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Mattel's (MAT) Shares Down on Wider-Than-Expected Q2 Loss

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Mattel, Inc. (MAT - Free Report) incurred wider-than-expected loss in second-quarter 2018, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the seventh straight quarter. The company’s sales also fell short of the consensus mark.

Adjusted loss of 56 cents per share was wider than the consensus estimate of loss of 32 cents. In the prior-year quarter, Mattel had incurred loss of 14 cents per share. The company’s results were significantly affected by the Toys ‘R’ Us liquidation.

Per management, the Toys ‘R’ Us liquidation will continue to impact Mattel’s performance in the near term. However, it is confident that the transformation plan will bring the company back on track. Notably, the company witnessed strong performance in Barbie and Hot Wheels brand in the quarter under review.

Shares of Mattel declined 8.5% in the after-hour trading yesterday. In the past year, shares of the company have lost 23.5% compared with the industry’s gain of 21.2%.


Sales Discussion

Net sales of $840.7 million lagged the consensus estimate of $863.1 million and declined 13.7% year over year. On a constant-currency basis, sales were down 15% from the prior-year quarter.

Worldwide gross sales were down 11% year over year as reported and at constant currency. In North America (including, the United States, Canada and American Girl), the metric declined 13%, both as reported and at constant currency, mainly due to lower sales as a result of Toys "R" Us liquidating operations. The decline was also caused by lower sales of CARS, Fisher-Price and Thomas & Friends, and Toy Box owned brands, partially offset by initial sales of Jurassic World and higher sales of Hot Wheels.

Meanwhile, in the International region, gross sales were down 5% as reported and in constant currency.

Brand-Wise Worldwide Sales

Mattel, through its subsidiaries, sells a broad range of toy products that are grouped into four major categories — Mattel Girls & Boys Brands, Fisher-Price Brands, American Girl Brands, and Construction and Arts & Crafts Brands.

Power Brands

As reported and in constant currency, worldwide gross sales at Mattel Power Brands decreased 2% to $619.4 million year over year. The Barbie brand witnessed 12% growth as reported driven by positive POS momentum. Gross sales at the Hot Wheels brand increased 21% on a reported basis and 22% in constant currency. However, gross sales at the Fisher-Price and Thomas & Friends brands decreased 14% as reported and 15% on constant-currency basis, whereas the same at American Girl decreased 33% on reported basis and constant currency basis.

Toy Box

In the second quarter, worldwide gross sales at Mattel Toy Box brands (Owned Brands and Partner Brands) came in at $334.7 million, down 23% as reported and in constant currency. The same at Owned Brands decreased 10% as reported and in constant currency on dismal sales of Monster High and MEGA, partially offset by Enchantimals sales. Meanwhile, the metric at Partner Brands decreased 32% both as reported and at constant currency due to a decline in sales at CARS, partially offset by initial sales at Jurassic World.

Mattel, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Operating Results

Gross margin of 30.1% contracted from 41% in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to higher materials costs, higher obsolescence and an unfavorable product mix. 

Operating loss, as a percentage of net sales, increased 286% year over year as reported to 22.5%. At constant currency, the same was up 255%.

Net loss in the quarter was $240.9 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 217% as reported.

Balance Sheet

As of Jun 30, 2018, the company’s cash and equivalents were $228.6 million compared with $275.4 million as of Jun 30, 2017. Total inventories decreased 23.6%.

The company’s long-term debt was $2.8 billion as of Jun 30, 2018, higher than $1.9 billion as of Jun 30, 2017. Shareholder’s equity was $664 million.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Mattel currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks from the Consumer Discretionary sector include Activision Blizzard , JAKKS Pacific (JAKK - Free Report) and Boyd Gaming (BYD - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here

Activision Blizzard, JAKKS Pacific and Boyd Gaming’s earnings for 2018 are expected to increase 15.4%, 53.9% and 27.2%, respectively.

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