greeksoup/ stock research

Mattel Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 10% as reported: Net sales were $1,125 million, up 10% as reported and 9% in constant currency from $1,018.6 million; six-month net sales rose 8% to $1,987.5 million. Source
  • Operating income down to $11 million: Reported operating income was $10.9 million, down $68 million; adjusted operating income was $38.8 million, down $57 million, on higher advertising and SG&A and lower gross margin. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: Net loss was $18.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, against net income of $53.4 million, or $0.16. Adjusted EPS was $0.01 against $0.21. Source
  • Vehicles billings up 14%: Vehicles gross billings were $463 million, up 14% as reported and 11% in constant currency. Hot Wheels gross billings were $408.8 million, up 14% as reported. Source
  • Gross margin down 270 basis points: Gross margin was 48.2% against 50.9%; adjusted gross margin was 48.6% against 51.2%. Management cited tariffs, inflation, higher royalties and unfavorable foreign exchange. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks reach $300 million: Another $100 million of shares were repurchased in the quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to $300 million. Source

“Our world-class brand portfolio and product offering, driven by our brand-centric operating model and global capabilities, position us well for the second half of the year.”

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Sales SourceFiscal 2026+3% to 6% in constant currencyKept
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 (full year)$400 million in totalKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Company reiterated 2026 guidance and reaffirmed the $400 million share repurchase target. Source
  • New: Guidance now states that it does not include any potential impact of tariff refunds; the first-quarter release contained no such statement. Source
  • New: The first self-published mobile game launched, and a second game is in soft launch; the first-quarter release described these as upcoming. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 10% as reported: Net sales were $1,125 million, up 10% as reported and 9% in constant currency from $1,018.6 million; six-month net sales rose 8% to $1,987.5 million. Source
  • Operating income down to $11 million: Reported operating income was $10.9 million, down $68 million; adjusted operating income was $38.8 million, down $57 million, on higher advertising and SG&A and lower gross margin. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: Net loss was $18.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, against net income of $53.4 million, or $0.16. Adjusted EPS was $0.01 against $0.21. Source
  • Six-month results include gain: Six-month net income was $42.8 million, including a $147.9 million gain on the previously held Mattel163 interest; adjusted EBITDA was $95.5 million for the quarter, down 44%. Source
  • Third quarter growth continuing: The CEO said growth has continued in the third quarter and that the company expects to achieve its full year 2026 guidance. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America up 12%: North America net sales were $574.3 million, up 12% both as reported and in constant currency, from $510.8 million; six-month North America net sales rose 5%. Source
  • International up 9% reported: International net sales were $551.0 million, up 9% as reported and 5% in constant currency. EMEA net sales rose 9% as reported to $301.5 million. Source
  • Latin America flat in constant currency: Latin America net sales were $139.9 million, up 9% as reported and flat in constant currency. Asia Pacific net sales rose 8% as reported and 5% in constant currency, to $109.6 million. Source

“Mattel achieved further savings from our three-year Optimizing for Profitable Growth program, which is on track to achieve $225 million of savings by year-end.”

Paul Ruh, CFO of Mattel

Products and brands

  • Dolls billings down 5%: Dolls gross billings were $318 million, down 5% as reported and 7% in constant currency, mainly from Barbie. Barbie gross billings were $169.0 million, down 16% as reported. Source
  • Vehicles billings up 14%: Vehicles gross billings were $463 million, up 14% as reported and 11% in constant currency. Hot Wheels gross billings were $408.8 million, up 14% as reported. Source
  • Infant, toddler and preschool down 11%: Infant, toddler and preschool gross billings were $128 million, down 11% as reported and 13% in constant currency. Fisher-Price gross billings were $99.9 million, down 7% as reported. Source
  • Action figures and games up 35%: Action Figures, Building Sets, Games, and Other gross billings were $358 million, up 35% as reported. Management attributed growth to Games, including Digital Games after the full Mattel163 acquisition, and to Action Figures driven by theatrical releases. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin down 270 basis points: Gross margin was 48.2% against 50.9%; adjusted gross margin was 48.6% against 51.2%. Management cited tariffs, inflation, higher royalties and unfavorable foreign exchange. Source
  • Mattel163, mitigation and savings offset: Management said the contribution of Mattel163, tariff mitigation actions and cost savings partially offset the gross margin decline. Source
  • Advertising spend rose 57%: Advertising and promotion expenses were $124.3 million, up 57%, or 11.0% of net sales against 7.8% a year earlier. Other selling and administrative expenses rose 13% to $406.9 million. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate 63% this quarter: The adjusted tax rate for the quarter was 63%, against 25% a year earlier; the reported tax rate was -1%, against 26%. Source
  • Guidance excludes tariff refunds: The guidance excludes any potential impact of tariff refunds, a statement that does not appear in the first-quarter release. Source

“Growth has continued in the third quarter, and we expect to achieve our full year 2026 guidance.”

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel

Demand and inventory

  • Consumer demand positive year-to-date: Management cited positive consumer demand for its products year-to-date, alongside the global release of the Masters of the Universe movie. Source
  • Receivable days fell to 66: Days sales outstanding were 66 at June 30, 2026, against 70 a year earlier and 72 at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Inventory below year-earlier level: Inventories were $829.8 million at June 30, 2026, against $867.9 million a year earlier and $563.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Cash, debt and buybacks

  • Operating cash use narrowed: Operating cash use was $202 million for the six months, against $275 million a year earlier, mainly on favorable working capital usage. Source
  • Free cash flow negative $328 million: Free cash flow for the six months was negative $327.9 million, after $125.8 million of capital expenditures, against negative $351.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks reach $300 million: Another $100 million of shares were repurchased in the quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to $300 million. Source
  • Net debt and leverage higher: Net debt was $1,810.0 million at June 30, 2026, against $1,466.1 million a year earlier and $1,466.8 million at March 31, 2026. Trailing leverage ratio was 3.0x against 2.2x. Source

Strategy and digital games

  • Cost savings program on track: Management said the three-year Optimizing for Profitable Growth program achieved further savings and is on track for $225 million of savings by year-end. Source
  • Mattel163 integration progressing well: Integration of the Mattel163 mobile games studio is progressing well; full ownership was completed in early March, per the first-quarter release. Source
  • First self-published game launched: The company launched its first self-published mobile game, establishing publishing and digital customer acquisition capabilities, and a second game is in soft launch. Source
  • Strategic investments to accelerate growth: Management said it is making strategic investments to accelerate growth in line with its capital allocation priorities. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Form 10-Q filing: Results are preliminary until the Form 10-Q is filed with the SEC, and actual results may differ. Source
  • Remaining 2026 buybacks: Management expects total 2026 share repurchases of $400 million, with $300 million completed year-to-date. Source
  • Second self-published game: The second self-published mobile game is in soft launch; no launch date was given in the release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Worldwide gross billings Source$1,266.8 million, up 10% as reported and 8% in constant currency
Hot Wheels gross billings Source$408.8 million, up 14% as reported
Barbie gross billings Source$169.0 million, down 16% as reported

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Tariffs were cited as a gross incremental cost to gross margin in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management stated the program is on track to achieve $225 million of savings by year-end. Source
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said management expected to achieve full-year 2026 guidance; the second-quarter release reiterates that expectation.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release anticipated the June 5 release; the second-quarter release says the movie was released globally.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release described an upcoming launch of two games; the second-quarter release reports one launched and a second in soft launch.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said top-line acceleration was being seen in the second quarter to date; the second-quarter release reports net sales up 10% as reported.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release maintained the $400 million target; the second-quarter release reaffirms it.

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.