Turnover growth for Hasbro despite weak fourth quarter

Despite weaker Star Wars and Frozen sales in an equally unimpressive fourth quarter, Hasbro has still managed a full-year turnover increase. It is the largest toy manufacturer in the eleven largest toy countries.

-2 % in fourth quarter, +4 % annually

American toy manufacturer Hasbro’s fourth quarter turnover experienced a slight drop. The demand for Star Wars and Frozen slumped and the improved Transformers, Monopoly and My Little Pony sales failed to counter those losses. Quarterly turnover reached 1.6 billion dollars (1.3 billion euro), about 2 % below last year’s fourth quarter turnover. Toy store chain Toys ‘R’ Us’ bankruptcy, which was one of Hasbro’s main customers, also had its impact.

For its full fiscal year, Hasbro’s turnover reached 5.21 billion dollars (4.25 billion euro), which is in fact a 4 % increase compared to the year before. Exchange rate fluctuations did have a positive 79.2 million dollar (65 million euro) impact. “Thanks to this strong performance, Hasbro was number one in the eleven largest toy markets in 2017’, chairman and CEO Brian Goldner said.  

The board is mainly satisfied knowing that each division and every region achieved growth: US and Canada (+5 %), the rest of the world (+2 %) and Entertainment & Licensing (+10 %). If we look at Europe, then we do see a negative, namely –2 %. In the end, the toy manufacturer had a 693.1 million dollar profit (565 million euro), excluding the impact of the American tax reform.