Australian Retirement Trust reports that over the 10 years to 30 June, its members earned an average annual return of 10%, a strong outcome in a volatile decade.
For the latest financial year, the fund’s high growth accumulation option returned 9.21%, reflecting its appetite for growth assets.
ART positions itself as one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, managing more than $370 billion in retirement savings.
Its high growth option ranks as the top performer in the SuperRating SR Index over the 10 years to 31 May.
Behind those numbers sits an aggressive allocation to private markets and unlisted assets.
The fund’s investment team deployed an additional $12 billion into private markets over the past year, including $3 billion directed into Australian real estate.
ART also secured a further $12 billion in capital commitments earmarked for future deployment, locking in its pipeline.
Unlisted assets are framed as a key driver of the fund’s long term outperformance and a way to smooth returns.
The strategy aims to balance growth with lower volatility across the whole portfolio.
The scale of ART’s portfolio, combined with its private markets push, positions it as a major player in both domestic and global capital markets.
Its flows into real estate and other unlisted assets are set to influence pricing and deal activity, particularly in Australia.
Other super funds are watching closely, as performance tables over a decade can shape member switching and competitive dynamics.
The tension now centres on whether this heavy unlisted exposure continues to deliver in a changing rate and valuation environment.
