CATY

Financial Services

Cathay General Bancorp · Banks - Regional · $4B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
53.4
Good

Cathay General Bancorp scores 53.4/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Financial Services Sector
CATY
53.4
Sector avg
39.7
Quality
Strong
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Attractive

What is Cathay General Bancorp?

Cathay General Bancorp is the holding company for Cathay Bank, a community-focused commercial bank serving individuals, professionals, and small to mid-sized businesses across the United States. The bank has a notable presence in Chinese-American communities, headquartered in Los Angeles.

Cathay Bank generates revenue through traditional banking — accepting deposits and extending loans. Its loan portfolio spans commercial mortgages, SBA loans, residential mortgages, construction loans, and home equity lines of credit. Deposit products include checking, money market, certificates of deposit, and retirement accounts. The bank also provides trade financing, foreign currency services, and digital banking through branches across California, New York, and several other states, plus a Hong Kong branch.

Cathay General Bancorp was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

  • Commercial and small business loans including SBA products
  • Residential mortgage and home equity lending
  • Trade financing and letter of credit services
  • Deposit accounts including CDs and money market accounts
  • Foreign currency and international wire transfer services

Is CATY a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates CATY as Good overall, reflecting a balanced but nuanced picture for investors evaluating this mid-cap regional bank.

The Quality pillar earns a Good rating, suggesting reasonable operational discipline relative to peers. The Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, indicating the stock may be modestly underpriced compared to sector benchmarks — a potential draw for value-oriented investors.

The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all register as Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation, slower expansion prospects, and elevated risk factors worth careful consideration.

Sign up for UQS Pro to see the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics behind the CATY rating. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does CATY pay dividends?

Yes — Cathay General Bancorp pays a dividend.

Cathay General Bancorp pays a regular dividend, consistent with established community banks that generate steady net interest income. This payout reflects the bank's approach to returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors should weigh dividend sustainability alongside the bank's Weak Risk pillar — the complete financial detail is available to Pro members.

When does CATY report earnings?

Cathay General Bancorp reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed bank holding companies.

Quarterly results are shaped by net interest margin trends, loan growth, credit quality, and deposit dynamics — all factors reflected in the UQS Quality and Risk pillar assessments. No specific figures are reproduced here.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit Cathay General Bancorp's investor relations page directly.

CATY Price History

+49.9% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Cathay General Bancorp?

$
Today it would be worth
$16,026
That's a +60.3% total return, or +9.9% annualized.

Based on Cathay General Bancorp's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

CATY Long-term Outlook

The combination of Weak Growth and Weak Risk pillars points to a cautious fundamental outlook. Margin pressure from interest rate shifts and limited geographic expansion could weigh on earnings trajectory. The Attractive Valuation rating suggests the market may already be pricing in these headwinds, which could limit downside for patient, income-focused investors.

Growth drivers

  • Stable commercial and SBA lending demand in core California markets
  • Cross-border trade financing serving US-Asia business corridors
  • Community banking relationships supporting deposit retention

Key risks

  • Credit quality deterioration in the commercial real estate loan book
  • Net interest margin compression in a shifting rate environment
  • Limited moat exposes the bank to competition from larger institutions and fintechs

CATY vs Peers

Cathay General Bancorp competes in a regional banking landscape alongside several other mid-market financial institutions.

FBPCATY scores lower
First BanCorp.

First BanCorp. operates primarily in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, contrasting with CATY's US-Asia community banking focus.

INTRSimilar UQS
Inter & Co, Inc.

Inter & Co is a digital-first financial platform targeting Latin American consumers, representing a fintech-oriented alternative to CATY's branch-based model.

WSFSSimilar UQS
WSFS Financial Corporation

WSFS Financial is a Delaware-headquartered bank with a strong Mid-Atlantic presence, competing on wealth management and commercial banking services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cathay General Bancorp do?

Cathay General Bancorp is the holding company for Cathay Bank, which provides commercial banking services to individuals, small businesses, and professionals across the US. Core activities include deposit-taking, commercial and residential lending, and trade financing — particularly for businesses with US-Asia ties.

Does CATY pay dividends?

Yes, Cathay General Bancorp pays a regular dividend. This is consistent with its profile as an established community bank generating steady net interest income. Dividend sustainability should be evaluated alongside the bank's Risk pillar rating, which is currently rated Weak.

When does CATY report earnings?

Cathay General Bancorp reports earnings on a quarterly basis, standard for US-listed bank holding companies. For the most current earnings schedule and recent results, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.

Is CATY a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates CATY as Good overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive and Quality is Good, which may appeal to value and income investors. However, the Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars are all rated Weak. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members at uqs-score.com.

Is CATY overvalued?

Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, CATY is rated Attractive — it does not appear overvalued relative to sector peers. Regional banks with modest growth profiles often trade at lower multiples, and the Attractive rating suggests current pricing may already reflect known headwinds.

How does CATY compare to its competitors?

Cathay General Bancorp occupies a distinct niche in US-Asia community banking, differentiating it from peers like WSFS Financial's Mid-Atlantic commercial focus or Inter & Co's digital-first Latin American model. Each competitor serves a different customer base and geography, making direct comparison nuanced.

What is CATY's market cap bracket?

Cathay General Bancorp is classified as a mid-cap stock. This places it in a tier that typically offers more stability than small-cap banks but less scale and diversification than large regional or national banking institutions.

Who founded Cathay General Bancorp?

Cathay Bank was originally established to serve the Chinese-American community in Los Angeles. Founding details are widely available through the company's official history and public filings on its investor relations page.

Is CATY a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, CATY's Good overall UQS Score reflects reasonable operational quality and an Attractive valuation. However, Weak ratings across Moat, Growth, and Risk suggest investors should monitor credit trends and competitive positioning over time before making long-horizon commitments.

What is the main competitive advantage of Cathay General Bancorp?

Cathay Bank's primary differentiator is its deep roots in Chinese-American communities and its trade financing capabilities serving US-Asia business corridors. However, the UQS Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating this advantage may not be sufficiently durable to fend off larger competitors over time.

What sector does CATY belong to?

Cathay General Bancorp belongs to the Financial Services sector, operating specifically as a community and commercial bank holding company. Investors can explore other [Financial Services stocks](/sector/financial-services) rated by UQS Score for broader sector context.

Is CATY a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar labels, CATY leans toward the value category. The Growth pillar is rated Weak, suggesting limited near-term expansion momentum, while the Valuation pillar is rated Attractive — a profile more consistent with value-oriented investing than growth-focused strategies.

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Pro Analysis

CATY — Score History

45505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 18 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 19, 202653.582.823.035.736.496.20.0
May 16, 202653.582.823.035.736.496.40.0
May 13, 202653.582.823.035.736.496.20.0
May 12, 202653.582.823.035.736.496.1+0.1
May 11, 202653.482.823.035.736.496.0+0.1
May 10, 202653.382.823.035.736.495.20.0
May 8, 202653.382.823.035.436.495.5-0.1
May 7, 202653.482.823.035.436.495.8-0.1
May 3, 202653.582.823.035.436.496.60.0
May 1, 202653.582.823.035.436.496.8+1.3

CATY — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

82.8/100 (25%)

Cathay General Bancorp demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

35.7/100 (20%)

Cathay General Bancorp shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRModerate

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthModerate

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

36.4/100 (15%)

Cathay General Bancorp has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

95.8/100 (15%)

Cathay General Bancorp appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

23/100 (25%)

Cathay General Bancorp operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for CATY.

Score Composition

Quality
82.8×25%20.7
Growth
35.7×20%7.1
Risk
36.4×15%5.5
Valuation
95.8×15%14.4
Moat
23.0×25%5.8
Total
53.4Good

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the CATY UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Cathay General Bancorp is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Cathay General Bancorp's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Cathay General Bancorp is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.