First Quarter Highlights

• Worldwide net sales up 8 percent;
• Domestic gross sales up 7 percent and international gross sales up 10 percent;
• Worldwide gross sales for core brands: Barbie® up 14 percent; Hot Wheels® up 6 percent; Core Fisher-Price® flat and American Girl® brands up 4 percent;
• Gross margin increased 60 basis points of net sales; SG&A increased 190 basis points of net sales;
• Operating income of $36.8 million compared to operating income of $45.2 million in the first quarter of 2010; and
• Earnings per share of $0.05 vs. prior year earnings per share of $0.07.

• Board declares second 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.
• The company repurchased 4 million shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately $100 million.

"Our diverse portfolio of brands and countries has once again allowed us to deliver on our goal of consistent growth," said Robert A. Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer of Mattel. "Additionally, we are well positioned to improve operating margin and deliver strong cash flow for the year."

Financial Overview

For the quarter, net sales were $951.9 million, up 8 percent compared to $880.1 million last year, including favorable changes in currency exchange rates of 1 percentage point. On a regional basis, first quarter gross sales increased 7 percent in the U.S. and 10 percent in international markets, including favorable changes in currency exchange rates of 2 percentage points. Operating income for the quarter was $36.8 million, compared to prior year's operating income for the quarter of $45.2 million.

The company's debt-to-total-capital ratio was 32.3 percent. Consistent with the seasonality of the business, during the quarter the company's cash and equivalents declined by approximately $232 million, compared with a decline of approximately $245 million in last year's first quarter.

Net cash flows used for operating activities were approximately $42 million, a decrease of $203 million compared with approximately $245 million in 2010. The decrease is primarily due to the collection of $300 million of domestic receivables not factored in 2010, partially offset by higher working capital usage.

Cash flows used for financing and other activities were $181 million, a decrease of $216 million, compared to approximately $35 million provided by financing activities in 2010, primarily reflecting share repurchases and first quarter dividend payments.

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 $656.4 million, up 15 percent versus a year ago. Worldwide gross sales for the Barbie® brand were up 14 percent. Worldwide gross sales for Other Girls Brands were up 38 percent, driven by the Monster High® and Disney Princess™ doll lines. Worldwide gross sales for the Wheels category, which includes the Hot Wheels®, Matchbox® and Tyco R/C® brands, were up 4 percent. Worldwide gross sales for the Entertainment business, which includes Radica® and Games and Puzzles, were up 13 percent for the quarter, primarily driven by growth in the CARS™, Green Lantern® and Toy Story® 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 $309.9 million, or down 2 percent versus the prior year due primarily to the discontinuation of the Sesame Street product line.

American Girl Brands

First quarter gross sales for the American Girl Brands business unit, which offers American Girl® branded products directly to consumers, were $73.0 million, up 4 percent versus last year, primarily driven by strong sales of Kanani™, Girl of the Year 2011.

Quarterly Dividend

Additionally, the Company announced today that its Board of Directors declared a second quarter cash dividend of $0.23 per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend will be payable on June 17, 2011 to stockholders of record on May 25, 2011. The dividend is the second of four quarterly dividends the Company expects to pay 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, and was also ranked among Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." 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.