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Mattel Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net sales rose 7%: Net sales were $1,766 million, against $1,646 million a year earlier; constant-currency growth was 5%. Source
  • Full-year operating income fell $148 million: Operating income was $546 million, down $148 million; net income was $398 million, down $144 million. Operating margin was 10.2%, against 12.9%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter gross margin fell 480 basis points: Gross margin was 45.9% against 50.7%; adjusted gross margin was 46.0% against 50.8%. The company cited higher discounts, inflation, unfavorable foreign exchange and a tariff cost timing lag, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $411 million: Free cash flow was $411.3 million against $597.9 million, after capital expenditures of $182.0 million against $202.6 million; conversion was 44% against 57%. Source
  • Debt refinanced, investment grade kept: The company refinanced $600 million of debt in the fourth quarter and kept its investment grade rating. Net debt was $1,088.7 million against $946.4 million; leverage ratio was 2.5x against 2.2x. Source
  • Growth from toys, IP and entertainment: Management expects 2026 growth to come from toy innovation, major IP partnerships and an entertainment inflection. Source

“consumer demand was positive in every region for both the quarter and full year”

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth SourceFull year 2026+3% to 6% (constant currency)New
Adjusted gross margin SourceFull year 2026Approx. 50%New
Adjusted operating income SourceFull year 2026$550 - $600 millionNew
Adjusted tax rate SourceFull year 2026Approx. 24%New
Adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2026$1.18 - $1.30New
Mattel163 net sales contribution Source2026 (partial year)approximately $150 millionNew
Strategic investments in capabilities and technology Source2026approximately $110 millionNew
Performance-based marketing investment Source2026approximately $40 millionNew
Cost savings Source2026, and three-year programapproximately $50 million in 2026; $225 million total program targetNew
Share repurchase program SourceThrough 2028$1.5 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance issued; the prior-quarter release gave guidance only for 2025. Source
  • New: Agreement signed to acquire full ownership of the Mattel163 mobile games studio, subject to customary closing conditions. Source
  • New: Board authorized a new $1.5 billion share repurchase program. Source
  • New: Strategic investments of $150 million announced to accelerate organic growth. Source
  • New: Management is implementing a new brand-centric strategy to grow IP-driven play and family entertainment. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter net sales rose 7%: Net sales were $1,766 million, against $1,646 million a year earlier; constant-currency growth was 5%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating income fell $17 million: Operating income was $141 million, with an 8.0% reported operating margin; adjusted operating income was $160 million, down $1 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter diluted and adjusted EPS: Net income was $106 million, down $35 million. Diluted EPS was $0.34 against $0.42; adjusted EPS was $0.39 against $0.35. Source
  • Full-year net sales fell 1%: Net sales were $5,348 million, down 1% as reported and in constant currency. Diluted EPS was $1.24 against $1.58; adjusted EPS was $1.41 against $1.62. Source
  • Full-year operating income fell $148 million: Operating income was $546 million, down $148 million; net income was $398 million, down $144 million. Operating margin was 10.2%, against 12.9%. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America sales rose 5% in quarter: North America net sales were $1,020.8 million, up from $975.5 million a year earlier, with constant-currency growth of 5%. Source
  • International sales rose 11% in quarter: International net sales were $745.6 million, up from $670.9 million; in constant currency the increase was 5%. Source
  • EMEA, Latin America and Asia Pacific growth: In the fourth quarter EMEA rose 10% as reported (3% constant currency), Latin America 17% (8%) and Asia Pacific 7% (8%). Source
  • Full-year North America down, International up: Full-year North America net sales fell 5%; International rose 6% as reported and 4% in constant currency, with Latin America down 1% and Asia Pacific up 11%. Source

“We are making strategic investments that will impact the bottom line this year”

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel

Products and brands

  • Vehicles led quarterly billings growth: Vehicles gross billings were $652 million in the fourth quarter, up 20% as reported and 16% in constant currency; full-year Vehicles billings rose 11% to $1,995 million. Source
  • Action figures grew on film releases: Action Figures, Building Sets, Games and Other were $381 million in the quarter, up 16%, mostly Action Figures tied to theatrical releases; full-year the category rose 14% to $1,242 million, with Building Sets declining. Source
  • Dolls flat in quarter, down for year: Dolls gross billings were $750 million in the quarter, flat in constant currency. Full-year dolls fell 7% to $2,056 million, primarily due to declines in Barbie. Source
  • Infant, toddler and preschool billings fell: Infant, toddler and preschool gross billings were $254 million in the quarter, down 8%; full-year they fell 17% to $786 million, with Fisher-Price declines also cited. Source

Demand and brand performance

  • International business positive, gained share: Management said the international business was positive for the year and that it gained market share in key categories globally. Source
  • Barbie billings down for full year: Barbie gross billings were $415.7 million in the quarter, up 2%, and $1,204.1 million for the full year, down 11% as reported and 12% in constant currency. Source
  • Hot Wheels up, Fisher-Price down: Full-year Hot Wheels gross billings rose 11% to $1,749.7 million; Fisher-Price fell 11% to $622.3 million. Source

Margins, costs and pricing

  • Fourth-quarter gross margin fell 480 basis points: Gross margin was 45.9% against 50.7%; adjusted gross margin was 46.0% against 50.8%. The company cited higher discounts, inflation, unfavorable foreign exchange and a tariff cost timing lag, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Full-year gross margin fell 210 basis points: Full-year gross margin was 48.7%, against 50.8%; adjusted gross margin was 48.9%, against 50.9%. The company attributed the decline to the same factors as the fourth-quarter adjusted margin. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating income drivers: Adjusted other selling and administrative expenses were $397.1 million, down 5%; lower adjusted SG&A partly offset the lower gross profit. Source
  • Full-year advertising spend weighed on profit: Full-year advertising and promotion expenses rose to $522.0 million from $507.3 million, or 9.8% of net sales. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital

  • Free cash flow fell to $411 million: Free cash flow was $411.3 million against $597.9 million, after capital expenditures of $182.0 million against $202.6 million; conversion was 44% against 57%. Source
  • Operating cash flow down $207 million: Operating cash flow was $593 million, down $207 million on lower net income after non-cash items and higher working capital; investing used $155 million and financing and other used $583 million. Source
  • Debt refinanced, investment grade kept: The company refinanced $600 million of debt in the fourth quarter and kept its investment grade rating. Net debt was $1,088.7 million against $946.4 million; leverage ratio was 2.5x against 2.2x. Source
  • Cash and three-year share reduction: Year-end cash and equivalents were $1,242.9 million, against $1,387.9 million. Over three years the company acquired shares worth more than $1.2 billion, about 18% of shares outstanding. Source

2026 guidance and strategic investment

  • Guidance measures set against 2025: Guidance covers constant-currency net sales growth, adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted tax rate and adjusted EPS, set against 2025 actuals. Source
  • Growth from toys, IP and entertainment: Management expects 2026 growth to come from toy innovation, major IP partnerships and an entertainment inflection. Source
  • Investments aimed at new capabilities: Management describes the investment spend as flowing through 2026 adjusted operating income, covering digital games, data, direct-to-consumer and AI. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 February 2026

  • Two movie releases and digital games in 2026: Management said 2026 includes two movie releases and an expansion of digital games. Source
  • Investments expected to self-fund from 2027: Management expects the 2026 investments to be high-ROI and self-funding in 2027 and beyond. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Worldwide gross billings, fourth quarter 2025 Source$2,037.6 million, up 8% as reported, 6% in constant currency
Worldwide gross billings, full year 2025 Source$6,079.1 million, up 1% as reported, flat in constant currency

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said December U.S. gross billings grew less than expected. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the savings program is tracking ahead of its three-year $200 million target. Source
  • Met: The company reported it repurchased $600 million of shares in 2025, including $188 million in the fourth 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.