The Wall Street Journalreports that Barbie helped boost Mattel's fourth quarter profits by 86%. Barbie sales jumped 12% in 2009 compared to the year before. However, Mattel's overall sales only increased by 1% because the toy manufacturer did not do as well in other categories.
The largest U.S. toy maker reported a profit of $328.4 million, or 89 cents a share, up from $176.4 million, or 49 cents, a year earlier. The periods included tax benefits of 8 cents a share and 13 cents, respectively.
Despite a 12% increase in Barbie sales, its overall sales were lackluster, with revenue climbing 1% to $1.96 billion. Sales fell 2% in the U.S., where Mr. Eckert said Mattel lost "a little bit" of market share, mostly as a result of fewer toys tied to entertainment than last year.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast earnings of 68 cents a share on $1.98 billion in revenue for the El Segundo, Calif., company.
The Wall Street Journal 
