Action Figures, Vehicles Drive Mattel to Beat Expectations for Q4, Full-Year Sales

The Mattel turnaround continues at a slow, but steady pace.

The El Segundo-based toymaker reported its Q4 and full-year earnings this afternoon, beating expectations by coming out flat for the year with $4.5 billion in sales. Q4 revenue declined 3% to $1.47 billion, reflecting the challenges that the entire toy industry and retailers shared this past holiday season.

“2019 was an important inflection point in our turnaround. We stabilized our topline after five consecutive years of revenue decline, continued to significantly improve profitability, and achieved positive operating cash flow and positive free cash flow for the first time in three years,” says Mattel Chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz. “We are very encouraged by the consistent progress the company is making and expect to continue to build on this momentum. We remain focused on the execution of our multi-year turnaround strategy to transform Mattel into an IP-driven, high-performing toy company and create long term shareholder value.”

Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2019 Winner

Hot Wheels Continue to Speed to the Cash Registers

The vehicles category, which includes Hot Wheels and Matchbox was up 3% for the year, driven largely by increases in Hot Wheels, specifically. The increase could’ve been higher had it not been offset yet again by declines in Disney•Pixar Cars and Jurassic Park/Jurassic World vehicles. Sales for the Hot Wheels division alone grew 11% for the year.

“2019 was the biggest Hot Wheels year ever,” says Mattel President and COO Richard Dickson. “It’s the sixth consecutive year of POS growth, both in the U.S. and globally. This is a story of complete innovation … We’ve done experiential marketing with the Hot Wheels Legends Tour; introducing Monster Trucks as a new segment … and a variety of other really exciting narratives for Hot Wheels that has proven incredibly successful.”

Mario Kart Hot Wheels

Dickson says that last year’s Hot Wheels Mario Kart line was the biggest license launch for Hot Wheels since Star Wars in 2015.

“We’re going to continue to surprise consumers with the product that we have lined up that you’ll see as we move into Toy Fair,” he says.

Matchbox, which was recently inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, also grew, and Kreiz revealed that the brand will include products utilizing Paramount Pictures’ Top Gun: Maverick license this year.

Toy Story 4 Basic Figures Assortment

Action Figures are Doing Big Business

The combined action figures, building sets, and games category was up 14% for the year and 9% in Q4. Sales in Toy Story 4 product led the charge, with gains offset by decreases in Jurassic Park/Jurassic World.

Barbie - Brand Icon

Barbie Had a Great 60th Birthday

Sales of Barbie products rose 2% in Q4 contributing to a 7% gain for the year. Numerous consumer outreach initiatives connected with families, kids, and collectors. The doll category as a whole was flat for the year, pulled down by the weight of American Girl (see below).

American Girl - Blaire Wilson

Declines Continue in American Girl, Infant, Toddler, Preschool

We sound like a broken record at this point, but quarter after quarter, American Girl continues to slide, bringing down the doll category (which was flat) with a 21% decrease in sales for the year. Despite new leadership for the division and new retail initiatives last year, American Girl is failing to connect with an audience.

Worldwide gross sales for infant, toddler, and preschool declines 11% for the year. The biggest drops came from Fisher-Price Friends, Fisher-Price, and Thomas & Friends. An excellent brand reinvention campaign from Fisher-Price may not have taken hold with consumers yet as the company still takes a hit stemming from the sleeper recall early last year. Going forward, Fisher-Price is tapping into consumer interest in sustainability with classic products reinvented for a new generation of parents and kids.

Masters of the Universe Origins Battle Cat
Masters of the Universe Origins He-Man and Battle Cat. Available Fall 2020.

Movies on the Way

Kreiz continues to emphasize the theatrical slate for Mattel Films. During 2019, five films were announced, bringing the total up to eight films that are in development in partnership with major studios. The films currently in development include Barbie and Hot Wheels with Warner Bros., American Girl and View-Master with Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM), Magic 8-Ball with Blumhouse, Barney with 59% and Valparaiso Pictures, and Major Matt Mason with Paramount, Tom Hanks and Akiva Goldsman.

Additionally, Kreiz says that  Masters of the Universe is still on track with Sony Pictures “and an additional partner as part of a new structure.” That “additional partner” is largely rumored to be Netflix, with which two animated series’ are currently in production. Most recently, Sony Pictures removed the film from its previously announced March 2021 date.

Looking Ahead

Mattel will be showing new product in its private showroom at Toy Fair New York next week. The company expects to achieve low single-digit growth this year as it continues moving back to profitability.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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