12 U.S. companies plan to add total of $5 billion to pension funds in 2014

A dozen U.S. corporations will make a collective contribution of about $5 billion to their pension funds this year.

In many cases, the 2014 contributions are smaller than those made in 2013.

Boeing expects to contribute $750 million to its U.S. defined benefit plans this year and might be required to make higher contributions in future years, according to the company's 10-K report released Feb. 14.

Dow Chemical plans to contribute about $800 million to its global defined benefit pension funds in 2014.

Exelon plans to contribute $264 million to its U.S. pension funds this year, down from $339 million last year, according its 10-K filed Feb. 14.

Alcoa expects to make a total of $625 million in contributions to its global pension funds in 2014, of which $435 million is for U.S. plans.

Illinois Tool Works plans to contribute $136 million to its pension funds this year, according to its 10-K filed Feb. 14. The company contributed the same amount in 2013.

Kraft Foods Group will contribute a total of $200 million to its U.S. and Canadian defined benefit pension funds this year, according to a transcript of the firm's fourth-quarter earnings call, down from $600 million last year and lower than previous expectations for 2014.

3M plans to contribute $100 million to $200 million to its global pension and post-retirement plans this year, according to the company's 10-K filing Feb. 13 with the SEC, down from $476 million in 2013.

Motorola Solutions plans to contribute $300 million to its U.S. pension plans in 2014 and an additional $35 million to its non-U.S. plans, according to its 10-K filed Feb. 13.

Raytheon Co expects to make required contributions of $875 million to its pension funds in 2014, according to its 10-K, filed Feb. 11. The company contributed $1.1 billion in 2013.

General Dynamics will contribute $550 million to its pension funds during 2014, according to its most recent 10-K filing.

Pacific Gas and Electric plans to contribute $327 million to its retirement plans in 2014, according to the company's 10-K filing with the SEC.

Principal Financial Group might contribute between $125 million and $175 million to its defined benefit pension plans in 2014, according to its 10-K.