Most Profitable Industries in Australia in 2026

• 1. Superannuation Funds in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $404.8B

  Severe global market volatility over the past five years has meant superannuation funds' investment incomes have fluctuated significantly. The pandemic, inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions have caused funds’ incomes to swing dramatically. A surge in asset values in, in particular, drove down superannuation funds' income in 2020-21; that's why superannuation funds’ revenue is expected to have fallen at an annualised 6.3% over the five years through 2025-26, to $424.3 billion. Supe...

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• 2. Site Preparation Services in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $9.7B

  The Site Preparation Services industry plays a crucial role in getting most construction and resource developments off the ground. The industry comprises many small-scale contractors that supply heavy construction equipment and skilled operating services within narrow regional or niche service markets. A handful of prominent multi-disciplined contractors, like CIMIC Group (HOCHTIEF Australia), NRW Holdings and Piacentini & Son, can undertake large-scale or complex projects.

  Widely ...

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• 3. Office Property Operators in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $9.0B

  Lingering post-pandemic market adjustments and a turbulent cash rate environment have reshaped the Office Property Operators industry, contributing to a decline in demand for conventional office space. The shift towards hybrid work has left secondary-grade assets vulnerable to higher vacancies and declining rents. In contrast, premium and A-grade buildings in prime CBD areas have remained comparatively resilient, supported by corporate tenants seeking central, efficient and sustainable workpl...

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• 4. Community Services in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $5.9B

  Organisations in the Community Services subdivision play an integral role in Australia's wider care and support economy. Subdivision operators help to arrange paid and unpaid care and counsel for individuals in need, including the economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable members of society like children and the elderly. Favourable demographic trends and ongoing government funding - especially funding associated with the staged aged care reforms, the 2023 Cheaper Child Care policy and t...

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• 5. Supermarkets and Grocery Stores in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $5.6B

  Supermarkets have maintained stable volume-driven business strategies amid a pricing environment that has been in the spotlight. Conflict in the Middle East, avian flu outbreaks and other inflationary pressures have driven prices up, with many stores passing on these costs to consumers. While consumers are paying more for groceries and upstream suppliers are seeing their margins shrink, supermarkets Coles and Woolworths have maintained relatively stable profit margins, among the highest in th...

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• 6. Motor Vehicle Dealers in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $5.3B

  Motor vehicle dealers have faced drastic changes in trading conditions over recent years. Uncertain economic conditions and issues with supply led to some of the largest declines in industry revenue since the global financial crisis. However, while these factors delayed purchases, they haven’t fundamentally altered demand for cars, with delayed purchases and deliveries leading to record surges in car sales over recent years. Overall, revenue is expected to have grown at an annualised 4....

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• 7. Beef Cattle Farming in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $4.1B

  Beef cattle farmers have navigated highly changeable conditions in recent years. Favourable rainfall has underpinned strong pasture availability and stocking levels, supporting herd growth and fertility. This has allowed farmers to maintain high turn-off rates while sustaining herd numbers, resulting in record slaughter and output. Despite an abundant supply, cattle prices have held firm over the past year, supported by resilient domestic and international demand. Global supply challenges and...

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• 8. Dental Services in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $3.8B

  Australia's ageing and growing population has supported the Dental Services industry over the past decade. Unlike other health services, the industry is predominantly privately funded. While most individuals pay for dental check-ups and procedures with their own income, some use private health insurance extras cover to subsidise costs. Patients with private health coverage tend to be more willing to visit their dentist regularly and undergo expensive procedures. In 2023-24, private health ins...

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• 9. Engineering Consulting in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $3.5B

  Engineering consultancies have benefited from greater public sector capital expenditure in recent years. Federal and state governments have increasingly outsourced major infrastructure projects, bolstering demand and profitability for engineering consultancies. However, faltering demand from the Construction division has still weighed on the industry. The Construction division has faced challenges. Non-residential construction sank over 2024-25, impeding new project opportunities for engineer...

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• 10. Non-Depository Financing in Australia

  Total Profit for 2026: $3.4B

  The industry has grown on the back of increased loan volumes and elevated interest rates. A high-interest rate environment has allowed non-bank lenders to charge higher rates, boosting their revenue. Yet, it has also hiked their funding costs, hindering profitability as net interest margins plunged. The mortgage war in 2023 saw authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) offer competitive rates and attractive packages like cashback. This trend intensified competition and squeezed non-bank l...

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