- The median balanced option returned 9.1% for the year to 30 June 2026 (SuperRatings SR50 Balanced Index, released 9 July 2026).
- Of the 14 funds SuperFind covers, 9 have published their default-option result; 5 are expected by late July.
- Hostplus Balanced (10.8%) leads the published results, followed by UniSuper Balanced (10.4%).
- Growth assets did the work: international shares — particularly AI-exposed listed equities — plus private markets drove returns despite periods of market volatility during the year.
Published FY2025-26 default-option returns
The table below shows the return each fund has reported for its MySuper default option for the 2025-26 financial year (12 months to 30 June 2026). Figures are net of investment fees and taxes, before administration fees — the standard MySuper reporting basis.
| Fund | Default option | FY2025-26 return |
|---|---|---|
| Hostplus | Balanced | 10.8% |
| UniSuper | Balanced | 10.4% |
| Rest | Growth | 9.81% |
| AustralianSuper | Balanced | 9.77% |
| Brighter Super | MySuper | 9.56% |
| HESTA | Balanced Growth | 9.46% |
| Cbus | Growth (MySuper) | 9.25% |
| Australian Retirement Trust | High Growth (lifecycle default)* | 9.21% |
| Aware Super | High Growth (lifecycle default)* | 8.54% |
*ART and Aware Super run lifecycle MySuper defaults: younger members sit in the High Growth pool (to age 50 at ART; under 55 at Aware), so the High Growth figure is the one most default members actually received. Lifecycle and single-strategy options carry different risk levels, so a direct ranking against Balanced options isn't strictly like-for-like. ART's Balanced choice pool returned 7.9%.
Still to report
Five SuperFind-covered funds had not published their FY2025-26 default-option result as of 17 July 2026: CareSuper, Equip Super, legalsuper, First Super, and Vision Super. Smaller funds typically publish once their unlisted-asset valuations are finalised, usually by late July. This page will be updated as results land, and SuperFind's year-by-year returns tables on each review page will be extended to FY2025-26 once all 14 funds have published.
What drove the year
FY2025-26 was the fourth consecutive positive financial year for balanced super options. SuperRatings' full-year release (9 July 2026) put the median balanced option at 9.1%, with the median growth option at 10.6% and capital-stable options at 5.9%. Funds credited international listed equities — particularly companies benefiting from artificial-intelligence investment — along with private equity and private credit, for carrying returns through a year that included periods of genuine market volatility.
Pension (retirement-phase) options generally did better than accumulation options because their earnings are untaxed: the median balanced pension option returned 10.2%, and Hostplus reported 11.80% for its pension Balanced option.
What it means for you
One good year — or one soft year — tells you very little about a fund. The gap between the best and worst published default option this year (10.8% vs 8.54%) partly reflects risk-profile differences rather than skill. What matters is the pattern over 10+ years, net of fees, which is exactly what our best super funds guide ranks and what the year-by-year tables on each fund review show. If your fund consistently trails the median over long periods, that is a reason to investigate — start with our fund comparison pages or the interactive comparison tool.
Related
- Best Super Funds Australia 2026 — ranked by return & fees
- The APRA performance test, explained
- SuperFind Statistics — first-party dataset on the 14-fund industry-fund market
- Compare any two funds side-by-side
Independent superannuation research · about the editor ✓ Fact-checked · updated July 2026
Source: APRA & ATO data