Why Shares of Mattel Bounced Back Today

What happened

Shares of toy maker Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) surged on Monday, erasing the loss suffered last week following the company's disastrous third quarter. Speculation about a possible takeover seems to be the main driver. The stock was up about 11.5% at 3:45 p.m. EDT.

So what

A report from Gerrick Johnson, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, suggested that Mattel could be a takeover target after its dismal results. Mattel's third-quarter earnings report featured a double-digit revenue decline, a steep drop in earnings, and the suspension of the dividend. The Toys R Us bankruptcy was a major headwind, but Mattel has been facing weak demand for its core brands for years.

Johnson believes Mattel's manufacturing assets and brands could be worth more than $10 billion in a sale, about double the company's current market capitalization. Shares of Mattel have plummeted 55% since mid-2016, as the company's long-awaited turnaround failed to materialize.

Johnson has a price target of $20 on the stock along with the equivalent of a "buy" rating.

Now what

Investors should remember that this talk of a takeover is purely speculation. A buyer would need to figure out a way to turn around the company's struggling brands, something that Mattel has failed to do over the past few years.

Investors willing to bet on a risky turnaround play should put Mattel on their radars. But the hope of a buyout shouldn't be the only reason for buying the stock.

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Timothy Green has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.