Dividend.com: Fastenal Slows Down

We removed shares of FAST from our "Recommended" list on Sept. 29, when the stock was trading at $50.38. The company has a dividend yield of 1.83%, based on last night's closing stock price of $38.18. The stock has technical support in the $28-$31 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $41-$44 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now.

Fastenal is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARST Rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars.

Genesee & Wyoming See Track Traffic Increase

Shares of Genesee & Wyoming(GWR Quote) are down slightly in early trading after the company reported traffic volumes for March 2009 and the first quarter of 2009.

The company's railroads acquired within the last 12 months shipped a combined 13,329 carloads in March 2009. GWI's same-railroad traffic in March 2009 decreased by 5,799 carloads, or 9.1%, compared with March 2008. The decrease was principally due to declines in pulp and paper traffic of 2,710 carloads, metals traffic of 2,262 carloads, and coal, coke and ores traffic of 1,905 carloads. These decreases were partially offset by a 2,976 carload increase in farm and food products traffic primarily due to increased grain shipments in GWI's Australia Region. All other same-railroad traffic decreased by a net 1,898 carloads.

The company's railroads acquired within the last 12 months shipped a combined 40,771 carloads in the first quarter of 2009. Same-railroad traffic in the first quarter of 2009 decreased by 15,759 carloads, or 8.3%, compared with the first quarter of 2008. The decrease was principally due to declines of 7,292 carloads of pulp and paper traffic, 6,494 carloads of metals traffic and 3,616 carloads of lumber and forest products traffic. These decreases were partially offset by a 6,353 carload increase in farm and food products traffic. All other same-railroad traffic decreased by a net 4,710 carloads.