Star Wars Sales Lift Toymaker Hasbro Results

Sales of Star Wars merchandise and Disney Princess dolls have helped toymaker Hasbro (NasdaqGS: HAS - news) post a better-than-expected surge in quarterly profits and revenues.

Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) climbed 5% after the company said net earnings for the first three months of 2016 rose 83% to $48.8m (£34.3m) and revenues grew 16% to $831.2m (£584m).

Hasbro has seen strong sales momentum from the latest instalment of the Star Wars franchise which is expected to continue as the film is released on DVD.

The company holds licensing deals for the series as well as the likes of Jurassic Park and Avengers.

Hasbro last year edged out larger rival Mattel (NasdaqGS: MAT - news) for a license to make dolls based on Disney's popular princess characters such as Cinderella and Snow White.

It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) began selling Disney Princess and Frozen dolls in the latest quarter, boosting sales.

Hasbro boss Brian Goldner said: "The momentum with which we ended last year has continued throughout the first quarter 2016.

"Demand for Star Wars: The Force Awakens products continued to be high and we benefited from the addition of Disney Princess and Frozen fashion and small dolls.

"We are very encouraged with global demand and our outlook for 2016."