By Chicago Times Magazine
February 10, 2026
Hasbro, Inc. reported a landmark fiscal year 2025 characterized by a strategic pivot toward digital gaming and high-growth intellectual property. The company achieved a 14% increase in total annual revenue, a feat driven almost exclusively by a historic 45% surge in the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment. Chief Executive Officer Chris Cocks praised the “Playing to Win” strategy for returning the company to growth and engaging over one billion fans globally. While the Consumer Products and Entertainment divisions experienced slight declines of 4% each, the explosive success of Magic: The Gathering—which saw its strongest year ever with a 59% revenue increase—offset those headwinds. The company’s focus on Universes Beyond sets and licensed digital hits like Monopoly Go! proved essential to the bottom line. Despite a reported net loss of $2.30 per share tied to a second-quarter non-cash goodwill impairment, adjusted net earnings reached a robust $5.54 per diluted share. Chief Financial Officer Gina Goetter highlighted the company’s strong operational execution and cost-saving initiatives, which helped drive an adjusted operating margin of 24.2%. Looking toward 2026, the company expects a revenue increase of 3% to 5% and has authorized a new $1.0 billion share repurchase program. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.70 per share was also declared, payable on March 4, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 18.
Hasbro’s origins date back to 1923, when brothers Henry, Hilal, and Herman Hassenfeld founded a textile remnant business in Providence, Rhode Island. The company soon transitioned into school supplies before making its definitive mark on the toy industry. In 1952, the Hassenfelds launched Mr. Potato Head, famously becoming the first toy marketed directly to children via television. The company further revolutionized the industry in 1964 by introducing G.I. Joe and inventing the “action figure” category. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Hasbro expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of legendary brands such as Milton Bradley, Tonka, and Parker Brothers, bringing icons like Monopoly and Transformers under one roof. The turn of the millennium marked another pivotal shift with the 1999 acquisition of Wizards of the Coast, creators of Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. This move laid the groundwork for the modern Hasbro, which has evolved from a traditional manufacturer into a digital-first entertainment and IP powerhouse that manages a massive ecosystem of tabletop games, digital apps, and global media franchises.
Feature image: Toys Make Baby Mad – Chicago Times Magazine Artist
