It’s interesting to look at the types of investments that other Australian investors own. It could be very informative to see what the most widely held ASX shares are in self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).

SMSF investors have more flexibility than other superannuation investors about where to put their money. ASX shares have the biggest allocation, followed by owned property, cash and term deposits, managed funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), unlisted trusts, ‘other’, international shares and finally debt securities.

Let’s see which ASX shares are the most popular within SMSF portfolios.

The most popular ASX shares

SMSF cloud accounting software provider Class recently released its 2026 annual benchmark report, which gave a lot of insights into the SMSF landscape. Class is owned by Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB).

At 30 June 2026, there were 12 ASX shares that were held in at least 20% of SMSF portfolios:

• BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) – 46.6% of all SMSF portfolios
• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) – 37.2%
• National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) – 34.4%
• Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) – 34.1%
• ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) – 34.1%
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) – 31.9%
• CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) – 31.4%
• Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) – 31.4%
• Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) – 29.4%
• Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) – 29.5%
• Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) – 24.1%
• Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) – 21.8%

It makes sense that these ASX shares have been chosen by SMSF investors. Almost all of them have a solid dividend yield. Passive income may be exactly what investors in retirement are looking for.

I think it’s interesting that BHP and Woodside appear in the most portfolios. But it’s also intriguing that NAB, Westpac and ANZ all feature in more portfolios than CBA. Commonwealth Bank also has the lowest dividend yield of the big four banks.

However, while they are in more portfolios, things look different when looking at which ASX shares have the most overall SMSF dollars invested in them.

According to Class data, order of most dollars allocated to ASX shares (with a weighting of more than 2%):

• CBA – 5.9%
• BHP – 5.5%
• Westpac – 3.6%
• NAB – 3.4%
• ANZ – 3.2%
• Wesfarmers – 3.2%
• Macquarie – 3.1%
• Telstra – 2%

ASX bank shares still have a very large place in SMSF portfolios, though BHP has significant SMSF dollars invested in it too.

What about exchange-traded funds (ETFs)?

ETFs are becoming increasingly popular investors as a way to gain exposure to certain sectors or geographies for a low cost.

According to the Class SMSF benchmark report, 35.5% of SMSFs now own at least one ETF, though they only account for a 7.2% allocation of overall SMSF dollars.

The ASX ETFs that are the most widely held include:

• Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)
• iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)
• VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)
• Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)
• Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF (ASX: VEU)
• Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

If SMSF investors use a mix of investments, they can build an ASX share portfolio that delivers strong returns and diversification.

The post Here are the most popular ASX share superannuation investments in SMSFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Can CSL shares hit $200? 3 things that need to go right
• ANZ shares have climbed 13% in a year. Is there still room to run?
• Bought $5,000 worth of New Hope and BHP shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve already earned!
• Is NAB one of the best ASX dividend shares to buy?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in VanEck Msci International Quality ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, CSL, Hub24, Macquarie Group, Vanguard International Equity Index Funds – Vanguard Ftse All-World ex-US ETF, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, Hub24, Macquarie Group, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Having a good handle on how much in superannuation savings you need to generate the sort of income you want to fund your retirement is a good strategy.

The sooner you start planning, the sooner you can reap the benefits of compound interest.

Today I’m looking at how much you’d need to have saved to generate $1,000 a week, or $52,000 a year, in income.

This level is slightly below the level of income the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) says is necessary for a comfortable retirement.

How much do you need for a comfortable retirement?

ASFA has pegged this at $56,166 for singles or $78,998 for couples, but keep in mind they assume the retiree owns their home and draws a part pension.

This so-called comfortable retirement would include the ability to hold top-level private health cover, own and maintain a reasonable car, and travel occasionally.

How much would you need in retirement to generate $1,000 per week?

If you are earning 5% on your superannuation savings, you would need $1.04 million. That drops to $520,000 if you earn 10%.

I would argue that, with the benefit of franking credits, a retiree could comfortably aim for a dividend stream returning about 7.5%. This would mean you would need about $693,333 in superannuation to generate $1,000 per week in income.

Franking credits pay back the tax a company has already paid to the shareholder – 30% in the case of fully franked dividends.

Given retirees don’t pay tax, they receive this amount back in cash.

This means a 5% fully franked dividend becomes a “grossed-up” 7.14% dividend yield for retirees.

Which shares have strong dividend yields?

Plenty of companies deliver solid dividend yields.

In the property sector, Arena REIT (ASX: ARF) is currently paying 9.03%, Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF) is paying 11.7%, and Cromwell Property Group (ASX: CMW) is paying 8.57%.

In the financial services sector, Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL) is paying 12%, Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) 6.01%, and Prime Financial Group Ltd (ASX: PFG) 8.6%.

Toll roads operator Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX) recently reiterated its dividend payout and is currently delivering a yield of 8.98%.

What if your superannuation is falling short?

If your superannuation could use a top-up, it’s worth exploring concessional contributions.

Up to a cap of $32,500, which includes your employer’s superannuation contributions, you can make extra contributions into your retirement savings at a tax rate of 15%.

The post How much superannuation do I need to earn $1,000 per week in passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• 4 ASX shares that pay a dividend yield of 8% (or more)
• Ord Minnett tips this ASX financials stock to double within the next 12 months 

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Prime Financial Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Xero vs Life360 shares: Which ASX tech stock has more upside?

If you’re looking at ASX technology shares, chances are both Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) are on your radar. They’re standout names in Australian tech, but both have hit rough patches lately. So, which has the stronger investment case and might offer more upside from here? Let’s take a closer look at Xero vs Life360 shares.

The case for Xero

Xero is a New Zealand-born technology company, now with a global reach, that provides cloud-based accounting software to small and medium businesses. Its product helps businesses manage financials, payroll, invoicing, and compliance, all via an easy-to-use, subscription-based platform.

A few key things jump out from Xero’s current numbers:

• A sizeable market cap of $10.25 billion, which signals strong market presence and brand trust.
• The P/E ratio sits at 49.87, suggesting that the company may be priced with future growth in mind, although such a high multiple could also mean the market is demanding a lot out of it.
• Xero is not currently paying a dividend (dividend yield 0.00%), instead, the company seems to be retaining capital, likely to focus on reinvestment and growth.
• Year to date, its return is -44.9%, which certainly isn’t pretty for anyone who bought in the past twelve months.

It’s also worth noting that Xero’s most recent earnings per share is reported as -0.158, which is negative. That calls out some near-term profit challenges, worth keeping in mind.

According to its most recent public description, Xero is considered a leader in cloud accounting for small and medium-sized businesses and works off a recurring revenue, subscription-based model.

The case for Life360

Life360 is a US-based software company best-known for its popular family safety app. This app allows families and friend groups to share their locations, connect, and access helpful safety features like driver monitoring, medical and roadside assistance, and theft alerts. It’s widely used by families worldwide and, per its company profile, boasts more than 104 million monthly active users globally.

Several fundamentals stand out for Life360 right now:

• Market cap is $4.56 billion—substantial, but less than half that of Xero, so this is a more mid-cap opportunity.
• Life360’s P/E ratio is 23.51, meaning investors are paying roughly half as much per dollar of earnings compared to Xero. That’s appealing if you’re looking for value in the tech sector.
• The company has positive earnings per share of 0.573—a big contrast with Xero’s negative result—implying improved profitability.
• Like Xero, Life360 pays no dividend.
• Year to date, its share price is down 43.3%, only a hair less painful than Xero.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how some core valuation numbers stack up:

	Xero	Life360
Market Cap	$10.25 billion	$4.56 billion
P/E Ratio	49.87	23.51
Earnings per Share	-0.158	0.573
Dividend Yield	0.00%	0.00%
YTD Return	-44.9%	-43.3%

Note: Xero’s reported P/E ratio is positive despite a negative EPS. This likely means the P/E is calculated on a different earnings measure (such as underlying or forward earnings) rather than the reported statutory EPS, which is why the two figures may not neatly align.

Neither company pays a dividend, so dividend hunters may want to look elsewhere for income. Life360 looks notably cheaper on a P/E basis and is actually reporting positive earnings per share, whereas Xero is not.

Recent share price performance

Both companies have had a rough ride lately. Comparing 24 Aug – 21 Sep 2026:

• Xero shares fell from $86.73 on 24 August to $60.08 on 21 September 2026, a sharp drop over this period, in line with its -44.9% year to date return.
• Life360 shares dipped from $20.78 on 24 August to $18.68 on 21 September 2026, which works out as a slide of about 10% for the month, and mirrors its -43.3% YTD return figure.

Both have lost a lot of ground lately, with neither showing clear momentum over the past month per the numbers supplied.

Which is the better buy?

Both Xero and Life360 are quality businesses shaking up their respective fields, but neither is in market favour right now, judging by their steep share price declines this year. If I’m picking based on the fundamentals provided, I’d lean toward Life360 at this moment. While it’s smaller, Life360 boasts positive earnings per share and trades at a P/E ratio less than half Xero’s. That could suggest a more appealing balance between growth potential and value, especially with Life360 expanding into new revenue streams like advertising.

Xero’s negative EPS and much higher valuation multiple are red flags for me, especially when the company is also coming off a big share price fall. That’s not to say Xero couldn’t bounce back—its subscription model and global reach are real strengths—but on the raw numbers in front of me, Life360 looks the nimbler, less expensive, and more profitable tech play of the two.

Neither stock pays a dividend, so near-term income isn’t on the cards from either name. Ultimately, with Life360 priced lower, earning positive profits, and exploring new business avenues, my pick would be Life360 for greater potential right now.

The post Xero vs Life360: Which ASX tech share has more upside? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Down 5% today to a 7-year low: What is going on with Xero shares?
• Should I invest $5,000 into WiseTech and Xero shares?
• How to build a $50,000 passive income from ASX shares
• Do these ASX technology shares have too much upside to ignore?
• Xero shares crash to a 7-year low after a brutal sell-off

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.