PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) -- Toy maker Hasbro Inc.'s profit rose 24% as it avoided the mountain of lead-paint related recalls that plagued many of its competitors.

The Pawtucket, R.I.-based company's profit rose to 84 cents per share, from 62 cents a year earlier. Wall Street expected the company to report 81 cents per share in the period.

Sales climbed 16% to $1.3 billion as Hasbro (HAS) sold more Transformers, Marvel, Littlest Pet Shop, Baby Alive, Nerf, Monopoly, Operation and Sorry toys and games.

Competitor Mattel Inc. (MAT, Fortune 500) posted a 15% gain in fourth-quarter profit, but faced negative publicity during the fourth quarter because of its recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys tainted with lead.

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