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Mattel Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net Sales rose 4% as reported: Net Sales were $862.2 million against $826.6 million a year earlier, up 4% as reported and 1% in constant currency. Source
  • Operating loss widened to $103 million: Operating loss was $102.7 million against $53.0 million, and adjusted operating loss was $70.4 million against $8.1 million. Source
  • 2026 guidance kept, adjusted basis recast: Net Sales, adjusted gross margin and adjusted tax rate guidance is unchanged; the adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS ranges are recast for amortization. Source
  • Dolls declined on Barbie: Dolls gross billings were $272 million, down 8% as reported and 11% in constant currency, mainly from a decline in Barbie. Source
  • Gross margin fell 450 basis points: Reported gross margin was 44.9% against 49.4%, and adjusted gross margin 45.1% against 49.6%; mitigation actions and cost savings partly offset the drivers. Source
  • Mattel163 now wholly owned: The company completed its acquisition of the remaining Mattel163 interest in early March, and the quarter included a partial period of games sales from it. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: Operating cash flow was $(22.9) million against $24.8 million, mainly from lower net income excluding non-cash items, partly offset by working capital. Source

“We are off to a good start to the year, with Net Sales growth and positive consumer demand for our products in the first quarter.”

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Sales SourceFiscal 2026+3% to 6% (constant currency)Kept
Adjusted Gross Margin SourceFiscal 2026Approx. 50%Kept
Adjusted Operating Income SourceFiscal 2026$580 - $630 millionKept
Adjusted Tax Rate SourceFiscal 2026Approx. 24%Kept
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$1.27 - $1.39Kept
Share repurchases SourceFiscal 2026$400 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: 2026 guidance is unchanged apart from recasting Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EPS to exclude acquired intangible amortization. Source
  • New: The company completed its acquisition of full ownership of Mattel163 in early March, following the signed agreement reported in February. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net Sales rose 4% as reported: Net Sales were $862.2 million against $826.6 million a year earlier, up 4% as reported and 1% in constant currency. Source
  • Operating loss widened to $103 million: Operating loss was $102.7 million against $53.0 million, and adjusted operating loss was $70.4 million against $8.1 million. Source
  • Net income lifted by Mattel163 gain: Net income was $61.0 million against a $40.3 million loss, and diluted EPS was $0.20 against a $0.12 loss, helped by a $147.9 million remeasurement gain. Source
  • Adjusted loss per share widened: Adjusted loss per share was $0.20 against an adjusted loss of $0.02, reflecting the higher adjusted operating loss. Source
  • 2026 guidance kept, adjusted basis recast: Net Sales, adjusted gross margin and adjusted tax rate guidance is unchanged; the adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS ranges are recast for amortization. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America sales fell 3%: North America Net Sales were $475.1 million against $491.4 million, down 3% as reported and in constant currency. Source
  • International sales rose 15%: International Net Sales were $387.0 million, up 15% as reported and 8% in constant currency, offsetting the North America decline in total. Source
  • EMEA net sales up 17%: EMEA net sales were $231.5 million, up 17% as reported and 9% in constant currency; Latin America rose 15% and Asia Pacific 11% as reported. Source

“Top-line grew ahead of expectations, and we are seeing momentum in the business.”

Paul Ruh, CFO of Mattel

Products and customers

  • Vehicles grew on Hot Wheels: Vehicles gross billings were $361 million, up 17% as reported and 13% in constant currency, driven by Hot Wheels growth. Source
  • Dolls declined on Barbie: Dolls gross billings were $272 million, down 8% as reported and 11% in constant currency, mainly from a decline in Barbie. Source
  • Infant, toddler and preschool fell: Infant, toddler and preschool gross billings were $106 million, down 16% as reported and 18% in constant currency, mainly on Fisher-Price. Source
  • Action figures and games grew: Action figures, building sets, games and other gross billings were $233 million, up 21% as reported; games growth included a partial quarter of Mattel163. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell 450 basis points: Reported gross margin was 44.9% against 49.4%, and adjusted gross margin 45.1% against 49.6%; mitigation actions and cost savings partly offset the drivers. Source
  • Advertising spend rose 32%: Advertising and promotion expenses were $92.9 million against $70.2 million, rising to 10.8% of net sales from 8.5%. Source
  • Adjusted other SG&A rose 5%: Adjusted other selling and administrative expenses were $366.3 million against $347.6 million, at 42.5% of net sales against 42.0%. Source
  • Severance and recall adjustments: Severance and restructuring expenses were $17.2 million against $23.0 million; the inclined sleeper recall adjustment was $(4.2) million against $14.1 million. Source

Demand and sales momentum

  • Consumer demand positive in quarter: Management cited growth in Net Sales and positive consumer demand for the company's products in the first quarter. Source
  • Second-quarter sales accelerating to date: Management said top-line growth is accelerating in the second quarter to date. Source

Strategy and digital investment

  • Mattel163 now wholly owned: The company completed its acquisition of the remaining Mattel163 interest in early March, and the quarter included a partial period of games sales from it. Source
  • Digital integration progressing: Management said the digital strategy is progressing, including the integration of Mattel163 into the company. Source
  • IP-driven play strategy continues: Management said it continued to make progress on growing its IP-driven play and family entertainment business. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash flow was negative: Operating cash flow was $(22.9) million against $24.8 million, mainly from lower net income excluding non-cash items, partly offset by working capital. Source
  • Free cash flow was negative: Free cash flow was $(88.1) million against $(11.4) million, with capital expenditures of $65.1 million against $36.2 million. Source
  • Investing outflow on Mattel163 purchase: Investing outflow was $144 million against $31 million, mainly cash paid for Mattel163 net of cash acquired and higher capital expenditures. Source
  • Share repurchases and financing outflow: The company repurchased $200 million of shares; financing outflow was $210 million, and the ending share count as of March 31 was 290.6 million. Source
  • Net debt rose on lower cash: Net debt was $1,466.8 million against $1,091.7 million, with cash and equivalents of $866.0 million against $1,243.7 million. Source
  • Receivable days rose: Days of sales outstanding were 72 against 69 a year earlier. Source

Reporting basis and disclosure

  • Amortization now excluded from non-GAAP: From fiscal 2026 non-GAAP measures exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets, and prior periods were recast to match. Source
  • Results preliminary until Form 10-Q: The company states the results are preliminary until its Form 10-Q is filed with the SEC, and actual results may differ. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 April 2026

  • Two self-published mobile games launch: Management said the launch of two self-published mobile games is upcoming. Source
  • Masters of the Universe film release: Management said it looks forward to the global theatrical release of the Masters of the Universe movie on June 5. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Worldwide Gross Billings Source$971.9 million, up 5% as reported and 2% in constant currency
Barbie gross billings Source$146.1 million, down 16% as reported and 19% in constant currency
Hot Wheels gross billings Source$314.4 million, up 17% as reported and 12% in constant currency
Fisher-Price gross billings Source$79.5 million, down 12% as reported and 14% in constant currency

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Tariffs were cited as a primary driver of higher product cost in the quarter, with mitigation actions partly offsetting them. Source
  • Financial: Management cited unfavorable foreign exchange and inflation as factors reducing gross margin. Source
  • Demand: Management attributed the dolls billings decline primarily to Barbie. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it expects to achieve its full-year 2026 guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is maintaining its $400 million share repurchase target for 2026. Source
  • Met: The company said it completed the full ownership acquisition of Mattel163 in early March. 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.