DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 

Hasbro Inc.'s (HAS) fourth-quarter earnings rose 77%, smashing analysts' estimates, as the company's revenue--helped by particular strength in sales of boys' items and games and puzzles--jumped.

Looking ahead, Hasbro "should be able to grow revenues and earnings per share" this year, including impacts from the company's television investments "and absent a deterioration in consumer spending, global economic conditions or the value of foreign currencies," said Chairman and Chief Executive Brian Goldner. Analysts' average expectations were a 1% drop in 2010 revenue and a 3% decline in per-share earnings, according to Thomson Reuters.

The second-biggest U.S. toy maker behind Mattel Inc. (MAT) has seen recent strength in its products for boys, largely helped by sales of TV- and movie-related toys that have piggybacked off the success of their big-screen counterparts. Goldner in October said that if early positive fourth-quarter sales trends kept up, the company would be able to post revenue growth for the full year--which it did.

Hasbro reported a profit of $165.6 million, or $1.09 a share, up from $93.6 million, or 62 cents, a year earlier. Revenue climbed 12% to $1.38 billion and rose 7% excluding currency impacts.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast earnings of 81 cents on $1.34 billion in revenue.

Gross margin rose to 59.1% from 56.2%.

Hasbro's boys' segment saw revenue jump 16%, and game-and-puzzle sales rose 18%. Girls' sales increased 4%.

Mattel last month reported its earnings surged 86% as its flagship Barbies saw their biggest sales increase in years.

Shares of Hasbro closed at $30.80 Friday and were inactive premarket.

-By Nathan Becker, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2855; nathan.becker@dowjones.com;