Thursday earnings recaps: Mattel and Anheuser-Busch

Posted Jan 31st 2008 7:06PM by Trey Thoelcke
Filed under: Earnings Reports, Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD), Mattel, Inc (MAT)

Something for the kids, something for the grown-ups: Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT) and Anheuser-Busch Companies (NYSE: BUD) reported fourth-quarter results today.

Mattel announced that its fourth-quarter profit rose 15% despite the negative publicity over recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys. Tax gains and strong international sales of Hot Wheels and other toys helped offset the cost of the recalls.

Net income grew to $328.5 million, or 89 cents per share, in the period ending in December, from $286.4 million, or 75 cents per share, in the same quarter of the previous year. Revenue rose 4%, to $2.19 billion, from the year-ago period. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected earnings per share of 73 cents on revenue of $2.13 billion.

For 2007, Mattel posted a profit of $600 million, or $1.54 per share, compared with a profit of $592.9 million, or $1.53 per share in 2006. Net sales totaled $5.97 billion in 2007, up 6% from $5.65 billion in 2006

On Thursday, Mattel shares rose 10.9% to close at $21.01. That's up from the 52-week low of $16.42 a couple of weeks ago.

Anheuser-Busch reported that a resurgence in beer sales helped lift its profit 12%. The company earned $214 million, or 29 cents per share, in the final three months of 2007, up from $191 million, or 25 cents per share, in the same period of the previous year. But analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected earnings per share of 32 cents. Net sales, after excise taxes were deducted, rose 8% percent to $3.7 billion.

For the full year, Anheuser-Busch reported a profit of $2.12 billion, or $2.79 a share, up from $1.97 billion, or $2.53 a share, in 2006. Net sales for the year were $16.7 billion, up 6% from $15.7 a year ago.

Anheuser-Busch shares fell to a 52-week low of $46.09 during the day Thursday.

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Tags: Anheuser-Busch, beer, BUD, earnings, earnings reports, Hot Wheels, inthenews, MAT, Mattel, toy recalls