Overview
- Mattel guided 2026 adjusted EPS to $1.18–$1.30 versus a $1.75 LSEG consensus and projected 3%–6% sales growth.
- Fourth‑quarter net sales rose 7% to $1.77 billion but missed estimates, and adjusted EPS of $0.39 fell short as December U.S. growth lagged.
- The company unveiled a $1.5 billion share repurchase program through 2028 and agreed to buy the remaining 50% of Mattel163 for $159 million, subject to closing conditions, with about $150 million of revenue support.
- Management plans about $110 million of 2026 investment in digital games and $40 million in performance‑based marketing, while margins face pressure from promotions and inventory clearance tied to shifting retailer orders and shipping patterns.
- Shares dropped roughly 30% in premarket trading Wednesday for the steepest intraday fall in decades, contrasting with Hasbro’s gains on stronger digital gaming performance.