Stock Traders Purchase Large Volume of Mattel Call Options (NASDAQ:MAT)

Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Tuesday. Stock investors bought 6,361 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 460% compared to the typical volume of 1,136 call options.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on MAT. Seaport Research Partners raised shares of Mattel to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Morgan Stanley set a $18.00 target price on Mattel in a research report on Wednesday. Zacks Research lowered Mattel from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Citigroup cut Mattel from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $16.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Cfra Research downgraded Mattel from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mattel presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $19.00.

Mattel Stock Performance

Shares of Mattel stock opened at $15.80 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $20.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.12. Mattel has a 52 week low of $13.94 and a 52 week high of $22.48. The company has a market capitalization of $4.91 billion, a PE ratio of 12.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.70.

Mattel (NASDAQ:MAT) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The company reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.14). The business had revenue of $1.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.85 billion. Mattel had a return on equity of 20.82% and a net margin of 7.44%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.35 earnings per share. Mattel has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.180-1.300 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Mattel will post 1.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Trending Headlines about Mattel

Here are the key news stories impacting Mattel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Mattel announced it will acquire full ownership of the Mattel163 mobile games studio, strengthening its digital-games pipeline — a strategic step to address a key weakness versus peers. Mattel to Acquire Full Ownership of Mattel163 Mobile Games Studio
• Positive Sentiment: Company reported year-over-year revenue growth (net sales up ~7%) and said it gained market share in key categories and regions — signs that some core businesses remain resilient. Mattel Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusual options activity showed elevated call buying into the print, indicating some traders were positioned for a rebound or volatility — not a clear directional signal for longer-term holders.
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 EPS of $0.39 missed consensus (~$0.53) and revenue of $1.77B came in below expectations; management cited softer December growth and markdowns as drivers of the miss. Mattel Q4 Earnings & Revenues Miss Estimates, Stock Down
• Negative Sentiment: Mattel set FY‑2026 EPS guidance of $1.18–$1.30, well below the Street (~$1.75), and said strategic investments will pressure near‑term profitability — the guidance cut is the principal driver of the selloff. Barbie maker Mattel forecasts annual profit below estimates on cautious consumer spending
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst and market reaction amplified the move: JPMorgan downgraded Mattel to underweight with a $14 target, and coverage compared Mattel’s outlook unfavorably to Hasbro’s stronger digital/gaming narrative. A tale of two toymakers: Mattel craters, while Hasbro’s digital pivot delivers
• Negative Sentiment: High trading volume and headlines describing the drop as the worst daily decline in decades intensified momentum selling—short-term technical and sentiment risk for holders. Mattel Stock Headed for Worst Day Since 1999

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mattel

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. CSM Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Mattel by 68.9% in the fourth quarter. CSM Advisors LLC now owns 37,273 shares of the company’s stock valued at $740,000 after purchasing an additional 15,201 shares during the period. Picton Mahoney Asset Management increased its holdings in Mattel by 62,893.4% during the 4th quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 38,426 shares of the company’s stock worth $762,000 after purchasing an additional 38,365 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG raised its position in Mattel by 346.1% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 284,568 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,646,000 after purchasing an additional 220,777 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Mattel during the 4th quarter valued at $215,000. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Mattel by 10.5% in the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 136,512 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,708,000 after buying an additional 13,005 shares during the period. 97.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mattel Company Profile

Mattel, Inc is a leading global toy company headquartered in El Segundo, California. Founded in 1945 by Harold “Matt” Matson and Elliot and Ruth Handler, the company has grown into a major player in the toy and family products industry. Mattel designs, manufactures, and markets a broad range of toys, games and entertainment products under well-known brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO and Matchbox. In addition to its proprietary labels, Mattel holds licenses with global entertainment franchises, partnering with Disney, Warner Bros., WWE and other studios to create character-driven play experiences.