Company Contact:
Kevin Scull
Wayside Technology Group, Inc.
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(732) 389-0932
kevin.scull@waysidetechnology.com 
 
 
 
WAYSIDE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC. REPORTS 2008 FOURTH QUARTER
RESULTS AND DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

  -     Gross Profit: $4.5 million, up 4% year-over-year

  -     Income from operations $1.4 million, up 10% year-over-year

SHREWSBURY, NJ, January 29, 2009 – Wayside Technology Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTG) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008. The results will be discussed in a conference call to be held on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM Eastern time. The dial-in telephone number is (866) 814-8476 and the pass code is "WSTG".
 
This conference call will be available via live webcast – in listen-mode only – at www.earnings.com. A replay will be available on our website at www.waysidetechnology.com.
 
Total net sales for the fourth quarter of 2008 amounted to $40.0 million compared to $47.1 million for the same period in 2007. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2008 for our Lifeboat segment were $22.7 million compared to $34.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, representing a 34% decrease. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2008 for our Programmer’s Paradise segment were $17.3 million compared to $12.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, representing a 38% increase.
 
Total gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2008 amounted to $4.5 million, compared to $4.3 million for the same period in 2007. Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2008 for our Lifeboat segment was $2.5 million, compared to $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, representing a 13% decrease. Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2008 for our Programmer’s Paradise segment was $2.0 million, compared to $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, representing a 38% increase.
 
Total gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, for the quarter ending December 31, 2008, was 11.2%, compared to 9.2% in the fourth quarter of 2007.
 
Cash and cash equivalents amount to $18.7 million, representing 78% of our equity as of December 31, 2008. We have no debt.

“Our 2008 fourth quarter was a great quarter, considering the difficult economic environment and the fact that our Lifeboat unit ceased distributing VMware products as of October 1, 2008. Overall, we achieved 10% growth in quarterly income from operations,” said Simon F. Nynens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “Lifeboat has been taking steps to replace the VMware revenue, including signing new distribution contracts with six new software publishers in the fourth quarter. Excluding VMware, Lifeboat’s sales increased by $2.3 million or 11% compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.”
 
 
As stated before, the fourth quarter of 2008 marked the end of distributing VMware-labeled sales for Lifeboat. Total 2008 VMware-labeled distribution sales amounted to $29.2 million, or 17% of our 2008 revenue; product gross margin amounted to $1.0 million, or 6% of our 2008 gross margin. In 2007, total VMware-labeled distribution sales amounted to $57.2 million, or 32% of our 2007 revenue; product gross margin amounted to $2.5 million, or 15% of our 2007 gross margin.

2008 VMware sales for our Programmer’s Paradise segment have increased significantly and we thank VMware for their continued partnership with us. Other lines also showed significant growth in 2008. While VMware-labeled distribution sales in 2008 declined by $28 million, our remaining sales, including sales for new software publishers, increased by $22 million.

We continue to manage the impact of the VMware change. We have successfully signed new distribution contracts in 2008 and continue to seek new partners in 2009. Due to the current uncertain economic environment, currently we cannot estimate the impact on our future sales and gross margins.

Total selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $3.1 million compared to $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2008 amounted to $902,000 or 2.3% of net sales as compared to $931,000 or 2.0% for the same period in 2007.

On January 28, 2009, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.15 per share of its common stock payable February 20, 2009 to shareholders of record on February 13, 2009.

About Wayside Technology Group, Inc.

Wayside Technology Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTG) was founded in 1982 and is a unified and integrated technology company providing products and solutions for corporate resellers, VARs, and developers, as well as business, government and educational entities. The company offers technology products from software publishers and manufacturers such as Microsoft, CA, IBM, VMware, Quest Software, Embarcadero, Business Objects, Intel, Compuware, Infragistics, ComponentOne, Acresso, and Adobe.
 
Additional information can be found by visiting www.waysidetechnology.com.

The statements in this release concerning the Company’s future prospects are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include the continued acceptance of the Company’s distribution channel by vendors and customers, the timely availability and acceptance of new products, and contribution of key vendor relationships and support programs. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
–Tables Follow –

 
WAYSIDE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
  
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
  
             
             
   
December 31, 2008
    
December 31, 2007
  
   
(Unaudited)
        
             
ASSETS
  
             
Current assets
            
Cash and cash equivalents
   $ 9,349     $ 14,241  
Marketable securities
     9,367       9,641  
Accounts receivable, net
     16,940       24,824  
Inventory - finished goods
     1,058       1,116  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
     776       927  
Deferred income taxes
     712       830  
Total current assets
     38,202       51,579  
                 
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net
     549       619  
Other assets
     7,926       3,469  
Deferred income taxes
     808       1,086  
                 
Total assets
   $ 47,485     $ 56,753  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  
                 
Current liabilities
                
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   $ 23,396     $ 32,100  
Total current liabilities
     23,396       32,100  
                 
Other liabilities
     205       161  
Total liabilities
     23,601       32,261  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
                
                 
Stockholders' equity
                
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized, 10,000,000
                
   shares; issued 5,284,500 shares
     53       53  
Additional paid-in capital
     26,636       28,860  
Treasury stock, at cost, 640,838 shares and 576,002
                
   shares, respectively
     (3,383 )     (2,283 )
 Retained earnings (deficit)
     567       (2,599 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
     11       461  
Total stockholders' equity
     23,884       24,492  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
   $ 47,485     $ 56,753  


WAYSIDE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE
  
INCOME
  
(Unaudited)
  
(In thousands, except per share data)
  
                         
   
Year ended
    
Three months ended
  
   
December 31,
    
December 31,
  
   
2008
    
2007
    
2008
    
2007
  
Net Sales
   $ 174,025     $ 179,865     $ 40,030     $ 47,112  
Cost of sales
     157,228       162,630       35,530       42,795  
Gross profit
     16,797       17,235       4,500       4,317  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
     12,207       12,081       3,148       3,083  
Income from operations
     4,590       5,154       1,352       1,234  
Interest income, net
     741       989       192       240  
Realized foreign exchange gain (loss)
     3       2       (3 )     1  
Income before income tax provision
     5,334       6,145       1,541       1,475  
Provision for income taxes
     2,168       2,442       639       544  
Net income
   $ 3,166     $ 3,703     $ 902     $ 931  
Net income per common share - Basic
   $ 0.72     $ 0.84     $ 0.21     $ 0.21  
Net income per common share - Diluted
   $ 0.71     $ 0.80     $ 0.20     $ 0.20  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic
     4,414       4,406       4,389       4,437  
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted
     4,461       4,656       4,414       4,585  
                                 
Reconciliation to comprehensive income:
                                
                                 
Net income
   $ 3,166     $ 3,703     $ 902     $ 931  
  Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                
  Unrealized gain on marketable securities
     19       8       23       4  
  Foreign currency translation adjustments
     (469 )     253       (328 )     14  
Total comprehensive income
   $ 2,716     $ 3,964     $ 597     $ 949