A former hedge fund analyst recommends three undervalued stocks with growth potential: Energy Transfer, a midstream company with a 7% yield trading at attractive valuations; JAKKS Pacific, a deep value toymaker benefiting from a new CFO's discipline and upcoming children's movie releases; and GitLab, a software development platform trading at a low EV-to-sales ratio with potential upside from its new Duo Agent solution.

Chinese toymaker Bloks Group swung to profitability in 2025 with 634 million yuan profit, driven by 30% revenue growth and strong overseas expansion, particularly in the Americas. However, the company faces margin pressures from its ultra-low-priced blind box products (9.9 yuan) which account for 18.6% of revenue, and lacks the brand recognition and self-developed IP of competitors like Pop Mart and Lego.

Licensing Expo 2026 has launched an upgraded Event Planner platform featuring AI-powered matchmaking, saved searches, and enhanced search capabilities to help attendees schedule meetings with exhibitors ahead of the May 19-21 event in Las Vegas. The platform recorded 10,000+ meetings last year, with 5,000+ brands and major retailers already registered to participate.

Licensing Expo 2026, taking place May 19-21 in Las Vegas, will feature major global brands including Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, LEGO, NASCAR, and new participants like PepsiCo and Real Madrid FC. The event highlights growing trends in sports licensing, fashion, and gaming, with the global licensing market valued at $369.9 billion in 2025. The expo attracts over 12,000 retailers, licensees, and manufacturers from 70+ countries.

Mattel agreed to acquire NetEase's 50% stake in joint venture Mattel163 for $159 million, aiming to expand digital gaming based on its IP portfolio. However, the stock plummeted nearly 31% after the company issued a disappointing full-year profit forecast and reported fourth-quarter earnings below estimates.

Galaxy Gaming has launched MONOPOLY Blackjack Progressive across premier Metropolitan Casinos in London, marking the debut of MONOPOLY-branded progressive table games in the UK. The game features dynamic gameplay where Mr. MONOPOLY randomly selects hands and awards multipliers up to 10x. This launch is enabled through an exclusive licensing agreement with Hasbro, making Galaxy Gaming the sole table games licensee for MONOPOLY.

The global stuffed animals and plush toys market is projected to grow from USD 13.79 billion in 2025 to USD 26.20 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 8.39%. Growth is driven by rising demand for character-based and educational plush toys, expanding e-commerce channels, and increasing gifting culture. The U.S. market is expected to grow from USD 3.49 billion to USD 6.10 billion by 2033, while Asia Pacific emerges as the fastest-growing region.

Netflix announced a 10-for-1 stock split, continuing its growth trajectory with over 300 million global subscribers, strong revenue increase, and expanding content and licensing strategies.

The 18th annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards honored inventors, designers, and industry professionals, highlighting creativity and collaboration in the toy and game sector, with winners selected through public voting.

Netflix is expanding beyond streaming by diversifying into ads, gaming, real-world experiences, music, and podcasts, aiming to create a multi-dimensional media ecosystem similar to Disney's strategy.

Historical data suggests the Nasdaq will continue its bull market run into 2026, with Netflix positioned as a strong investment due to its robust content library, global expansion, and growing profitability in the streaming market.

Netflix has signed partnerships with Hasbro and Mattel to create merchandise for its hit movie 'KPop Demon Hunters', potentially opening a new multibillion-dollar revenue stream by monetizing its intellectual property through toy and consumer product lines.