In this article you can discover the latest monthly performance for super funds over 5 investment options. We’re grateful to Chant West for providing the research for this article.
For annual and long-term super fund performance see the following SuperGuide articles:
Super fund performance over 27 financial years (to June 2019)
Super fund performance over 27 calendar years (to December 2019)
Widespread sell-offs in the share and property markets meant super funds dropped significantly in February. According to super research house Chant West the median growth fund (61-80% in growth assets) fell 3.1% in February and has dropped a further 10.5% in March to date. High volatility means this figure is fluctuating considerably every day.
In February, Australian shares fell 7.8%, unhedged international shares dropped 4.9%, Australian REITs fell 5.1% and global REITs fell 8.1%. Australian and global bonds provided some cushioning – up 0.9% and 1.2% respectively.
ChantWest senior investment research manager, Mano Mohankumar said: “The rapid spread of the virus and fears over its impact on the global economy have ravaged share markets over the past three weeks. That has fed through to the performance of super funds, though perhaps not to the extent that some people have feared.”
“Growth funds, which is where most Australians have their superannuation invested, hold diversified portfolios that are spread across a wide range of growth and defensive asset sectors. This diversification works to cushion the blow during periods of share market weakness. So while Australian and international shares are down at least 27% since the end of January, the median growth fund’s loss has been limited to about 13%.”
“This is still a material reduction in account balances, but it comes on the back of the tremendous run funds have had since the end of the GFC. From the GFC low point in early 2009 to the end of January 2020, the median growth fund averaged a staggering 9.3% per annum – well ahead of the typical long-term objective of 5.5% to 6% per annum. The current sell-off has obviously eaten into that long-term average gain, but funds are still performing well ahead of their objectives since the end of the GFC.”
The following table shows the super performance across various timeframes for five investment categories.
Super fund performance (Results to 29 February 2020)
| Fund Category (% Growth Assets) | 1 mth (%) | 3 mths (%) | FYTD (%) | 1 yr (%) | 3 yrs (% pa) | 5 yrs (% pa) | 7 yrs (% pa) | 10 yrs (% pa) | 15 yrs (% pa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Growth (96-100%) | -5.4 | -3.3 | 2.7 | 8.2 | 9.4 | 7.4 | 9.9 | 8.8 | 7.4 |
| High Growth (81-95%) | -4.0 | -2.0 | 3.4 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 7.4 | 9.6 | 8.9 | 7.4 |
| Growth (61-80%) | -3.1 | -1.3 | 3.2 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 6.7 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 6.9 |
| Balanced (41-60%) | -2.1 | -0.6 | 2.6 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 5.9 |
| Conservative (21-40%) | -1.0 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
Source: Chant West
If you’re interested in the monthly performance for super funds over 5 investment options going back to January 2016, see the SuperGuide monthly super fund performance Reckoner.
If you’re interested in the performance of lifecycle super funds (including their latest returns), see the SuperGuide article What are lifecycle super funds, and how do they perform?
Learn more about super fund performance in the following SuperGuide articles:
- What are lifecycle super funds, and how do they perform?
- Monthly super fund performance Reckoner: Monthly returns for 5 investment categories
- Super fund performance over 27 calendar years (to December 2019)
- Annual super fund performance Reckoner: Annual returns for 5 investment categories
- Super fund performance over 27 financial years (to June 2019)
- Superannuation funds: Does size really matter?
- Fund Performance: SMSFs vs APRA super funds
To learn about super investing strategies, see the following SuperGuide articles:
Related articles
March 17, 2020- January 17, 2020
- July 18, 2019
I seriously want to cry right now. I have 10 years to go before I was going to retire and my super was on track with fabulous ROI. This month I have lost over $50,000k in the last month from the stockmarket drop. One third of my super is completely wiped out.
HI Michelle
lots of working people are facing the same nightmare. I am going to retire in 4 years and my situation is worst of yours. The superannuation system IN AUSTRALIA is not safe and my question is ,why the Government encouraging all of us to put more and more in this bloody funds which are not secure ?? Doesn’t matter which way you decide to invest your money…you lose anyway. The contribution system MUST be changed like in Europe where at the end of you working life you receive the pension you deserve which will be safe until you die. The more you work the more you receive. HERE in Australia is the opposite!! PITY!!!!!