Mattel Reports First Quarter 2009 Financial Results

First Quarter Highlights

Worldwide net sales down 15 percent;

Domestic gross sales down 6 percent and international gross sales down 23 percent;

Worldwide gross sales for core brands: Barbie down 5 percent; Hot Wheels down 3 percent; Core Fisher-Price down 17 percent and American Girl brands down 4 percent;

Gross margin increased 80 basis points of net sales; SG&A increased 450 basis points of net sales;

Operating loss of $55.2 million compared to operating loss of $36.5 million in the first quarter of 2008; and

Loss per share of $0.14 vs. prior year loss per share of $0.13.

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) today reported 2009 first quarter financial results. For the quarter, the company reported a net loss of $51.0 million, or $0.14 per share, compared to last year’s first quarter net loss of $46.6 million, or $0.13 per share.

“This quarter's results met our expectations, with revenues negatively impacted by foreign exchange rates and retailer inventory reductions,” said Robert A. Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer of Mattel. “We've made good progress on several strategically important fronts, and will continue to manage costs and expenses in light of expected revenue challenges.”

Financial Overview

For the quarter, net sales were $785.6 million, down 15 percent compared to $919.3 million last year, including unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates of 7 percentage points. On a regional basis, first quarter gross sales decreased 6 percent in the U.S. and decreased 23 percent in international markets, including unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates of 13 percentage points. Operating loss for the quarter was $55.2 million, compared to prior year’s operating loss for the quarter of $36.5 million.

The company’s debt-to-total capital ratio was 30.5 percent. Consistent with the seasonality of the business, during the quarter the company’s cash and equivalents declined by approximately $213 million, compared with a decline of approximately $276 million in last year’s first quarter.

Sales by Business Unit

Mattel Girls and Boys Brands

For the first quarter, worldwide gross sales for the Mattel Girls & Boys Brands business unit were $504.0 million, down 15 percent versus a year ago. Worldwide gross sales for the Barbie® brand were down 5 percent, with a double-digit domestic increase offset by international declines, which were caused by changes in foreign exchange rates. Worldwide gross sales for Other Girls Brands were down 27 percent, driven by declines in the Polly Pocket® and High School Musical™ doll lines. Worldwide gross sales for the Wheels category, which includes the Hot Wheels®, Matchbox® and Tyco R/C® brands, were down 14 percent, driven primarily by declines in last year’s Speed Racer® property. Worldwide gross sales for the Entertainment business, which includes Radica® and Games and Puzzles, were down 21 percent for the quarter, driven by declines in the CARS™ and Speed Racer® properties.

Fisher-Price Brands

First quarter worldwide gross sales for the Fisher-Price Brands business unit, which includes the Fisher-Price® Core, Fisher-Price® Friends and Power Wheels® brands, were $283.7 million, or down 17 percent versus the prior year, primarily due to declines in Fisher-Price® Core.

American Girl Brands

First quarter gross sales for the American Girl Brands business unit, which offers American Girl® branded products directly to consumers, were $66.4 million, down 4 percent versus last year, reflecting the later timing of Easter.

Live Webcast

Mattel will webcast its 2009 first quarter financial results conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (5:30 a.m. Pacific time) today. The conference call will be webcast on the "Investors & Media" section of the company's corporate Web site, www.mattel.com. To listen to the live call, log on to the Web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. An archive of the webcast will be available on the company's Web site for 90 days and may be accessed beginning two hours after the completion of the live call.

A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time the morning of the call, until midnight Eastern time on April 21st and may be accessed by dialing + 1 (719) 457-0820. The passcode is 9488344.

Information required by Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation G, regarding non-GAAP financial measures, as well as other financial and statistical information, will be available at the time of the webcast on the “Investors & Media” section of www.mattel.com, under the sub-headings “Financial Information” – “Earnings Releases.”

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Radica® and Tyco R/C®, as well as Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People®, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2009, Mattel is recognized among the “100 Best Corporate Citizens,” as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" and as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s "100 Best Companies to Work For.” With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs approximately 30,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Mattel's vision is to be the world's premier toy brands—today and tomorrow.

Note: This release contains a forward-looking statement relating to Mattel's 2009 focus in light of expected revenue challenges. This forward-looking statement is based on currently available operating, financial, economic and competitive information and is subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, affect the operations, performance, business strategy and results of Mattel and could cause actual future results to differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statement. Some of these factors are described in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section of Mattel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and Mattel's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for fiscal year 2009, as well as in Mattel's other public statements. Mattel does not update forward-looking statements and expressly disclaims any obligation to do so.