Mattel Stock Up on Opening on 2006 Financial Results

Mattel (MAT) Stock Up on Opening on 2006 Financial Results

With Barbie sales up and better than expected numbers Mattel (MAT ) is up on the opening


Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT ) today reported 2006 fourth quarter and full-year financial results. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $286.4 million, or $0.75 per share, compared to last year's fourth quarter net income of $279.2 million, or $0.69 per share. For the year, the company reported net income of $592.9 million, or $1.53 per share, compared to last year's net income of $417.0 million, or $1.01 per share.

full release -
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070129/lam006.html?.v=80

changing face of toys ? - Ugly Betty- now ugly toys

An interesting article posted in the New York Times on a trend of ugly toys

Toy Story

STEVEN HELLER
Published: January 28, 2007
The (variously) one-eyed, one-horned, purple, red and green people eaters called Uglydolls are among the most successful of a new wave of vinyl, plastic and plush “designer toys.” Originally conceived by the New York design school graduates David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, the Uglydoll line has grown into a monstrous franchise with dozens of iterations, collected (ostensibly for their kids) by baby boomers, like me, who have yet to fully embrace maturity. Uglydolls are, however, but one brand among scores — if not hundreds — of patently quirky and deliberately unsightly toy/object characters that have exploded into a minor global phenomenon.
full article -
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/books/review/Heller.t.html