Toy sales picked up during the weekend, as last-minute shoppers finally headed to the stores, but overall toy sales remain flat to down from last year's levels and analysts remained neutral on the sector.

 

      PiperJaffray analyst Anthony N. Gikas said in a note to investors that traffic at toy sellers including Toys "R" Us, Target and Wal-Mart Stores appears "relatively flat" year over year.

 

      "The average ticket appears to be down slightly thus far in the shopping season," Gikas said. "The risk seems to be that shoppers are later this year than last."

 

      Meanwhile, JPMorgan analyst Dara Mohsenian initiated coverage on the toy industry with a "Neutral" rating on the sector as well as Mattel and Hasbro.