Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Worldwide net sales up 9 percent from the prior year;
• Domestic gross sales up 11 percent and international gross sales up 6 percent;
• Worldwide gross sales for core brands: Barbie® up 8 percent; Hot Wheels® up 1 percent; Core Fisher-Price® flat and American Girl® up 8 percent;
• Gross margin decreased 180 basis points of net sales; SG&A decreased 10 basis points of net sales;
• Operating income was $428.6 million compared to operating income of $417.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2009; and
• Earnings per share of $0.89 vs. prior year of $0.89 (includes tax benefit of $0.08 per share).

• Worldwide net sales up 8 percent from the prior year;
• Domestic gross sales up 9 percent and international gross sales up 6 percent;
• Worldwide gross sales for core brands: Barbie® up 7 percent; Hot Wheels® up 3 percent; Core Fisher-Price® down 3 percent and American Girl® up 5 percent;
• Gross margin increased 50 basis points of net sales; SG&A decreased 130 basis points of net sales;
• Operating income was $901.9 million compared to operating income of $731.2 million for the full-year 2009; and
• Earnings per share of $1.86 (includes tax benefit of $0.05 per share) vs. prior year of $1.45 (includes tax benefit of $0.08 per share).

• Board declares first quarter cash dividend of $0.23 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend of $0.92 per share, which represents an 11 percent increase to last year's annual dividend.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- February 2, 2011 -- Mattel, Inc. today reported 2010 fourth quarter and full-year financial results. For the fourth quarter, the company reported net income of $325.2 million, or $0.89 per share, compared to last year's fourth quarter net income of $328.4 million, or $0.89 per share. For the year, the company reported net income of $684.9 million, or $1.86 per share, compared to last year's net income of $528.7 million, or $1.45 per share.

"I am pleased with our strong results for the quarter and the year, with revenue growth across brands and markets, and improved profitability," said Robert A. Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer of Mattel. "Our priority for 2011 is to accelerate our performance by inculcating our new vision and implementing a new organizational structure; uncovering the next layer of cost cutting opportunities; generating significant cash flow; and deploying capital in a disciplined and opportunistic manner."

Financial Overview

For the fourth quarter, net sales were $2.12 billion, a 9 percent increase from $1.96 billion last year, and included an unfavorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of 2 percentage points. On a regional basis, fourth quarter gross sales were up 11 percent in the U.S. and were up 6 percent in international markets, which included an unfavorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of 5 percentage points. Operating income for the quarter was $428.6 million, or 20.2 percent of net sales.

For the year, net sales were $5.86 billion, an 8 percent increase from $5.43 billion last year, and included an unfavorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of 2 percentage points. On a regional basis, full-year gross sales were up 9 percent in the U.S. and were up 6 percent in international markets, which included an unfavorable impact from changes in currency exchange rates of 4 percentage points. Operating income for the year was $901.9 million, or 15.4 percent of net sales, compared to the prior year of 13.5 percent of net sales.

The company's debt-to-total-capital ratio of 31.3 percent is in line with the company's capital and investment framework, and its year-end cash balance was $1.28 billion.

Net cash flows from operating activities were approximately $528 million, a decrease of $417 million compared with approximately $945 million in 2009. The decrease is primarily due to the decision not to factor $300 million of domestic receivables in 2010, as well as growth in accounts receivable due to increased sales volumes, and the rebuild of inventory, partially offset by higher net income. Inventory levels increased to support point of sale momentum and improve customer service levels as compared to a significant liquidation of inventories in 2009 due to economic uncertainty. Cash flows used for financing and other activities were $217 million, a decrease of $195 million, compared with $412 million in 2009, primarily reflecting proceeds from third quarter debt issuance of $500 million and lower debt maturities in 2010 of $100 million, partially offset by share repurchases of $447 million.

Mattel Girls & Boys Brands

Fourth quarter worldwide gross sales for the Mattel Girls & Boys Brands business unit were $1.27 billion, up 9 percent versus a year ago. Worldwide gross sales for the Barbie® brand were up 8 percent and worldwide gross sales for Other Girls Brands were up 29 percent. Worldwide gross sales for the Wheels business, which includes the Hot Wheels®, Matchbox® and Tyco R/C® brands, were down 4 percent. Worldwide gross sales for the Entertainment business, which includes Radica® and Games and Puzzles, were up 12 percent for the quarter.

For the year, worldwide gross sales for the Mattel Girls & Boys Brands business unit were $3.66 billion, or up 11 percent. Worldwide gross sales for the Barbie® brand were up 7 percent. Worldwide gross sales for Other Girls Brands were up 16 percent for the year. Worldwide gross sales for the Wheels business, which includes the Hot Wheels®, Matchbox® and Tyco R/C® brands, were down 2 percent. Worldwide gross sales for the Entertainment business, including Radica® and Games and Puzzles, were up 27 percent.

Fisher-Price Brands

Fourth 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 $775.8 million, up 6 percent. For the year, worldwide gross sales for the Fisher-Price Brands business unit were $2.22 billion, up 2 percent.

American Girl Brands

Fourth quarter gross sales for the American Girl Brands business unit, which offers American Girl® branded products direct to consumers, were $273.2 million, up 8 percent. For the year, gross sales for the American Girl Brands business unit were $486.6 million, up 5 percent.

Quarterly Dividend

Additionally, the Company announced today that its Board of Directors declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.23 per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend will be payable on March 11, 2011 to stockholders of record on February 24, 2011. The dividend is the first of four quarterly dividends the Company expects to make this year, reflecting an annualized dividend of $0.92 per share, which represents an increase of $0.09, or 11 percent versus last year's annual dividend of $0.83 per share.

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: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 2011, Mattel was named as one of FORTUNE Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the fourth year in a row. Mattel also is ranked among Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" and the "World's Most Ethical Companies." With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs approximately 31,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. At Mattel, we are "Creating the Future of Play." Follow Mattel on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mattel.