Vanguard's 10-year forecast returns for ASX shares

How does the future look?

Broker looking at the share price on her laptop with green and red points in the background.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

ASX ETF provider Vanguard has released a new annualised 10-year growth forecast for ASX shares.

Based on in-house modelling, Vanguard predicts that the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) will return average capital growth of 4.7% to 6.7% per year (excluding dividends) for the next decade.

How does the forecast for ASX shares compare to global equities?

The forecast for ASX 300 shares compares very favourably with other asset classes for which Vanguard has also provided a 10-year annualised forecast.

Over the next decade, Vanguard forecasts:

  • Capital growth of 4.3% to 6.3% per year for unhedged global equities (ex-Australia)
  • Capital growth of 4.1% to 5.1% for Australian aggregate bonds
  • Capital growth of 4.3% to 5.3% for hedged global bonds (ex-Australia)

Interested in investing in ASX 300 shares?

Vanguard runs an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that seeks to track the performance of the ASX 300 before fees.

It's called the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), and it's Australia's largest ETF with a market capitalisation of $16.41 billion.

By investing in the ASX 300, investors gain exposure to blue-chip mega shares like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX: CBA), as well as 100 up-and-coming companies that fall just outside the benchmark ASX 200 (and arguably have more room for future growth).

These include Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1), Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW), Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO), Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) and Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) shares.

The VAS ETF closed at $102.74 yesterday, up 0.98%.

Yesterday, Vanguard announced that the VAS ETF will pay a distribution of 103.3194 AU cents per unit on 16 October.

What's the outlook for the Australian economy?

Vanguard's global economics and markets team has also released its assessment of the Australian economy, noting that it is currently growing at its slowest pace in decades.

The latest gross domestic product (GDP) data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed just 1% annual growth, and just 0.2% growth over the June quarter.

Vanguard also noted that inflation was "falling only gradually," which would likely prevent the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) from cutting interest rates this year.

Looking ahead, the Vanguard team expects:

  • Full-year economic growth of about 1%
  • Unemployment to rise to about 4.6% by year's end (it was 4.2% in August)
  • Inflation will not fall to the midpoint of the RBA's 2% to 3% target range until 2025 (3.4% in August)
  • The Reserve Bank will start cutting interest rates next year

How are ASX 300 shares performing in 2024?

In the year to date, the ASX 300 has lifted by 7.55% to close at 8,143.3 points yesterday.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has also risen by 7.55% and finished at 8,203.7 points on Thursday.

The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which captures the 500 largest listed companies, is up 7.57% to 8,462.8 points.

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group and Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Aussie Broadband, DroneShield, Megaport, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Share Market News

two racing cars battle to take first place on a formula one track with one tailing the the leader and looking to overtake the car.
Opinions

Down 21% in 2024. This ASX 300 stock looks like a money-making monster

Profits are expected to plunge, but the future could still be bright.

Read more »

A businesswoman exhales a deep sigh after receiving bad news, and gets on with it.
52-Week Lows

Down 68% from highs, this ASX 200 stock just hit a 4-year low. Time to pounce?

Is this beaten down stock a buy? Let's see what one leading broker is saying.

Read more »

two men smiling with a laptop in front of them, symbolising a rising share price.
Share Gainers

Why Pinnacle, PWR, Race Oncology, and Vulcan shares are flying today

These shares are having a good session on Thursday. But why?

Read more »

A young man clasps his hand to his head with his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face as he clasps a laptop computer in front of him, seemingly learning of bad news or a poor investment.
Share Fallers

Why Accent, Sayona Mining, Web Travel, and Weebit Nano shares are dropping today

These shares are having a tough time on Thursday. Why are they being sold off?

Read more »

Modern accountant woman in a light business suit in modern green office with documents and laptop.
Share Market News

Insider buying alert: 3 ASX 200 shares directors are snapping up right now

Directors in some of Australia's blue-chip businesses aren't shying away from the market.

Read more »

A man has a surprised and relieved expression on his face. as he raises his hands up to his face in response to the high fluctuations in the Galileo share price today
Broker Notes

Guess which beaten down ASX share is rocketing 11% today

Why are investors buying this beaten down stock? Let's find out.

Read more »

A bearded man holds both arms up diagonally and points with his index fingers to the sky with a thrilled look on his face over these rising Tassal share price
Materials Shares

Why is this ASX lithium stock jumping to a 52-week high today?

This lithium stock is smashing the market this year despite all the doom and gloom in the industry.

Read more »

Broker working with share prices on computers.
Broker Notes

These 3 ASX All Ords stocks just got sizeable broker upgrades

Top brokers expect strong performance from these ASX All Ords stocks.

Read more »