News Summary: Mattel 2Q net income beats Street

Published July 17, 2012 2:18pm ET



THE NEWS: Mattel Inc., the largest U.S. toy maker, said Tuesday its second-quarter net income rose 20 percent, on strong demand for Barbie and Monster High dolls and lower advertising and sales costs.

THE CONTEXT: The second-quarter is a seasonally small one for toy makers, as most sales come during the second half of the year and the holiday season. But results beat Wall Street expectations.

WHAT’S NEXT: El Segundo, Calif.-based Mattel has toys tied into the Disney movie “Brave,” released in June and “Batman – The Dark Knight Rises,” which opens Friday.