It’s important to know how much superannuation you have accumulated at any age.

But your late 50s and 60s are a crossroads in life when the amount you have saved will directly affect the type of retirement lifestyle you live when you decide to stop working.

At age 55, many Aussies are approaching their final decade of working life. At this point, you’re just five years away from your preservation age. That’s when you can access your super, provided you’ve stopped working. 

By age 65, you can get full access to your superannuation regardless of whether you’re still working or not.  

So, how does your balance compare to other Aussies the same age? And how does it compare to how much super you should actually have at age 55 and age 65? 

Let’s take a look.

What’s the average superannuation balance of Aussies aged 55 in Australia?

There aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 55, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has a rough guide.

The data shows that the average Australian male aged 55 to 59 has around $319,743 in their superannuation.

Women in the same age bracket have a lot less. That’s because women tend to take time out of the workforce or work reduced hours to raise children or care for other family members. This means they earn less superannuation income and earn less compound growth on a lower balance. 

The average balance for Australian women aged 55 to 59 is around $242,945. That’s a gap of around $77,000 compared to men the same age.

How does your super balance stack up with men and women the same age as you?

What’s the average superannuation balance for Aussies aged 65 in Australia?

Again, ASFA provides a guide. The data shows that the average Australian male aged 65 to 69 has around $448,518 in their superannuation.

Women in the same age bracket have closer to $392,274. By this age bracket, it looks like some women have started to catch up. Perhaps that’s because many have returned to work full-time over the past decade as their children have grown older. 

But that’s still a gap of over $56,000 compared to men the same age.

How much do you need at age 55 to be able to retire comfortably?

ASFA data concludes that a comfortable retirement is expected to cost around $56,166 per year for individuals and $78,998 combined per year for couples.

To afford that, by retirement, a single person will need a superannuation balance of around $630,000. Meanwhile, couples will need around $730,000.

The data assumes you’ll begin retirement from age 67, will earn a part Age Pension, and that you own your home outright.

In order to be on track to reach that $630,000 goal, Australians should have at least $348,500 in their superannuation at age 55.

That’s a lot less than the average balances of both men and women at age 55.

How much do you need at age 65 to retire comfortably?

I’ve run the numbers for what you should have at age 65, too.

Again, ASFA expects that you’ll retire at age 67, will earn a part-Age Pension, and that you own your home outright.

In order to be considered as on track to reach $650,000 within the next two years, Australians at age 65 should have around $578,000 in their superannuation.

How does your balance compare now?

The post The average superannuation balance at age 55 versus 65 in Australia 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.

Fortescue Ltd vs Rio Tinto shares: Which mining giant should you buy?

The battle of the mining titans on the ASX often boils down to two names: Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO). For Aussie investors seeking exposure to resources, these two offer world-class scale, strong dividend histories, and a front-row seat to the global iron ore trade. But if you’re pondering “Fortescue vs Rio Tinto shares,” what makes one stand out over the other right now? Here’s my take.

The case for Fortescue

Fortescue is a pure-play iron ore producer based in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. Over the past two decades, it’s evolved from a latecomer into the world’s fourth-largest iron ore miner, with operations including Chichester, Solomon, and Western Hubs, plus its own port and railway infrastructure. Fortescue’s focus on efficiency and cost control means it’s earned its reputation as a very profitable, high-yielding miner.

What leaps out in the numbers is Fortescue’s fully franked 7.04% dividend yield, one of the highest yields on the ASX, supported by a payout of $1.08 per share. The company sits on a market cap of $47.23 billion, with a P/E ratio of 11.47 — noticeably lower than Rio Tinto’s. Fortescue manages integrated infrastructure from mine to port, giving it a cost advantage over some rivals.

Despite these strengths, Fortescue shares are down 25.4% year to date, reflecting recent commodity price volatility and market sentiment. Still, for investors hoping for strong passive income from resources, the mix of yield, franking, and scale is compelling.

The case for Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a giant in global mining, with a diversified portfolio beyond iron ore. Alongside its huge Pilbara iron ore operation, Rio produces aluminium, copper, and emerging minerals like lithium. This breadth not only gives Rio some insulation from wobbly iron ore prices, but also means it taps into global trends around electrification and infrastructure.

Rio’s market cap leads the sector at $60.37 billion, and its shares currently yield 4.09%, fully franked. The company’s annual dividend per share is a hefty $6.63, and its P/E ratio sits at 15.31 — higher than Fortescue’s, perhaps reflecting Rio’s diversification and consistent profit stream. Rio has been a fixture on the ASX since 1962 and has grown dramatically through both acquisition and organic means.

What’s also striking is recent momentum: Rio shares are up 15.1% year to date, far outpacing Fortescue. This price action hints that the market is warming to Rio’s more diversified model, or at least viewing it as a safer bet amid sector turbulence.

Valuation comparison

To make the key differences clear, here’s how the metrics stack up:

Metric	Fortescue	Rio Tinto
Market Cap	$47.23 billion	$60.37 billion
P/E Ratio	11.47	15.31
Dividend Yield	7.04% (100% franked)	4.09% (100% franked)
Dividend per Share	$1.08	$6.63
Earnings per Share	0.931	7.382

Note: While EPS for both companies is positive, the P/E ratios reflect materially different share price levels and capital structures, not just profitability.

It’s clear that Fortescue offers a juicier yield and a lower P/E, but Rio claims a bigger market cap and stronger recent price momentum. Both companies pay fully franked dividends.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 9 October 2026:

• Fortescue closed at $15.34, falling 2.85% on the day and down 25.4% year to date.
• Rio Tinto closed at $162.37, rising 0.25% on the day and up 15.1% year to date.

These numbers make it clear that while Rio has delivered strong gains in 2026 so far, Fortescue has faced heavy selling pressure, likely due to macro and sector-specific headwinds.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to make the call today, my pick would be Rio Tinto. The reason is twofold: firstly, the diversified business spreads risk across various minerals and markets, meaning it’s not just a play on iron ore prices. Secondly, that 15.1% year-to-date return shows clear positive momentum, suggesting the market appreciates Rio’s current position and outlook.

That said, Fortescue’s much higher dividend yield, lower P/E, and deep franking credits could make it a better income play for investors who believe iron ore prices will rebound. But the steep -25.4% YTD return makes me cautious for now, as it may signal deeper sector weakness or company-specific challenges.

Bottom line: I’m leaning toward Rio Tinto as the better-balanced and more resilient choice today — but wouldn’t rule out Fortescue as an option for yield hunters chasing a recovery.

The post Fortescue vs Rio Tinto: Which ASX mining giant is the better buy 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 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. 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.

Two well-known ASX shares have fallen to fresh 52-week lows on Monday, leaving investors with a decision to make.

Both companies have faced heavy selling pressure, but their longer-term earnings outlooks suggest there could be opportunities at current prices.

So, would I buy either of them today?

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

Lynas shares have fallen to a 52-week low of $12.14 on Monday, leaving them down around 40% over the past 12 months.

I think the rare earths producer has an interesting long-term opportunity. Rare earths elements are essential for a range of technologies, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defence equipment.

With governments increasingly focused on securing supply chains outside China, Lynas is well-positioned as an established producer and processor of rare earths materials.

The company is also looking to expand its operations. Earlier this month, Lynas announced an agreement to acquire Meteoric Resources Ltd (ASX: MEI), which owns the Caldeira rare earths project in Brazil.

The acquisition could give Lynas access to an important new source of heavy rare earths and support its longer-term expansion plans. But the market does not appear particularly enthusiastic about the deal so far.

Investors may be concerned about the additional investment required to develop Caldeira, the challenges of processing a different type of rare earths resource, and the dilution associated with the all-share acquisition.

I think those concerns are reasonable, although the longer-term earnings outlook remains encouraging. Consensus forecasts point to earnings per share (EPS) of 58.3 cents in FY27, increasing to 92.9 cents in FY28 and $1.13 in FY29.

At $12.14, those estimates put Lynas on approximately 21 times FY27 earnings, falling to just under 11 times FY29 earnings. That could prove cheap if the company delivers the expected growth.

For an investor with a diversified portfolio who wants exposure to the rare earths industry, I think Lynas could be a buy at current levels.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

Sonic Healthcare shares have also been under pressure, falling to a 52-week low of $18.11 on Monday. That leaves the healthcare company’s shares down approximately 18% in 2026.

Sonic operates a global network of pathology and diagnostic businesses, providing essential medical services across several countries.

I like the underlying demand for these services. Ageing populations, advances in medical testing, and the growing importance of early diagnosis should support the industry over time.

But Sonic has some operational challenges to work through. These include improving the performance of its US operations, integrating acquisitions, and managing regulatory and reimbursement changes in certain markets.

I think these issues help explain why investors have become more cautious. Nevertheless, there is some potential for earnings to improve as management makes progress. Consensus forecasts point to EPS of $1.14 in FY27, increasing to $1.26 in FY28 and $1.31 in FY29.

For income investors, the dividend outlook also looks interesting. Analysts expect partially franked dividends of $1.05 per share in FY27, $1.11 in FY28, and $1.14 in FY29.

At $18.11, those forecasts represent potential dividend yields of approximately 5.8%, 6.1%, and 6.3%, respectively.

I think that is a generous level of income, although the relatively high proportion of earnings being paid out leaves limited room for disappointment.

Sonic could therefore be worth considering for patient income investors who are comfortable waiting for the business to improve.

Foolish takeaway

I think both shares deserve a closer look following their recent falls.

For me, Lynas offers the more exciting growth opportunity, although its performance could be unpredictable.

Sonic’s potential dividend yield is certainly tempting, but I would want to see more progress on its operational challenges before becoming particularly enthusiastic about the shares.

The post Should you buy Lynas and this ASX share at their 52-week lows? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.