Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 
Nvidia Nears $20 Billion OpenAI Investment as AI Funding Race Intensifies 
Anthropic Eyes $350 Billion Valuation as AI Funding and Share Sale Accelerate 
Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe 
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 
Sony Q3 Profit Jumps on Gaming and Image Sensors, Full-Year Outlook Raised 
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge 
Nintendo Shares Slide After Earnings Miss Raises Switch 2 Margin Concerns 
Australian Scandium Project Backed by Richard Friedland Poised to Support U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpile 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil 
Alphabet’s Massive AI Spending Surge Signals Confidence in Google’s Growth Engine 
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
Barington Capital has recently acquired a stake in the renowned toymaker Mattel, prompting calls for significant corporate changes. In a letter addressed to Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz, the activist investor is pushing for a series of strategic maneuvers to rejuvenate the toy company's lagging share price.
Among the suggested overhaul measures, Barington Capital emphasizes the need to contemplate alternative strategies for the Fisher-Price and American Girl brands and address what is perceived as overly generous stock-based executive compensation.
Strategic Business Reevaluation
As per Reuters, the investor's strategic vision includes potentially divesting from the Fisher-Price and American Girl lines, which could streamline Mattel's focus and boost profitability. Barington's analysis points to these divisions as underperforming elements that, if reconstructed or sold, could release value for stakeholders. Interestingly, Barington has advocated for a substantial $2 billion share repurchasing plan, which could further amplify stock value through scarcity.
Corporate Governance and Financial Proposals
According to Seeking Alpha, Barington suggests separating Mattel's combined CEO and chairman roles, currently occupied by Kreiz, to improve leadership clarity and effectiveness. This separation of powers could enhance decision-making and accountability at the helm of the business.
Additionally, Founder James Mitarotonda sees this proposed transformation working symbiotically with ongoing enhancements in Mattel's key departments—namely its core fashion doll and toy vehicle segments. Mitarotonda claims that such systemic changes, alongside existing improvements, could potentially double Mattel's share price within the next three years.
There has been no immediate response from Mattel or Barington Capital to Reuters' request for comment on the matter. However, the news of Barington's involvement and the associated push for a strategy shift has already impacted the market.
After the announcement, Mattel's stock experienced a 5% upswing in after-hours trading, indicating investor optimism about the proposed strategy.
Photo: Mattel Newsroom
