Another annual dividend double-header is at hand for investors in Fastenal , the nation's largest distributor of industrial fasteners. The 41-year-old Minnesota company has boosted its semi-annual common payout for the sixth time in three years. The latest hike was 5.7%, to 37 cents a share from 35 cents. It followed an increase in January from 27 cents, as reported in this space. And that came atop a 27-cent bonus dividend paid last December. Disbursement will be made Aug. 28 to holders of record Aug. 17. The stock goes ex-dividend Aug. 13. Fastenal (FAST), which distributes nuts, bolts, clamps, clips and other industrial and construction necessities, has raised its dividend every year since 2002 and has been making uninterrupted payouts since 1991. The company also announced that it would repurchase up to two million of its common shares. That total includes any remaining under a prior authorization. Fastenal's second-quarter earnings of 29 cents a share were four cents below Wall Street's consensus estimate. Revenue came in at $474.9 million, versus the expected $487.1 million. A year earlier, the company earned 51 cents a share on $604.2 million in sales. Fastenal trades in the low 30s, roughly 45% below its September 2008 high. Based on the recent stock price, the new dividend produces a 2.23% yield.

Traded on the big board but headquartered in Amsterdam, Core Laboratories (CLB) last Monday declared a special dividend of 75 cents a share with its regular 10-cent quarterly. Last year's bonus was 85 cents. Both dividends will be distributed Aug. 24 to investors of record July 24. The ex-date is July 22. Dutch withholding tax of 15% will be deducted from the payouts. Core has a six-million-share repurchase program in place through July 29, 2010. With more than 70 offices in 50 countries, Core has been around since 1936. It helps energy companies get the most out of their aging petroleum reservoirs by analyzing the contents, quantifying how much oil and gas is present and then extracting it quickly. In 2008, earnings climbed 21% from the 2007 level, to $6 a share; revenue rose 16%, to $780.8 million. The stock trades around 86; its 52-week range is 136 to 48. Yield: 0.46%.

Also last week, Dow Jones Transportation components Ryder System (R) and Landstar System (LSTR) raised their quarterly common dividends. Both truckers hail from the Sunshine State, and both have now enriched their payouts for five years in a row. Ryder, citing continuing strong cash flow and solid access to capital, declared a new quarterly of 25 cents a share, up 8.7% from 23 cents, for a 3.69% yield. Dividends have been paid every year without interruption since 1976. The stock trades around 27. From a 52-week high of 75.09 last summer, it tumbled to 19 in March. Standard & Poor's thinks Ryder is a Hold because of the lagging nature of lease cancellations and the ongoing woes of its auto-related clients. Landstar's boost was a half-penny, to 4.5 cents a share. Payouts were initiated in 2005. At the same time, the company posted a 40% drop in second-quarter profit on a 30% decline in revenue but said that, despite the recession, its trailing 12-month return on average shareholders' equity remained high at 35%. Recently at close to 34, the stock yields 0.53%. Its 52-week range is 55.20 to 27.21. S&P rates it a Strong Buy.

Also last week, Dow Jones Transportation components Ryder System (R) and Landstar System (LSTR) raised their quarterly common dividends. Both truckers hail from the Sunshine State, and both have now enriched their payouts for five years in a row. Ryder, citing continuing strong cash flow and solid access to capital, declared a new quarterly of 25 cents a share, up 8.7% from 23 cents, for a 3.69% yield. Dividends have been paid every year without interruption since 1976. The stock trades around 27. From a 52-week high of 75.09 last summer, it tumbled to 19 in March. Standard & Poor's thinks Ryder is a Hold because of the lagging nature of lease cancellations and the ongoing woes of its auto-related clients. Landstar's boost was a half-penny, to 4.5 cents a share. Payouts were initiated in 2005. At the same time, the company posted a 40% drop in second-quarter profit on a 30% decline in revenue but said that, despite the recession, its trailing 12-month return on average shareholders' equity remained high at 35%. Recently at close to 34, the stock yields 0.53%. Its 52-week range is 55.20 to 27.21. S&P rates it a Strong Buy.