When it comes to your superannuation, it’s important to keep on track of how much you should have stashed away.

How else will you know if you have enough money to retire when the time comes?

Age 50 and age 60 are important milestones. 

Age 50 marks the final 10-15 years before quitting work. At this point, Australians are usually earning around their peak income, and compound growth is in full force.

At 60, you can access your superannuation if you meet the conditions of release.

These two milestones are important because they mark the lifestyle shift between actively building your wealth, to when you can start drawing down on it.

So, how does your super balance compare to other Aussies the same age?

Let’s take a look.

What is the average superannuation balance of Australian men and women aged 50 in Australia?

There aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 50, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides a handy guide.

The average 50-54 year old male in Australia has around $254,071 in their superannuation. 

But age 50 is right at the bottom of that age bracket. So it can help to look at the one below, too.

The average balance for men aged 45-49 is $193,501.

Meanwhile, women aged 50-54 have an average of $190,175 in superannuation. Those aged 45-49 have less, at around $147.146.

What is the average superannuation balance for 60-year-old men and women?

Again, there aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 60, but ASFA has some ranges to keep in mind.

The data shows that the average Australian male aged 60 to 64 has around $395,852 in their superannuation.

Looking at the bracket below, ASFA’s data shows that the average superannuation balance for Australian men aged 55-59 is $319,743.

Once again, women the same age have less.

The average balance for Australian women aged 60 to 64 is around $313,360. That’s a huge gap of around $83,000 compared to men the same age.

For the age bracket below, the gap is a little lower. Women aged 55-59 have around $242,945 saved in their superannuation for retirement.

How does your super balance compare with that of men or women your age?

Is it possible to retire comfortably off these average balances?

Unfortunately not.

ASFA calculates that a comfortable retirement will cost single Australians $56,166 per year and couples closer to $78,998 per year.

To fund that, individuals need at least $630,000 saved in their super, and couples need at least $730,000 combined.

These figures also assume you’ll start your retirement at age 67. It also assumes that you’ll receive a part Age Pension around this time and that you own your home outright.

That’s significantly less than the average balances of Australians across all the age brackets mentioned above. 

To reach these figures, all individuals need a superannuation balance of $254,500 at age 50. This increases to $457,500 by the time you reach age 60.

The post The average superannuation balance at ages 50 and 60. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

PLS vs BHP shares: Which ASX 200 mining stock is the better buy?

When you think Australian mining, two names jump to mind: PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). Both find themselves among the ASX 200’s go-to stocks for anyone keen on Aussie resources exposure, whether it’s booming lithium demand or diversified mining muscle. But with different focuses—PLS charging hard on the lithium front and BHP spanning iron ore, copper, and more—the comparison isn’t apples for apples. If you’re torn between PLS and BHP shares, let’s break down the case for each and see which one might be the better buy right now.

The case for PLS

PLS Group, previously known as Pilbara Minerals, has carved out a spot at the centre of the global lithium story. Its flagship project, the Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project in Western Australia, is among the world’s largest hard-rock lithium-tantalum deposits. The company also expanded overseas, adding the Colina lithium project in Brazil via an acquisition in 2025. PLS moved from exploration to production remarkably fast and keeps building its international sales channels as electric vehicle demand surges.

From the fundamentals, a few points stand out:

• Market cap: $11.77 billion—a sizeable player in its space but dwarfed by BHP’s heft.
• P/E ratio: 23.92, suggesting investors are paying up for the growth and excitement around lithium, even as the broader market cools on battery metals this year.
• Dividend yield: 1.3% (fully franked), offering returns, but modest compared to mature resource companies.

EPS sits at $0.161, with a dividend per share of $0.05, and 100% franking for Australian investors. Year to date, its shares are down 7.4%, showing how exposed PLS remains to commodity cycles and market sentiment.

The case for BHP

BHP Group is mining royalty—one of the world’s largest diversified mining giants with a vast portfolio that includes iron ore, copper, coal, and nickel. Since unifying its corporate structure in 2022, BHP’s focus has stayed on stable cash flows from its gigantic operations spanning Australia and overseas. With one of the deepest track records on the ASX, BHP is often viewed as a defensive core holding for income and scale.

Notable fundamentals include:

• Market cap: $306.37 billion—massively larger than PLS, reflecting global reach, asset variety, and institutional confidence.
• P/E ratio: 22.09, actually a touch lower than PLS’s (despite the size difference), highlighting steady profits and mature business appeal.
• Dividend yield: 3.98% (fully franked), making BHP an income hunter’s favourite among resource stocks.

EPS sits at $1.932, with dividends per share at $2.42, a hefty payout. Year to date, BHP shares have soared 39.0%, outstripping many on the ASX and dwarfing PLS’s recent performance.

Valuation comparison

Comparing key valuation metrics side by side:

	PLS	BHP
Market Cap	$11.77 billion	$306.37 billion
P/E Ratio	23.92	22.09
Dividend Yield	1.30% (100% franked)	3.98% (100% franked)
EPS	$0.161	$1.932
Dividend per share	$0.05	$2.42

Both companies’ earnings are fully franked—a plus for Australian dividend seekers. Interestingly, PLS’s P/E multiple is a touch above BHP’s, which might look surprising given BHP’s mature, stable cash flows. However, that premium suggests the market is betting on stronger growth for PLS versus more “steady as she goes” from BHP.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 1 October 2026:

• PLS Group Ltd closed at $3.65, having dropped 5.4% on the day. Year to date, PLS is down 7.4%.
• BHP Group Ltd closed at $60.26, declining 0.9% on the day, but its year to date gain is an impressive 39.0%.

Both stocks have seen volatility, but BHP’s share price has gained serious momentum in 2026, while PLS has had a tougher year.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to pick one ASX 200 mining stock right now, my vote would go to BHP. The numbers just stack up better at the moment—BHP offers a much higher, fully franked dividend yield (3.98% versus 1.3%), which is a big plus with interest rates still high and investors returning to income stocks. BHP’s year to date share price run (+39.0%) also tells me the market is rewarding its scale and steady cash generation, especially compared to PLS Group’s negative year to date return.

PLS is exciting, no doubt, and will ride every updraft in lithium demand—the P/E premium reflects that optimism. But for income, stability, and sheer momentum, I think BHP is the clearer buy in this head-to-head. If I were seeking higher risk and growth, I might take a deeper look at PLS. But today, BHP’s fundamentals, dividend payout, and recent performance make it my pick of these two ASX mining heavyweights.

The post PLS vs BHP: Which ASX 200 mining stock looks better today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. 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.

ASX bank stocks have been in the spotlight over the past month as rising inflation, higher interest rates, and a cooling property market raise concerns about how the banks could perform over the long run.

The experts are pretty reserved about the outlook for the big four major banks, and most mid-tier ones too. Most are expected to fall lower over the next 12 months as macroeconomic pressures increase.

But there is one ASX bank stock with a very rosy outlook ahead.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) works differently to its peers. Unlike many other banks in the sector, Judo Bank was built to provide financial services and lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These SMEs have annual turnovers of up to $100 million.

The bank was founded in 2016 and received its banking license in 2019. That means it’s relatively new in comparison to the majors. It was listed on the ASX in 2021.

The bank provides business lending starting at $250,000 and touts itself as providing more flexibility than major banks. It also offers personal term deposit products and home loans.

What’s the latest out of Judo Bank shares?

At the time of writing, the ASX bank stock is trading at 90 cents a piece. That’s around 50% lower for the year to date and 49% lower than this time last year.

The shares suffered a crash of around 40% within one day of trading in late June. This happened after the bank downgraded its profit guidance for FY26. The move left investors questioning the bank’s near-term outlook.

But the final result in August seemed to be a little better than expected. Judo Bank announced strong gains across the board. NPAT increased 29% to $111.1 million, and profit before tax increased 34% to $168.1 million. This was at the top end of Judo’s revised guidance range.

Investors rushed to the stock, and the share spiked by around 16% following the announcement. But then a slump in overall sentiment for bank shares and profit-taking investors has seen those gains reversed over the past seven weeks.

What do brokers tip next for the ASX bank stock?

It looks like the sell-off was way overdone, and the shares are now trading well below fair value.

Brokers are very bullish on the outlook for Judo Bank shares, with the majority holding a strong buy rating, according to Market Index data. The average $1.38 target price currently implies around a 52% potential upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows something similar. Again, the majority (12 out of 14) have a buy/strong buy rating. The $1.485 average target price implies an upside of around 64%, at the time of writing.

But some think the shares could jump another 86% to $1.68 each over the next 12 months.

Morgans has a buy rating and $1.42 target price on the bank shares.

The broker said Judo’s results were towards the top end of the revised guidance range, and FY27 guidance was reaffirmed, offering strong earnings growth. But it thinks that by the end of this decade, Judo Bank shares could be worth close to $2 per share. 

The bank is higher risk and more cyclically exposed than the major banks, but investors are compensated by higher potential returns at current prices. 

Elsewhere, the team at Macquarie said the question is whether the bank can strike the right balance between margins, growth, and credit quality to achieve returns at scale. Macquarie has a price target of $1.65 on Judo shares.

So, if I invest $5,000 into Judo Bank shares today, what could it be worth by this time next year?

Assuming Judo Bank shares reach the average forecast target price of $1.38 to $1.48 within the next 12 months, a $5,000 investment today could be worth $7,600 to $8,200 by October 2027.

And if the more bullish experts are correct. The same $5,000 investment could climb even higher, up to $9,300, by this time next year.

The post By October 2027, $5,000 invested in this ASX bank stock could turn into… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.