Sigma-Aldrich 401k (RSP) Plan PSDS Scan 12-31-2009

The Sigma-Aldrich plan was helped by company stock SIAL and the Balanced portfolio invested 7.3% of the portfolio in the stock. The employee portfolio has 13.6% invested in the stock with a 5yr APR = 4.98% and a positive Sharpe ratio. The Balanced portfolio has 14 of the plan investment options in the portfolio with the stable value fund FMIP2 in the scan the largest holding. The largest holding in the employee portfolio is FCNTX a bit of a surprise if you look at the correlation chart. The Balanced portfolio only put 2.4% of the plan in that fund.

Lincoln National 401k Plan PSDS Scan 12-31-2009

This plan was not helped by company stock LNC which has a 5yr APR = -8.77% and it is not in the Balanced portfolio. The investment options are mostly Delaware funds but the plan has invetsment options from Vanguard, Harbor, American and Dodge & Cox. The Balanced portfolio largest holding is the GIC and it is the largest employee portfolio holding as well. The employee portfolio's second largest holding is company stock LNC at 17.9% of their portfolio and that hurt 5yr performance. There are 12 investment options in the Balanced portfolio which has a 5yr APR = 4.63% with a positive 5yr Sharpe ratio. In the scan several proxies were used for Delaware funds that do not yet have 5yr data.

Prudential Financial 401k (ESP) PSDS Scan 12-31-2009

The Prudential plan 5yr performance improved compared to last year and the Balanced portfolio now has 8 investment options instead of only 3 last year. Company stock PRU still does not have a positive 5yr Sharpe ratio and is still very volatile. The employee portfolio invested 8.0% of their money in company stock which reduced their 5yr return to APR = 3.01% compared to the Balanced portfolio APR = 4.94% and increased their volatlity risk. Their largest holding is a money market fund PBMXX in the scan while the core bond enhanced index fund PRU.pim in the scan is the largest holding of the Balanced portfolio.

RALCORP HOLDINGS 401k (SIP) PSDS Scan 12-31-2009

This plan was helped by company stock RAH but not as much as last year. The Balanced portfolio has 5.6% invested in the stock and the employee portfolio has 17.5% in the stock. In both portfolios the stable value fund VRST in the scan is the largest holding with the money market funds VMMXX and VMRXX a close second. While still a lifeboat portfolio The 3D scan has a few more funds with positive Sharpe ratios in the Balanced portfolio as the market slowly recovers.

USG Corp. 401k (IP) Plan PSDS Scan 12-31-2009

The USG plan was not helped by company stock which has a 5yr APR = -18.99% with high volatility. The Balanced portfolio of this small plan invested almost everything in three plan options; the GIC = 69.7%, the bond fund PTTRX = 19.6% and the short term investment options 8.3% STIF in the scan. The employee portfolio had less than 1% in company stock USG.

ConAgra 401k (RISP) Plan PSDS Scan 12-31-2009

This plan was not helped by company stock CAG which has a negative 5yr APR. The Balanced portfolio for the plan has a below average 5yr return of 3.99% with a Sharpe ratio of 0.79. The 11-k report has no data on the employee portfolio and a uniform portfolio is shown in the scan. The Alliance Bernstein target date funds do not yet have 5yr data and a Fidelity fund FFFAX was used in the scan. The plan allows only one of the 12 target date funds to be selected by each plan participant as I read the 11-k report and I selected FFFAX which has the highest return. T

TD AMERITRADE 401k (PSPT) PSDS Scan 12-31-2009

This plan was helped by company stock AMTD which is an Omaha based invesment services company. The Balanced portfolio invested 5.9% of the plan in AMTD and the largest holding is a money market fund VMRXX. The employee portfolio invested 24.7% of the plan in company stock which has a 5yr APR = 13.3% and a positive 5yr Sharpe ratio of 0.279. The plan is of special interest because they are a financial services company that has many IRA customers.