CATY vs HAFC

For growth investors, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the stronger pick with 3.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 4% for Cathay General Bancorp (CATY). Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) a "Hold" — based on 13 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the cheapest at 12.

1x versus Cathay General Bancorp at 12. 6x. On forward P/E, Hanmi Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Hanmi Financial Corporation wins at 0. 76x versus Cathay General Bancorp's 1. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) delivered a total return of +63.

5%, compared to +52. 1% for Cathay General Bancorp (CATY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CATY returned +136. 7% versus HAFC's +74. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

92β versus Cathay General Bancorp's 1. 04β — meaning CATY is approximately 13% more volatile than HAFC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 35% for Hanmi Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is pulling ahead at 3.

5% versus -0. 4% for Cathay General Bancorp (CATY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hanmi Financial Corporation grew EPS 22. 4% year-over-year, compared to 14. 9% for Cathay General Bancorp. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

8% net margin versus 17. 1% for Hanmi Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 22. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CATY leads at 29. 4% versus 24. 3% for HAFC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HAFC leads at 57. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 76x versus Cathay General Bancorp's 1. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 10. 5x for Cathay General Bancorp — 0. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HAFC: 15. 1% to $35. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 2. 4% for Cathay General Bancorp (CATY).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

92), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HAFC: +74. 4%, CATY: +136. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.