Rest delivers strong returns for FY26, with positive contributions in all asset classes

Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, has delivered strong absolute returns in its flagship MySuper Growth investment option for the 2025/26 financial year, with all asset classes producing positive contributions.

Rest’s default Growth option returned 9.81% over the 12 months to 30 June 2026 – the fourth consecutive financial year of positive returns. This result was driven by the strong performance of international share markets, as well as Rest’s private equity and infrastructure portfolios.

Importantly, this latest result exceeds the MySuper Growth option’s annualised return of 7.60% pa over the 10-year period to 30 June 2026 and 8.37% pa since the option began on 1 July 1988, providing a positive contribution to the option’s long-term track record.

The Growth option is also continuing to exceed its investment objective of CPI+3% over rolling 10-year periods.

Rest’s High Growth and Overseas Shares – Indexed options also recorded strong returns, delivering double digit returns of 11.76% and 13.63% respectively for the financial year.

Chief Investment Officer, Michael Clancy, says the results reflect Rest’s investment approach, which aims to help members grow their retirement savings over the long term while managing risk across a variety of market conditions.

"I’m pleased we’ve continued to deliver such strong investment returns over the past 12 months for Rest’s more than 2 million members. The Growth option’s return of 9.81% means a Rest member with $50,000 in their super account would have added around $4,900 in investment earnings to their balance over the year," says Mr Clancy.

“Rest’s overseas shares portfolio was a key driver of positive absolute returns. In recent years international share markets, particularly the US, have delivered strong returns despite ongoing geopolitical and policy uncertainty, and high inflation. They have shown remarkable resilience and have now provided four consecutive financial years of double-digit returns.

"Our private equity portfolio was also a particularly strong contributor. Rest’s private equity program, which is now five years old, reached a key milestone this financial year with its first co-investment exit, being With Intelligence, delivering a significant positive return on investment.

"Our infrastructure portfolio also delivered a standout benchmark relative return, driven in large part by Blackstone acquiring a significant minority stake in Rowan Digital Infrastructure, in which Rest has an interest via Quinbrook. This is a strong example of the return opportunity in the global decarbonisation and digitalisation themes.

"Of course, while strong short-term returns are welcomed, our ultimate focus remains on long-term member outcomes.

"On average Rest has a young membership who have a long investment time horizon to retirement. This allows us to confidently allocate to growth assets and unlisted investments, which enables members to benefit from the powerful effect of compounding returns over decades."

Mr Clancy is not anticipating market volatility will ease in the short term, with inflation remaining high in many countries, including Australia.

"Markets are being buffeted by short-term cyclical changes, such as oil price movements and interest rate cycles, and long-term structural changes, such as geopolitical forces and step-change AI productivity opportunities and disruptions," Mr Clancy says.

"The evolving geopolitical landscape and the rise of AI are also increasing the urgency around the energy transition. The supply shocks we’ve experienced in recent years are pushing countries to secure their own energy supply, while AI and data centres are placing increasing demands on existing power systems.

"Nearly all roads lead to increasing energy supply – preferably cleaner energy – and improving the resilience of energy infrastructure.

"We are positioning our portfolio to take advantage of both sides of this environment – that is managing the risks and investing in the opportunities. With ongoing uncertainty, diversification and a focus on attractively priced assets are key.

"The long term megatrends we believe will shape society, economies and financial markets over the coming decades – decarbonisation, deglobalisation, demographics, digitalisation, and debt and central bank policy – will continue to inform our investment decisions."