Hasbro\\\'s profit beats estimates on strong demand for girls\\\' toys

LONDON , Apr 21 (Reuters): Toymaker Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by strong demand for its toys for girls.
Sales of girls' toys such as My Little Pony and Nerf Rebelle increased 21 per cent to $138.7 million in the first quarter ended March 30.
The girls' toys business accounted for 20.4 per cent of total revenue in the quarter, up from 17.3 per cent a year earlier.
Revenue from boys' toys, the company's largest business category, rose 2 per cent, while revenue from preschool toys and games both fell 4 per cent.
Larger rival Mattel Inc (MAT.O) last week reported its first quarterly net loss in nearly five years due to a double-digit fall in sales of its Barbie dolls.
Hasbro's first-quarter revenue rose 2 per cent to $679.5 million, falling short of the average analyst estimate of $690.17 million. International revenue rose 5 per cent to $305.5 million.
Net income was $32.1 million, or 24 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $6.7 million, or 5 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, the company earned 14 cents per share.