the data is provided. Data provided is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced, modified or distributed without the consent of the copyright owner. Except for any liability which can not be excluded, Chant West does not accept any liability whether direct or indirect, arising from use of this data. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Full details regarding Chant West’s research methodology, processes, ratings definitions are available at www.chantwest.com.au and Chant West’s Financial Services Guide is available at www.chantwest.com.au/financial-services-guide.
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