Quidelortho Corporation 401(k) Review & Grade
Quidelortho Savings and Retirement Plan
San Diego, CAManufacturing3,955 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,052Employer $ per active participant
$9,959Employee $ saved per active participant
0.04%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$584.1MNet plan assets, end of year
$118,855Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity21.9 / 5044th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.7 / 2583th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.0 / 1580th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score52 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Manufacturing plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (566 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 44th |
| Lower admin cost | 83th |
| Employee saving | 80th |
| 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 ($849,566 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $9,852 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Quidelortho put in about $3,052 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.
- 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 | $12,069,629 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $39,387,517 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $9,238,847 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $237,465 |
| Contract administrator fees | $2,400 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $99,530 |
| Other admin expenses | $50,096 |
| Benefits paid out | $88,135,686 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $540.7M / $584.1M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 4,201 / 3,709 |
| Participants with account balances | 4,914 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Insero & Co. Cpas, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $94,798 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $87,839 reported compensation |
| Ubs Financial Services Inc. | $50,096 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250919151940NAL0002863200001, received 2025-09-19, EIN 87-4496285, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.