Martha Stewart Revenues Zoom

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 5/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

New York —

Buoyed by surging magazine ad revenue, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia reported a sharply narrowed first-quarter loss of $6.8 million, recovering from a prior-year deficit of $19.2 million. Sales at the diversified media and licensing company soared higher by 59.9%, to $61.8 million from $38.7 million last year. Driving the top-line recovery was a 43% rise in publishing revenues, to $36.3 million from $25.4 million last year.

Merchandising jumped up by 20.1%, to $11.3 million from $9.4 million, driven by a new relationship with KB Home, now building Martha-branded communities. Likely to boost future results are licensing deals for a Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's, rugs by Safavieh, and a new line of Martha Stewart Crafts products.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.