Datadog, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Datadog 401(k) Plan
New York, NYInformation3,550 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$2,311Employer $ per active participant
$16,630Employee $ saved per active participant
0.08%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$300.8MNet plan assets, end of year
$55,449Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity14.4 / 5029th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost16.4 / 2566th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.2 / 1588th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score41 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Information plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (60 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 29th |
| Lower admin cost | 66th |
| Employee saving | 88th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 63% |
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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 ($3,390,855 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $239,309 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Datadog put in about $2,311 per active participant, below the typical peer ($3,691). 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.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- 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 | $8,204,705 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $59,037,886 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $26,328,038 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $186,156 |
| Other admin expenses | $32,000 |
| Benefits paid out | $12,296,560 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $183.7M / $300.8M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,152 / 3,948 |
| Participants with account balances | 5,424 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Caron & Bletzer, PLLC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $143,756 reported compensation |
| Commonwealth Financial Network | $32,000 reported compensation |
| Caron and Bletzer | $10,400 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251003091933NAL0001190225001, received 2025-10-03, EIN 27-2825503, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.