On this page
- What is a Growth investment option?
- Top 10 Growth investment options (super funds): 1 year to December 2020
- Top 10 Growth investment options (super funds): 1 year returns for previous years
- Top 10 Growth investment options (super funds): 10 years to December 2020
- Top 10 Growth investment options: 10 year returns for previous years
In this article you can discover the top 10 performing Growth super 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.
Note: Investments such as shares, property, infrastructure and private equity are referred to as growth assets for their ability to produce strong returns over the long term, but they are more likely to experience volatility (and even negative returns) in shorter timeframes. Conversely, assets like cash and fixed interest are referred to as defensive assets for their ability to defend against volatility, but generally cannot produce high returns over long periods of time.
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.
Top 10 Growth investment options (super funds): 1 year to December 2020
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
Suncorp | Multi-Manager Growth | 9.6% |
Australian Ethical Super | Balanced | 8.3% |
Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 6.2% |
VicSuper | Growth (MySuper) | 6.0% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 5.9% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 5.5% |
Aware Super | Growth | 5.5% |
IOOF | MultiMix Balanced Growth | 5.2% |
Prime Super | MySuper | 5.2% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 5.1% |
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.
Super funds stood up to the plate in 2020, with the median Growth fund bouncing back from the pandemic panic of February/March to post positive a positive return of 3.7% for the year. (Median returns track the mid-point of all contenders in any one category and are good way to add context to what you’re looking at. You can see the median returns of all risk categories over a broad range of timeframes here).
As always, some funds stood out from the pack. The top performing Growth fund – Suncorp Multi-Manager Growth – posted an annual return of 9.6%, while all funds in the top 10 returned more than 5%.
Chant West senior investment manager Mano Mohankumar says: “If we take ourselves back to late March, the prospect of finishing the year up 3.7% would have been inconceivable. Back then, the world was in chaos, facing a frightening health crisis which saw most countries introduce some form of lockdown. Whole industries ground to a halt, countless jobs were lost and the global economy was heading rapidly into recession.
After falling 12% in February/March, the median Growth fund rallied to surge 15.5% over the remainder of the year. Those who switched to cash or a more conservative investment option in March would have missed some or all of the recovery.
Mohankumar said 2020 highlighted the long-term nature of super and the importance of patience and diversification.
Compare super fundsRead more...
The better performing funds over the year were generally those that had lower allocations to international shares. Holding bonds rather than cash would have helped, as would a relatively low allocation to listed infrastructure and listed property.
Top 10 Growth investment options (super funds): 1 year returns for previous years
Below you can find the top 10 performing Growth investment options over 1 year for other time periods. Click the arrow to see each the top 10 for each time period, or continue reading to discover the top 10 performing Growth investment options over 10 years.
Top 10 Growth investment options (super funds): 1 year to June 2020
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
Suncorp | Multi-Manager Growth | 3.8% |
Australian Ethical Super | Balanced | 2.8% |
BUSSQ | Balanced Growth | 2.5% |
IOOF | MultiMix Balanced Growth | 2.0% |
Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 2.0% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 1.7% |
VicSuper | Balanced | 1.6% |
First State Super | Growth | 1.3% |
Equip | MySuper | 1.3% |
Tasplan | Balanced | 1.2% |
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 (super funds): 1 year to December 2019
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
UniSuper | Balanced | 18.4% |
Tasplan | Balanced | 17.6% |
Colonial First State | FirstChoice Growth | 17.4% |
Australian Ethical Super | Balanced | 17.2% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 17.0% |
BT | Multi-Manager Balanced | 16.9% |
Aon smartMonday | Balanced Growth | 16.4% |
IOOF | MultiMix Balanced Growth | 16.2% |
LGIAsuper | Diversified Growth | 16.1% |
Legal Super | MySuper Balanced | 16.0% |
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 (super funds): 1 year to June 2019
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
QSuper | Balanced | 9.9% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 9.9% |
MediaSuper | Balanced (MySuper) | 8.8% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 8.7% |
Tasplan | Balanced | 8.6% |
Sunsuper | Balanced | 8.6% |
IOOF | Balanced Investor Trust | 8.2% |
VicSuper | Growth (MySuper) | 8.2% |
FirstState Super | Growth | 7.7% |
PSSap | MySuper Balanced | 7.7% |
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 (super funds): 1 year to December 2018
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
QSuper | Balanced | 2.8% |
HESTA | Core Pool | 2.5% |
Club Plus | MySuper/ Balanced | 2.2% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 2.2% |
NGS Super | Diversified (MySuper) | 2.1% |
Statewide Super | MySuper | 2.1% |
Sunsuper | Balanced | 1.9% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 1.9% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 1.8% |
BUSSQ | Balanced Growth | 1.7% |
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 (super funds): 1 year to June 2018
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
Hostplus | Balanced | 12.5% |
AustSafe | MySuper (Balanced) | 11.4% |
Statewide Super | MySuper | 11.3% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 11.1% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 11.0% |
Club Plus | MySuper/Balanced | 10.8% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 10.7% |
Sunsuper | Balanced | 10.7% |
HESTA | Core Pool | 10.6% |
NGS Super | Diversified (MySuper) | 10.5% |
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 (super funds): 1 year to December 2017
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 13.6% |
AustSafe | MySuper (Balanced) | 13.5% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 13.4% |
Club Plus | MySuper Balanced | 12.9% |
Intrust | Balanced | 12.8% |
Kinetic Super | Growth | 12.7% |
First State Super | Growth | 12.6% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 12.1% |
Sunsuper | Balanced | 12.0% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 12.0% |
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 (super funds): 1 year to June 2017
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
Hostplus | Balanced | 13.2% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 12.4% |
Sunsuper | Balanced | 12.3% |
First State Super | Growth | 12.3% |
Intrust | Balanced | 12.1% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 11.9% |
Kinetic Super | Growth | 11.9% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 11.8% |
Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 11.7% |
Energy 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 (super funds): 1 year to December 2016
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 10.1% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 10.1% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 9.6% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 9.4% |
Sunsuper | Balanced | 8.9% |
Energy Super | Balanced | 8.8% |
Statewide Super | MySuper | 8.7% |
HESTA | Core Pool | 8.4% |
BUSS (Q) | Balanced Growth | 8.3% |
AustralianSuper | 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 (super funds): 1 year to June 2016
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
QSuper | Balanced | 7.6% |
BUSSQ | Balanced Growth | 7.0% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 5.9% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 5.7% |
MTAA | My AutoSuper (Balanced) | 5.5% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 5.5% |
REI Super Trustee | Super Balanced | 5.4% |
Statewide Super | MySuper | 5.1% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 5.0% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 4.5% |
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 (super funds): 1 year to December 2015
Super fund | Investment option | Return |
---|---|---|
MTAA | MyAutoSuper (Balanced) | 9.5% |
BUSS (Q) | Balanced Growth | 8.6% |
Statewide Super | MySuper | 8.3% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 7.7% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 7.6% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 7.5% |
Sunsuper | Balanced | 7.3% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 7.1% |
QSuper | Balanced | 7.1% |
AustSafe | MySuper (Balanced) | 7.1% |
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 super is performing year to year (and interesting to see how other funds have performed) but, for most people, superannuation will be the longest-held investment in their lifetime, so their 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 (super funds): 10 years to December 2020
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 9.0% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 9.0% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 8.9% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 8.8% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 8.5% |
VicSuper | Growth (MySuper) | 8.4% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 8.4% |
Aware Super | Growth | 8.4% |
Prime Super | MySuper | 8.3% |
QSuper | Balanced | 8.3% |
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.
Again median figures can provide good context. In the 10-year period to December 2020, Growth investment options as a category delivered a median return of 7.8% per year.
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 (1.1% per year), the difference builds up significantly over time due to compounding. We have developed the SuperGuide Super fees and returns calculator to help readers understand the difference the fees they pay and projected returns may make over time.
For example, a 25-year-old with $5,000 in super and earning $50,000 per year, paying 0.8% in fees and achieving 9.0% per year, could potentially retire at 67 with a super balance of approximately $681,159.
All other things being equal, achieving 7.8% instead would mean a super balance of approximately $497,633 – a difference of $183,526, or approximately 27% less.
Top 10 Growth investment options: 10 year returns for previous years
Below you can find the top 10 performing Growth investment options over 10 and 15 years for other time periods. Click the arrow to see each the top 10 for each time period.
Top 10 Growth investment options (super funds): 10 years to June 2020
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 8.8% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 8.7% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 8.6% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 8.5% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 8.4% |
QSuper | Balanced | 8.4% |
VicSuper | Growth (MySuper) | 8.4% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 8.3% |
Prime Super | MySuper | 8.1% |
Vision Super | Balanced Growth | 8.1% |
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 (super funds): 10 years to December 2019
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
Hostplus | Balanced | 9.2% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 9.0% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 8.9% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 8.8% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 8.7% |
Legal Super | Growth | 8.6% |
QSuper | Balanced | 8.6% |
HESTA | Core Pool | 8.5% |
VicSuper | Growth (MySuper) | 8.4% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 8.3% |
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 (super funds): 10 years to June 2019
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 9.8% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 9.7% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 9.6% |
QSuper | Balanced | 9.5% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 9.4% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 9.3% |
VicSuper | Growth (MySuper) | 9.2% |
TelstraSuper | Balanced | 9.1% |
CFS | FirstChoice Growth | 9.1% |
Sunsuper | 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.
Top 10 Growth investment options (super funds): 15 years to December 2018
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
Hostplus | Balanced | 7.9% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 7.9% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 7.9% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 7.8% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 7.8% |
QSuper | Balanced | 7.8% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 7.7% |
BUSSQ | Balanced Growth | 7.7% |
Rest | Core | 7.7% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 7.6% |
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 (super funds): 10 years to June 2018
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
UniSuper | Balanced | 7.5% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 7.5% |
REST | Core | 7.5% |
Equip | Balanced Growth | 7.5% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 7.4% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 7.3% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 7.3% |
QSuper | Balanced | 7.2% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 7.2% |
TelstraSuper | Balanced | 7.2% |
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 (super funds): 10 years to December 2017
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
REST | Core | 6.6% |
QSuper | Balanced | 6.3% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 6.3% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 6.2% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 6.1% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 6.1% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 6.1% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 6.0% |
Sunsuper | Balanced | 5.8% |
Telstra Super | Balanced | 5.8% |
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 (super funds): 10 years to June 2017
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
REST | Core | 6.2% |
QSuper | Balanced | 6.0% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 6.0% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 5.8% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 5.8% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 5.6% |
Commonwealth Bank Group Super | Balanced | 5.6% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 5.6% |
BUSSQ | Balanced Growth | 5.5% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 5.5% |
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 (super funds): 10 years to December 2016
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
REST | Core | 6.4% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 6.3% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 6.1% |
BUSS (Q) | Balanced Growth | 6.0% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 6.0% |
QSuper | Balanced | 6.0% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 6.0% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 5.9% |
Commonwealth Bank Group Super | Balanced | 5.9% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 5.8% |
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 (super funds): 10 years to June 2016
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
REST | Core | 6.6% |
QSuper | Balanced | 6.5% |
BUSSQ | Balanced Growth | 6.4% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 6.4% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 6.3% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 6.3% |
Commonwealth Bank Group Super | Balanced | 6.3% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 6.2% |
Hostplus | Balanced | 6.1% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 6.1% |
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 (super funds): 10 years to December 2015
Super fund | Investment option | Return (% per yr) |
---|---|---|
REST | Core | 6.9% |
BUSS (Q) | Balanced Growth | 6.7% |
Telstra Super | Balanced | 6.7% |
UniSuper | Balanced | 6.6% |
CareSuper | Balanced | 6.6% |
Catholic Super | Balanced (MySuper) | 6.6% |
Commonwealth Bank Group Super | Balanced | 6.6% |
AustralianSuper | Balanced | 6.5% |
Cbus | Growth (Cbus MySuper) | 6.4% |
QSuper | Balanced | 6.4% |
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.
© 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.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply