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According to an Associated Press story in the NY Times, despite the weak economy, Hasbro sales, bolstered by cornerstone brands like Transformers, Nerf, and GI Joe and strong offerings from Hasbro Studios, increased both its fourth quarter and 2009 fiscal year numbers compared to Q4 2008 and 2008 collectively. Wall Street is also encouraged by Hasbro's future plans, including the venture with Discovery to launch the new network Hub later in 2010.

From the AP:

Strong sales of boys’ brands including Transformers and Nerf helped the toymaker Hasbro post a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit, sending its shares up more than 12 percent.

The company, which owns the G.I. Joe, Tonka and Playskool brands, also said it expected sales and earnings per share to grow this year, although it did not offer specific estimates.

“Over all in 2009, the global economic environment did not improve significantly, but it also did not deteriorate further,” the chief executive, Brian Goldner, said. “We were well positioned when the consumer came out to shop, and the consumer did come out to shop, albeit late in the fourth quarter.”

Stock in Hasbro, which is based in Pawtucket, R.I., rose $3.91, to $34.71 a share.

Transformers, helped by the “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” movie in June, took in $592 million in revenue in 2009, up 23 percent compared with 2007, when the original “Transformers” movie was released. Revenue for G.I. Joe, also helped by a summer blockbuster, totaled more than $125 million. Nerf, Play-Doh and Tonka grew 25 percent during the year.

Girls’ brands were weaker. Mr. Goldner said brands including Playskool and Furreal Friends were lower because the company eliminated higher-priced items in the lines in 2009.

Hasbro said it earned $165.6 million, or $1.09 a share, on sales of $1.38 billion. A year earlier, it earned 93.6 million, or 62 cents a share, on sales of $1.23 billion.

Its profit topped the 81 cents expected by Wall Street analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. The company is working on a joint venture children’s network called the Hub with Discovery Communications, scheduled to have its debut in the fall. Programming will include shows based on “My Little Pony” and “Transformers,” among others.

Toy tie-ins with movies have traditionally done well for Hasbro, and the company has a full slate of movies coming over the next three years.

To view the original article, click http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/busin ... hoofinance

To see Hasbro's financial disclosure on their website, click http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zht ... highlight=