Novo Nordisk Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Novo Nordisk Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan
Plainsboro, NJManufacturing8,344 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,623Employer $ per active participant
$16,240Employee $ saved per active participant
0.04%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$2.5BNet plan assets, end of year
$225,626Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity33.1 / 5066th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.5 / 2586th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.7 / 1598th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score66 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (566 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 66th |
| Lower admin cost | 86th |
| Employee saving | 98th |
| 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 ($17,280 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $855,972 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Novo Nordisk put in about $4,623 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,452). 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.
- 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 | $38,573,672 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $135,495,112 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $39,553,858 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $903,358 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $403,106 |
| Benefits paid out | $180,988,535 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $2.3B / $2.5B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 7,904 / 8,783 |
| Participants with account balances | 11,252 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Eisneramper LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $408,460,158 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Schwab Retirement Plan Services,inc | $774,372 reported compensation |
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | $80,142 reported compensation |
| Fiducient Advisors LLC | $48,656 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250717145005NAL0000503985002, received 2025-07-17, EIN 06-1061602, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.