mso stock: MSO (Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia)

MSO (stock) — Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Brief lead

mso stock refers to the NYSE ticker historically used by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, the U.S. media and merchandising company founded by Martha Stewart. This article summarizes the company's profile, corporate history, key transactions that changed the stock's trading status, and where investors or researchers can find historical mso stock quotes and filings.

As an immediate guide: this article covers the company overview, corporate milestones including the IPO and later acquisition, the delisting and trading suspension events that affected mso stock, business segments and revenue drivers, governance and litigation history, and authoritative sources for historical market data and SEC filings.

H2: Overview

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (often abbreviated MSO in corporate references) operated as a multi‑channel lifestyle company whose principal activities historically included publishing, merchandising and licensing, broadcasting and digital content, and retail/e‑commerce partnerships.

The Martha Stewart brand—anchored by Martha Stewart’s reputation as a lifestyle authority—served as the core intellectual property behind product licensing, a flagship magazine, branded television and digital programming, and consumer goods sold through retail partners. When publicly listed, the company’s common shorthand in financial markets was $MSO or the ticker mso stock on the NYSE.

The company’s business model relied on monetizing branded content (magazines and digital media), licensing the Martha Stewart name to third‑party manufacturers and retailers, and operating direct commerce and branded partnerships. These lines underpin the historical narrative behind mso stock and investor interest during the company’s public years.

H2: Corporate history

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was formed to aggregate and commercialize Martha Stewart’s media and licensing activities into a corporate platform. The firm was founded in 1997 and pursued an initial public offering in October 1999.

mso stock began trading following the IPO and for more than a decade traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MSO. The company’s public history included growth-driven licensing deals and expansion into broadcast and digital media, alongside periods of pressure tied to structural shifts in print media and a number of high‑profile legal and governance events.

A notable inflection in the company’s public profile involved Martha Stewart’s personal legal matters in the early 2000s. The widely publicized insider‑trading related proceedings impacted corporate leadership roles and public perception; after legal proceedings, Martha Stewart’s executive and public roles at the company evolved under the constraints of settlement terms and regulatory attention.

H3: Key acquisitions and ownership changes

In 2015 a significant change occurred when a buyer announced an acquisition of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. As a result of the acquisition process, the company’s public listing and the trading status of mso stock were directly affected.

As of August 2015, according to company announcements and press reporting, a transaction to transfer ownership of the company and its assets was announced, leading to suspension of trading and delisting steps consistent with a change from a publicly listed company to a private or differently structured ownership. The transaction moved core brand assets and certain operating units under new ownership and restructured licensing and merchandising arrangements.

Subsequent to the 2015 transaction there were additional changes in ownership of brand rights and licensing portfolios. Over time, parts of the business and the Martha Stewart brand were managed, licensed or sold through different corporate parents or brand‑management firms. These ownership shifts changed the direct public reporting relationship that once existed for mso stock.

H2: Business segments and operations

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia historically reported operations across several principal segments. These segments are useful for understanding revenue mix and how investors evaluated mso stock:

• Publishing: Magazine titles (notably Martha Stewart Living) and associated print advertising, subscriptions and circulation‑driven revenues.
• Merchandising and Licensing: Licensing of the Martha Stewart brand to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers for home goods, cookware, linens, and other licensed product categories.
• Broadcasting and Digital Media: Branded television content, digital programming, advertising revenue from online properties, and video/content partnerships.
• E‑commerce and Retail Partnerships: Direct selling, co‑branded product lines, and partnerships with major retailers where the brand was used to drive retail footprint and product distribution.

Typical revenue sources for the company included magazine sales and advertising, licensing fees and royalties from product partners, retailer slotting and distribution agreements, and digital advertising or streaming revenue under broadcasting/digital initiatives. Over time, industry trends shifted relative contributions between print and merchandise licensing.

H2: Financial performance

When it was public, the company reported conventional financial metrics familiar to equity analysts and investors: total revenue, operating income or loss, net income (or loss), earnings per share (EPS), gross margins, and segment disclosures showing how publishing, licensing, and other lines performed.

Historical trends for companies like Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia often showed declining print advertising and circulation revenue offset to varying degrees by growth in licensing and merchandising revenues. For mso stock, analysts and investors tracked year‑over‑year revenue changes, operating margin variations, and how licensing royalties and retail partnerships could stabilize or expand cash flow as print revenue declined.

Reported financial results and balance‑sheet metrics for the public company are available through SEC filings and archived investor materials. For historical performance data on mso stock, primary sources include annual Form 10‑K filings, quarterly Form 10‑Q filings, and investor presentations issued while the company remained listed. Financial data providers and market data aggregators also maintain historical snapshots of revenue, EPS and valuation measures.

H2: Stock information and trading history

The ticker symbol MSO (commonly referenced as mso stock) was listed on the New York Stock Exchange after the company’s IPO in October 1999. During the public period, quotes for mso stock were available across market data platforms and financial news services.

Historical trading characteristics for mso stock included variable liquidity that reflected public attention on the brand, major corporate announcements, and macro trends in media and retail. Trading volumes and intraday price action were tracked by exchanges and widely disseminated by financial media.

Because of the corporate transactions in 2015, the publicly traded form of mso stock ceased to trade on the NYSE in its prior listed form. As a result, current live quotes for an active NYSE‑listed MSO are not available; however, historical price series and legacy quotes for mso stock remain accessible in archives and financial data providers’ historical databases.

H3: Delisting / trading status after acquisition

Following the 2015 acquisition activity, the company requested and obtained a suspension of trading and subsequent delisting steps consistent with its change in ownership. The effect was that mso stock no longer traded on the NYSE under the public company structure that had existed before the transaction.

Some financial data aggregators and archival services continue to show historical snapshots or legacy quotes for mso stock, often clearly labeled as historical data. Researchers seeking live trading data should confirm whether an active security exists under a similar ticker today or if any successor entity established a new ticker under a different corporate identity.

H2: Corporate governance and notable events

Throughout its public life Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia maintained a board of directors and standard corporate governance structures appropriate for a listed company. Martha Stewart herself served in executive and board roles at various times; her role and the limits placed on her position changed over time, especially after the legal matters in the early 2000s.

Notable governance events included board appointments tied to strategic shifts in licensing and media strategy, and adjustments to management after high‑profile legal proceedings affecting founder leadership. These governance developments influenced public perception of mso stock and investor confidence during sensitive periods.

Significant legal or contractual matters—such as disputes with retail partners over merchandising agreements or lawsuits concerning licensing contracts—also intersected with corporate governance because of potential financial and reputational effects on the company and, by extension, on mso stock when it was publicly traded.

H2: Market perception and investor information

Investors historically evaluated mso stock by following analyst coverage, investor presentations, earnings releases, and company filings. When public, the company’s market capitalization and daily trading volumes were visible metrics used to assess liquidity and market perception.

Analyst coverage for lifestyle and licensing companies typically focused on revenue growth for licensing, gross margin sustainability, print media secular trends, and the stability of retailer partnerships. Investors also tracked any dividend policy decisions, though historically dividend payments were not a significant or consistent feature for this company during its public life.

Where to find investor information: During the public period, mainstream financial sites, brokers’ research pages, and filings on SEC EDGAR provided the most authoritative data for mso stock. Archived snapshots on financial aggregators such as Investing.com, MarketBeat, and Nasdaq’s historical pages are useful for retrospective analysis of market cap, volume, and price history.

H2: Brands, products and partnerships

The Martha Stewart brand extended into multiple product categories and partnership arrangements. Prominent brand extensions included the Martha Stewart Living magazine, licensed home goods ranges, and co‑branded retail programs.

Retail partnerships historically included department store rollouts, exclusive product lines with national retailers, and later collaborations for digital commerce and subscription services. Licensing partners produced home furnishings, kitchenware, bedding, and other consumer products bearing the Martha Stewart brand.

Beyond traditional retail, the company entered digital and content partnerships that leveraged the brand for recipe delivery, home design content, and lifestyle programming—channels that paired content with product promotion and licensing income.

H2: Controversies and litigation

Legal controversies and disputes impacted the company’s public image and had material implications for investor sentiment toward mso stock. The most prominent legal matter involved Martha Stewart’s personal legal proceedings related to insider‑trading allegations in the early 2000s, which led to criminal charges, a trial, and a custodial sentence for the founder. That case affected executive roles, public perception and certain contractual arrangements in the years that followed.

Beyond that high‑profile case, the company experienced contractual disputes and litigation typical for multinational licensing entities—class actions, claims with retailers over contract terms, and occasional litigation over licensing and trademark issues. Such legal matters could affect earnings or future licensing prospects and were material disclosures during the public reporting period.

H2: Historical timelines and milestones

A concise timeline of key corporate milestones relevant to mso stock:

• 1997: Company foundation — Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia established to consolidate Martha Stewart’s media and licensing activities.
• October 1999: IPO — the company completed an initial public offering and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker now commonly referenced as mso stock.
• Early 2000s: Legal proceedings — Martha Stewart’s personal legal matters and subsequent criminal case affected leadership roles and public perception.
• 2000s–2010s: Licensing expansion — continued growth in licensed product lines and retail partnerships while print revenue faced long‑term industry pressures.
• 2015: Ownership change — a major acquisition transaction was announced and executed, prompting suspension of trading and delisting steps that removed mso stock from active NYSE listing in its historic public form.
• Post‑2015: Brand licensing and ownership transfers — the Martha Stewart brand and associated licensing portfolios experienced transfers and management under different brand or licensing firms, with ongoing licensing activity under new corporate arrangements.

H2: Where to find historical quotes and filings

For authoritative historical data on mso stock and corporate filings, consult primary sources and archival financial databases:

• SEC EDGAR: Primary repository for Form 10‑K, Form 10‑Q, Form 8‑K and other filings issued while the company was public. These filings provide audited financial statements, management discussion and analysis (MD&A), and material event disclosures.
• Archived exchange pages: NYSE historical listings and archived market data pages can show past quotes and delisting notices.
• Financial aggregators: Sites such as Investing.com, MarketBeat, and other market data services maintain historical price series, volume and market cap snapshots for legacy tickers like mso stock.
• Company press releases and investor presentations: Archived press releases and investor relations documents issued during the public period are useful for transaction timelines, strategic rationale and management commentary.

As a practical note: when using third‑party aggregators, verify that the data are labeled as historical and check EDGAR for original filings to confirm material facts.

H2: See also

• Martha Stewart
• Sequential Brands Group
• Marquee Brands
• NYSE delisting
• Brand licensing

H2: References and further reading

This article draws on public company filings, historical press releases, and mainstream financial data aggregators as primary sources for historical prices, corporate events and acquisition/delisting details. For verification of dates and reported figures, consult SEC filings on EDGAR, the company’s archived investor materials, and historical entries on reputable reference pages such as the company’s Wikipedia page and financial aggregator archives.

As of August 2015, according to company statements and press reporting, an acquisition agreement affecting Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was announced and executed, which materially altered the public trading status of mso stock and led to subsequent delisting steps and ownership transfers.

Further reading suggestions (sources to consult for primary verification): official SEC filings (10‑K, 8‑K), archived NYSE notices, company press releases from 1999–2016, and historical snapshots on investing and market data sites. These sources provide quantifiable metrics—historical market capitalization, trading volumes, and reported financials—useful for research on mso stock.

Additional notes and guidance for researchers

• Historical quotes: Use EDGAR and archived exchange pages for primary confirmation. Financial aggregators can provide convenient price series but verify against official filings.
• Earnings and metrics: For revenue, EPS and margins reported during the public period, consult annual 10‑K filings and quarterly 10‑Q filings preserved on SEC EDGAR.
• Ownership transitions: Review Form 8‑K filings and press releases surrounding 2015 transactions for exact dates and transaction terms.

Further exploration and Bitget recommendation

If you are researching legacy corporate tickers and want to explore modern trading or digital asset platforms, consider reviewing regulated platforms such as Bitget for up‑to‑date market offerings and secure wallet solutions. For wallets and Web3 interactions, Bitget Wallet is a recommended option for users interested in bridging traditional financial research with modern digital asset infrastructure. This article does not provide investment advice and is intended as an informational, historical overview of mso stock.

More practical steps

• To retrieve primary filings for mso stock research, search SEC EDGAR for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia filings dated 1999–2015.
• To view historical price series for mso stock, consult archived market data on recognized aggregators and verify with exchange archives.
• For brand and licensing updates after 2015, consult press releases from the acquiring entities and subsequent brand managers.

Explore more

If you want a tailored list of SEC filings or a step‑by‑step guide to pulling historical price data for mso stock from EDGAR and market archives, request a specific date range or filing type and this guide can provide targeted instructions and examples.