HOPE
Hope Bancorp, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$1.60B
5Y Perf.+31.9%
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Stock Comparison
HOPE vs CATY
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CATY
Cathay General Bancorp
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$3.82B
5Y Perf.+109.6%
HOPE vs CATY — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HOPE | CATY |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $1.60B | $3.82B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $968M | $1.38B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $59M | $315M |
| Gross Margin | 48.6% | 55.1% |
| Operating Margin | 8.3% | 29.4% |
| Forward P/E | 11.7x | 10.4x |
| Total Debt | $396M | $209M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $560M | $146M |
HOPE vs CATY — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HOPE
CATY
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE) | 100 | 131.9 | +31.9% |
| Cathay General Banc… (CATY) | 100 | 209.6 | +109.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HOPE vs CATY
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CATY leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Hope Bancorp, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HOPE
Hope Bancorp, Inc.
The Banking Pick
HOPE is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.10, yield 4.4%, current ratio 0.72x
- 4.4% yield, vs CATY's 2.4%
Best for: defensive
CATY
Cathay General Bancorp
The Banking Pick
CATY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 12 yrs, beta 1.04, yield 2.4%
- Rev growth -0.4%, EPS growth 14.9%
- 137.4% 10Y total return vs HOPE's 18.8%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CATY | -0.4% NII/revenue growth vs HOPE's -3.2% |
| Value | CATY | Lower P/E (10.4x vs 11.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | CATY | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs HOPE's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | CATY | Beta 1.04 vs HOPE's 1.10, lower leverage |
| Dividends | HOPE | 4.4% yield, vs CATY's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CATY | +39.5% vs HOPE's +30.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CATY | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs HOPE's 0.4% |
HOPE vs CATY — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
HOPE vs CATY — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCATYLAGGINGHOPE
HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc.
0leads
CATYCathay General Bancorp
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HOPEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CATY4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CATY4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CATY8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CATY6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CATY2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CATY leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CATY and HOPE operate at a comparable scale, with $1.4B and $968M in trailing revenue. CATY is the more profitable business, keeping 22.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HOPE's 6.0%.
| Metric | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. | CATYCathay General Ba… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $968M | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $84M | $431M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $59M | $315M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $147M | $357M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +48.6% | +55.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +29.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.0% | +22.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.6% | +26.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +35.0% | +18.8% |
CATY leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CATY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.6x trailing earnings, CATY trades at a 54% valuation discount to HOPE's 27.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CATY's 9.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HOPE's 17.2x.
| Metric | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. | CATYCathay General Ba… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $3.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.4B | $3.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.22x | 12.55x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.70x | 10.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.31x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.18x | 9.00x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.66x | 2.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.71x | 1.32x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.58x | 10.50x |
CATY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CATY leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CATY delivers a 10.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $3 for HOPE. CATY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HOPE's 0.17x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CATY scores 8/9 vs HOPE's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. | CATYCathay General Ba… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.6% | +10.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.3% | +1.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.3% | +9.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.9% | +4.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.17x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$164M | $63M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $560M | $146M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $396M | $209M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.17x | 0.72x |
CATY leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CATY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CATY five years ago would be worth $15,119 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,800 for HOPE. Over the past 12 months, CATY leads with a +39.5% total return vs HOPE's +30.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CATY at 29.3% vs HOPE's 21.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. | CATYCathay General Ba… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.3% | +17.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +30.4% | +39.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +80.7% | +116.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.0% | +51.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.8% | +137.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +21.8% | +29.3% |
CATY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CATY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CATY is the less volatile stock with a 1.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HOPE's 1.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. | CATYCathay General Ba… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.10x | 1.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $13.02 | $58.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.44 | $41.64 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.2% | +98.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.1 | 70.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 902K | 465K |
CATY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — HOPE and CATY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HOPE as "Hold" and CATY as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 15.8% upside for HOPE (target: $15) vs -17.5% for CATY (target: $47). For income investors, HOPE offers the higher dividend yield at 4.39% vs CATY's 2.42%.
| Metric | HOPEHope Bancorp, Inc. | CATYCathay General Ba… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.50 | $47.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.4% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.55 | $1.38 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +4.7% |
Evenly matched — HOPE and CATY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CATY leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallCathay General Bancorp (CATY)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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HOPE vs CATY: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HOPE or CATY a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is the stronger pick with -0.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 2% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE). Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) offers the better valuation at 12. 6x trailing P/E (10. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE) a "Hold" — based on 6 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.
02Which has the better valuation — HOPE or CATY?
On trailing P/E, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is the cheapest at 12.
6x versus Hope Bancorp, Inc. at 27. 2x. On forward P/E, Cathay General Bancorp is actually cheaper at 10. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HOPE or CATY?
Over the past 5 years, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) delivered a total return of +51.
2%, compared to -2. 0% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CATY returned +137. 4% versus HOPE's +18. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — HOPE or CATY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
04β versus Hope Bancorp, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning HOPE is approximately 6% more volatile than CATY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 17% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HOPE or CATY?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is pulling ahead at -0.
4% versus -3. 2% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cathay General Bancorp grew EPS 14. 9% year-over-year, compared to -43. 9% for Hope Bancorp, Inc.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HOPE or CATY?
Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is the more profitable company, earning 22.
8% net margin versus 6. 0% for Hope Bancorp, Inc. — 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 8. 3% for HOPE. 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.
07Is HOPE or CATY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) trades at 10.
4x forward P/E versus 11. 7x for Hope Bancorp, Inc. — 1. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HOPE: 15. 8% to $14. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — HOPE or CATY?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Hope Bancorp, Inc. (HOPE) offers the highest yield at 4. 4%, versus 2. 4% for Cathay General Bancorp (CATY).
09Is HOPE or CATY better for a retirement portfolio?
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, +137. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CATY: +137. 4%, HOPE: +18. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between HOPE and CATY?
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.
In terms of investment character: HOPE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CATY is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(HOPE: -3.2% · CATY: -0.4%)Net Margin>
%
(HOPE: 6.0% · CATY: 22.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
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