Azz Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Azz Inc. 401(k) Plan
Fort Worth, TXManufacturing2,665 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,435Employer $ per active participant
$3,008Employee $ saved per active participant
0.24%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$117.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$36,113Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity8.5 / 5017th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost7.2 / 2529th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving2.3 / 1515th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-20 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score8 / 100 · Grade F
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (566 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 17th |
| Lower admin cost | 29th |
| Employee saving | 15th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 70% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($218,791 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Benefits not paid when due: the plan reported failing to pay some benefits on time.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Azz put in about $1,435 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,452). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Direct plan expenses (0.24% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.12%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $3,825,296 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $8,017,621 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $129,554 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $278,476 |
| Contract administrator fees | $278,476 |
| Benefits paid out | $22,156,414 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $113.1M / $117.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,835 / 2,495 |
| Participants with account balances | 3,256 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Grant Thornton LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $378,434 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $27,127 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250804143142NAL0000772771001, received 2025-08-04, EIN 75-0948250, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.