CATY vs RBB

For growth investors, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is the stronger pick with -0.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 8% for RBB Bancorp (RBB). Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) offers the better valuation at 12. 6x trailing P/E (10. 5x 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, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is the cheapest at 12.

6x versus RBB Bancorp at 16. 5x. On forward P/E, RBB Bancorp is actually cheaper at 10. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) delivered a total return of +52.

1%, compared to +25. 2% for RBB Bancorp (RBB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CATY returned +136. 7% versus RBB's +23. 2%. 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), RBB Bancorp (RBB) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

98β versus Cathay General Bancorp's 1. 04β — meaning CATY is approximately 5% more volatile than RBB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 72% for RBB Bancorp — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is pulling ahead at -0.

4% versus -1. 8% for RBB Bancorp (RBB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cathay General Bancorp grew EPS 14. 9% year-over-year, compared to -34. 4% for RBB 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 11. 5% for RBB Bancorp — 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 15. 4% for RBB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CATY leads at 55. 1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, RBB Bancorp (RBB) trades at 10.

5x forward P/E versus 10. 5x for Cathay General Bancorp — 0. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RBB: -9. 5% to $22. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

RBB Bancorp (RBB) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 2. 4% for Cathay General Bancorp (CATY).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

04), 2. 4% yield, +136. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CATY: +136. 7%, RBB: +23. 2%), 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.