Martha Stewart Loss Widens as Sales Drop

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. said its loss widened to $20.3 million and sales fell for a sixth straight quarter as its founder’s obstruction-of-justice trial and conviction kept some advertisers off the company’s magazine pages.

The net loss in the first quarter expanded to 41 cents a share, from $4.51 million, or 9 cents, a year earlier, the company said. Sales declined 23% to $44.5 million.

Publishing sales fell 30%, and Chief Executive Sharon Patrick said the company was redesigning Martha Stewart Living magazine to emphasize the word “Living” and downplay its founder’s name.

Shares of the company fell 61 cents to $9.09 on the New York Stock Exchange.