FAQs and definitions for what we invest in

In short, the asset classes defined in the regulations differ from the way super funds normally report assets to members and to the regulators, such as APRA.

Commodities, for example, are not a reportable asset class in the PHD regulations.

We use derivatives primarily to gain or divest exposure to meet our asset allocation target in a capital-efficient way. If we take an exposure in equity futures, for example, we will offset that in the cash asset class. We're effectively representing what we'd have to do if we actually bought that exposure in physical equities. Because our positions are implemented via derivatives, they appear in the derivatives table. See the definition of 'derivatives' below.

No – the PHD regulations don’t require disclosure of performance or fees and costs at the level of individual investments. This would be difficult for us to do.

But you can find performance information for publicly traded investments like shares and bonds on the individual issuer websites and in the media.

Our fees and costs come from the internal and external costs of investment management and are disclosed by investment option only, and not at an individual asset level.

Disclosing the value of these investments individually could reveal commercially sensitive and/or confidential information, which could put members at a disadvantage when we look to sell assets on their behalf.

These investments are instead disclosed on an aggregated basis, displayed by fund manager, along with the aggregated value and weighting.

The PHD regulations don't list commodities (precious metals, for example) as an asset class. Instead, they are implemented in PHD via derivative positions.

These are investments in assets like real estate and infrastructure that are bought and sold on stock exchanges.

In the investment option pages on our website, we don't split these out from listed equities. For PHD, however, APRA requires that listed property and listed infrastructure be split out from listed equities.

Goodman Group, for example, is an Australian integrated property group listed on the ASX that owns, develops, and manages commercial and industrial real estate. In the PHD list of holdings, it appears under “listed property” rather than “listed equities”.

As an investor, we vote at the meetings of publicly listed companies whose shares we own on members’ behalf. View our proxy voting results.

You can see how we voted on various matters at company meetings both in Australia and overseas.

The same doesn't apply to our holdings in unlisted investments like real estate and infrastructure. Results of private company meetings remain private, even though we may have a seat on the board. Again, this goes to maintaining the confidential nature of these privately negotiated contractual arrangements.

See how the QSuper investment options have performed.

Learn more about our approach to sustainable investing and managing climate-related investment risks and opportunities in the investment portfolios.

No – when you invest with us, the investment options are managed by our team of investment professionals. They determine the holdings that aim to achieve the investment objectives set out in our Product disclosure statements (PDS) and Investment Guide.

For more information, see the QSuper Investment Guide (pdf) and the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS).

Derivatives are financial contracts between two or more parties that derive their value from underlying assets or a benchmark. Usually, the investor puts forward a small amount of capital to buy an interest in a much larger value of an underlying asset.

Examples of derivatives you may have heard of are futures contracts, forwards, options, and swaps.

Derivatives may be aggregated for our disclosure of portfolio holdings, or they may be displayed by type (futures, swaps), asset class (cash, fixed income), and currency.

We use derivatives primarily to gain or divest exposure to meet our asset allocation target in a capital-efficient way. If we take an exposure in equity futures, for example, we will offset that in the cash asset class. We're effectively representing what we'd have to do if we actually bought that exposure in physical equities.

If we don’t have enough actual equities exposure, for example, we could buy derivatives for the equities asset class. If we have more equities exposure than the target, knowing that the fund continues to grow, it may be more efficient to not run up transaction costs for selling these, only to then buy more again at a later date. In this case, we can use derivatives to bring the portfolio back to the target in a capital-efficient way.

Equities are commonly referred to as shares or stocks. From time to time these may include equities held as security for financing trades undertaken by the cash asset class which is distinct from the Australian and International shares asset classes. Companies issue shares to raise capital. In exchange the investor receives part ownership in the company and is entitled to a portion of the earnings, usually paid as a dividend. As the company grows, earnings are expected to grow and the value of the shareholder’s investment is also expected to rise.

International shares represent ownership in companies that are listed on stock exchanges around the world. International shares comprise both developed markets shares and emerging markets shares. Developed market shares represent ownership in companies that are listed on stock exchanges in countries whose economies are defined as mature or developed markets, e.g. Germany, Japan or United States of America. Emerging markets shares represent ownership in companies that are listed on stock exchanges in countries whose economies are defined as growing or emerging markets, e.g. China, India or South Korea.

Our portfolio holdings are the assets we invest in.

Each of our investment options is made up of a range of assets, often called holdings. Investment options will vary in their level of risk, the kinds of assets, and amounts of each, held within them.

The most common classes of assets that super funds invest in are listed equities, property, cash, fixed interest, bonds, infrastructure, commodities, and alternative investments.

The PHD aims to increase transparency of information about members’ investments in their superannuation.

It's been in development for over a decade and regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). The PHD was implemented in November 2021 through the Your Future, Your Super reform package, and how it works is set out in the Corporations Amendment (Portfolio Holdings Disclosure) Regulations 2021.

Super funds are now required to disclose their holdings twice a year, as at 31 December and 30 June, within 90 days after those dates.

Weighting means the amount, shown as a percentage, of each asset in the whole investment option.

Weightings for each investment item or asset are calculated as the value of that investment item divided by the total value of all investment items held by the investment option.