Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Duracell Retirement & Savings Plan
Chicago, ILManufacturing1,602 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$8,715Employer $ per active participant
$8,280Employee $ saved per active participant
0.09%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$218.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$116,561Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity47.2 / 5094th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost19.2 / 2577th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.3 / 1582th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score79 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 500–2,499 active participants (2,376 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 94th |
| Lower admin cost | 77th |
| Employee saving | 82th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 59% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $19,931 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Duracell U.S. Operations put in about $8,715 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,320). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- 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.
- 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 | $13,961,018 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $13,264,558 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $1,946,117 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $178,887 |
| Benefits paid out | $16,450,423 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $181.9M / $218.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 1,639 / 1,565 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,875 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Plante Moran |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $178,887 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014091332NAL0002476785001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 47-4217945, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.