Barbie dollars! Mattel’s value up by £1bn
In the pink: Margot Robbie as Barbie
Mattel Inc has seen its value rocket by £1 billion this year ahead of the Barbie movie.
The US toy-maker’s share price has risen by a fifth since the start of 2023 and Mattel is now worth £5.9 billion.
Most of the surge has happened in the last three months as anticipation grew for the release of the film – directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Oscar-nominated Margot Robbie as Barbie – based on the Mattel doll.
Analysts believe Nasdaq-listed Mattel could be worth even more. Goldman Sachs last week gave its shares a target price of £18.70, which would bring its value to £6.6 billion.
Global retailers are cashing in on the Barbie craze. Fashion chains including H&M, Gap, Zara and Primark are all launching collections linked to the film.
At Zara, a Barbie perfume, hoop earrings and a pink cropped hoodie were all out of stock by Wednesday on the company’s UK site.
Mattel is selling a Barbie doll dressed in a pink gingham dress – similar to one of Robbie’s costumes – for £44.99. Others modelled on characters in the film are priced at £66.99.
Sales of Barbie figurines hit £1.15 billion last year and are expected to increase sharply.
The price of vintage dolls has also rocketed.
