Is Mattel a good stock for Barbie?

The fashionable doll makes her big-screen debut this week. Mattel ( MAT -1.30%), which has marketed Barbie since 1959, is enjoying the hype over the new Barbie movie. And the toymaker's stock could be on track for its best performance in several years. Are Barbie dollars driving Mattel stock higher?

Will the Barbie movie be a good news for Mattel?

Yes, it's the Barbie movie, fittingly called Barbie, and it's everywhere. That could be great news for Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD), which is producing the film, but it could be even better news for Mattel ( MAT 0.65%), owner of the Barbie brand. Let's see what this highly anticipated film release could mean for the toymaker's stock.

Does Mattel still sell Barbie?

It's a different picture in the real world. Sure, Barbie continues to be one of Mattel's top products. Consumer research company Circana still ranks Barbie as the No. 1 doll property marketed globally. However, Mattel reported that its net sales in the first quarter of 2023 fell 22% year over year. The primary culprit? None other than Barbie.