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Mattel Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 6%, 7% in constant currency: Net sales were $1,736 million, down 6% as reported and 7% in constant currency, compared with the prior year's third quarter. Source
  • North America sales fell 12%: North America net sales fell 12%, the main driver of the reported decline, partly offset by a 3% rise in International net sales as reported. Source
  • Dolls billings fell on Barbie: Dolls gross billings were $674 million, down 11% as reported, primarily due to declines in Barbie. Barbie billings were $413.9 million, down 17%. Source
  • Gross margin down 310 basis points: Gross margin was 50.0% against 53.1%, down 310 basis points. Adjusted gross margin was 50.2%, down 290 basis points. Source
  • US retailer orders accelerated in Q4: Management said that since the start of the fourth quarter, US retailer orders have accelerated significantly and point-of-sale is growing. Source
  • Buybacks reached $412 million year to date: The company repurchased $202 million of shares in the quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to $412 million, against a $600 million target for 2025. Source
  • Full-year 2025 guidance reiterated: Management said it is reiterating its full-year 2025 guidance, with the figures set out in the guidance table. Source

“While our US business was challenged in the third quarter by industry-wide shifts in retailer ordering patterns, the fundamentals of our business are strong, with growth in consumer demand for our products across every region.”

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Sales growth (constant currency) SourceFY2025+1% to 3%*Kept
Adjusted Gross Margin SourceFY2025Approx. 50%Kept
Adjusted Operating Income SourceFY2025$700 - $750Kept
Adjusted tax rate SourceFY202523% - 24%Kept
Adjusted EPS SourceFY2025$1.54 - $1.66Kept
Free cash flow SourceFY2025Approx. $500Kept
Share repurchases SourceFY2025$600 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The company reiterated its full-year 2025 guidance and reaffirmed the $600 million share repurchase target, with no change to the figures. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales fell 6%, 7% in constant currency: Net sales were $1,736 million, down 6% as reported and 7% in constant currency, compared with the prior year's third quarter. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $278 million, down $94 million. Diluted EPS was $0.88 against $1.09, and adjusted EPS was $0.89 against $1.14. Source
  • Operating income fell on lower sales: Operating income was $380 million, down $108 million. Adjusted operating income was $387 million, down $117 million, mainly from lower net sales and lower gross margin. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America sales fell 12%: North America net sales fell 12%, the main driver of the reported decline, partly offset by a 3% rise in International net sales as reported. Source
  • EMEA and Asia Pacific grew: Within International, EMEA net sales rose 5% and Asia Pacific rose 11% as reported. Latin America net sales fell 4%. Source
  • International flat in constant currency: In constant currency, International net sales were comparable to the prior year, while North America fell 12%. Source

“Since the beginning of the fourth quarter, orders from retailers in the US have accelerated significantly and our POS is growing.”

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel

Products and brands

  • Dolls billings fell on Barbie: Dolls gross billings were $674 million, down 11% as reported, primarily due to declines in Barbie. Barbie billings were $413.9 million, down 17%. Source
  • Infant and preschool billings fell 25%: Infant, Toddler and Preschool gross billings were $262 million, down 25% as reported, due to Fisher-Price, Preschool Entertainment and Baby Gear & Power Wheels. Source
  • Vehicles grew on Hot Wheels: Vehicles gross billings were $626 million, up 8% as reported, primarily driven by growth in Hot Wheels. Hot Wheels billings were $547.2 million, up 8%. Source
  • Action figures billings grew 11%: Action Figures, Building Sets, Games and Other gross billings were $404 million, up 11%, driven by Action Figures, partly offset by a decline in Building Sets. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin down 310 basis points: Gross margin was 50.0% against 53.1%, down 310 basis points. Adjusted gross margin was 50.2%, down 290 basis points. Source
  • Currency, inflation and tariffs weighed: Management attributed the gross margin decline to unfavorable foreign exchange, inflation, tariff costs and higher sales adjustments, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Cost savings program continued: Management said the company continued to execute its Optimizing for Profitable Growth cost savings program in a dynamic environment. Source
  • Advertising rose to 6.8% of sales: Advertising and promotion expenses were $118.1 million, or 6.8% of net sales, against 5.7% a year earlier. Other selling and administrative expenses were 21.3% of net sales against 20.9%. Source

“We are well positioned to achieve our guidance.”

Paul Ruh, CFO of Mattel

Demand and retailer orders

  • US retailer orders accelerated in Q4: Management said that since the start of the fourth quarter, US retailer orders have accelerated significantly and point-of-sale is growing. Source
  • US business hit by ordering shifts: Management said the US business was challenged in the third quarter by industry-wide shifts in retailer ordering patterns. Source
  • Inventory levels called appropriate: Owned and retail inventories are described as at appropriate levels entering the holiday season. Inventories were $826.6 million at September 30, 2025, against $737.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivable days flat at 72: Days sales outstanding on accounts receivable was 72 at September 30, 2025, the same as at September 30, 2024. Source

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Operating cash outflow widened: Cash used for operating activities was $203 million for the nine months, an increase of $142 million, driven by lower net income net of non-cash adjustments, partly offset by lower working capital usage. Source
  • Free cash flow negative year to date: For the nine months, free cash flow was negative $328.2 million, with capital expenditures of $124.9 million. Source
  • Buybacks reached $412 million year to date: The company repurchased $202 million of shares in the quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to $412 million, against a $600 million target for 2025. Source
  • Net debt and leverage reported: Net debt was $1,645.7 million at September 30, 2025, against $1,609.7 million a year earlier, with $599.2 million of current portion of long-term debt. Leverage was 2.5x on a trailing twelve-month basis. Source

Full-year guidance and strategy

  • Full-year 2025 guidance reiterated: Management said it is reiterating its full-year 2025 guidance, with the figures set out in the guidance table. Source
  • Strategy to grow IP-driven toys: Management said the company is advancing its strategy to grow its IP-driven toy business and expand its entertainment offering. Source
  • Well positioned for guidance: The CFO said the company is well positioned to achieve its guidance, after operating with excellence in a dynamic environment. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 October 2025

  • Holiday season and Q4 topline growth: Management expects a good holiday season for Mattel and strong topline growth in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Share repurchases toward $600 million: The company is on track to repurchase $600 million of shares this year, after $412 million repurchased year to date. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross billings, total Source$1,966.8 million, down 4% as reported
Dolls gross billings Source$674.1 million, down 11% as reported
Infant, Toddler and Preschool gross billings Source$262.5 million, down 25% as reported
Vehicles gross billings Source$626.2 million, up 8% as reported
Action Figures, Building Sets, Games and Other gross billings Source$404.0 million, up 11% as reported
Barbie gross billings Source$413.9 million, down 17% as reported
Hot Wheels gross billings Source$547.2 million, up 8% as reported

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited industry-wide shifts in retailer ordering patterns as the reason the US business was challenged in the third quarter. Source
  • External: Tariff costs, inflation and unfavorable foreign exchange were cited as factors lowering gross margin in the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Inclined sleeper product recall impacts of $4.6 million in the quarter were excluded from adjusted operating income. Source
  • Operational: Severance and restructuring expenses of $2.8 million in the quarter were excluded from adjusted operating income. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The company states it is on track to repurchase $600 million of shares this year. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated its full-year 2025 guidance, without stating progress against each figure. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continued to execute the cost savings program during the quarter. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.