Management continues to balance shareholder returns, distributing $25.4 million in dividends and $12.7 million in buybacks during 2026Q1, while actively managing a $515.6 million securities purchase volume.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 367.95M | 368.57M | 329.15M | 384.74M | 467.39M | 334.32M | 319.95M | 434.98M | 336.54M | 248.87M | 234.4M | 176.7M | 150.07M | 115.07M | 164.58M | 174.05M | 168.5M | 146.41M | 167.75M | 148.98M | 126.64M | 114.02M | 119.88M | 10.36M | 93.05M | 49.9M | 49.89M | 27.3M | 35.5M | 25M | 35.6M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 35.86% | 11.97% | -14.45% | -17.68% | 39.8% | 4.49% | -26.44% | 29.25% | 35.22% | 6.17% | 32.66% | 17.74% | 30.41% | -30.08% | -5.44% | 3.29% | 15.09% | -12.72% | 12.6% | 17.64% | 11.07% | -4.89% | 1056.78% | -88.86% | 86.48% | 0.02% | 82.75% | -23.1% | 42% | -29.78% | 108.19% |
| Net Income | 332.5M | 315.12M | 285.98M | 354.12M | 360.64M | 298.3M | 228.86M | 279.13M | 271.88M | 176.04M | 175.1M | 161.11M | 137.83M | 123.73M | 118.04M | 100.75M | 12.18M | -66.78M | 51.12M | 125.47M | 117.57M | 104.09M | 86.81M | 55.57M | 48.7M | 42.62M | 38.59M | 30.3M | 24.6M | 20.1M | 13.3M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 15.94M | 16.04M | 16.83M | 18.1M | 19.8M | 16.12M | 16.51M | 15.12M | 7.31M | 7.26M | 7.49M | 7.57M | 7.87M | 11.35M | 11.74M | 12.04M | 10.65M | 14.4M | 11.17M | 13.12M | 13.62M | 15.17M | 16.9M | 10.61M | 2.57M | 2.91M | 1.39M | 2.6M | 2.5M | 2.1M | 2M |
| Deferred Taxes | 17.83M | 12.14M | -20.76M | -4.78M | -2.09M | 9.17M | -9.49M | 9.82M | 2.34M | 34.55M | 15.95M | 2M | 31.3M | -15.11M | 4.78M | 13.81M | -38.5M | -37.12M | -50.85M | -11.43M | -2.49M | -2.01M | -1.11M | -5.69M | -1.09M | -2.36M | 637K | -2.3M | 0 | -500K | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 57.41M | 79.29M | 93.07M | 85.98M | 58.77M | 38.5M | 120.25M | 103.48M | 47.16M | 2.17M | 20.21M | 20M | -17.09M | -26.43M | -13.72M | 40.06M | 162.81M | 316.44M | 122.81M | 15.72M | 10.97M | 6.35M | 15.21M | 7.98M | 4.1M | 601K | 3.47M | 2.6M | 2.5M | 3.7M | 5.3M |
| Working Capital Changes | -63.41M | -61.64M | -52.77M | -76.52M | 22.43M | -34.58M | -42.58M | 20.07M | -136K | 23.11M | 10.69M | -18.93M | -14.03M | 18.32M | 40.88M | 5.62M | 18.03M | -86.27M | 25.78M | 6.11M | -13.03M | -9.58M | 2.04M | -58.11M | 38.77M | 6.13M | 5.81M | -5.9M | 5.9M | -400K | 15M |
| Cash from Investing | -1.06B | -857.32M | 184.03M | -1.48B | -1.85B | -859.92M | -242.2M | -1.38B | -1.13B | -903.99M | -853.49M | -1.18B | -459.36M | -311.81M | -46.54M | 127.05M | 596.6M | -279.58M | -1.3B | -2.31B | -1.1B | -292.81M | -680.83M | -194.61M | -299.92M | -253.76M | -178.96M | -231.1M | -208.2M | -69.1M | -151.8M |
| Purchase of Investments | -1.76B | -1.72B | -1.39B | -668.95M | -718.7M | -589.37M | -513.28M | -822.9M | -497.79M | -607.57M | -941.33M | -342.76M | -885.78M | -455.08M | -634.54M | -659.73M | -3.52B | -4.93B | -4.35B | -2.68B | -635.13M | -11.62M | -778.52M | -614.45M | -409.42M | -1.07B | -738.65M | -1.18B | -1.22B | -431.8M | -189M |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 1.5B | 1.68B | 1.44B | 522.82M | 214.49M | 445.49M | 854.85M | 593.4M | 547.67M | 674.3M | 460.29M | 550.23M | 778.49M | 806.42M | 990.03M | 1.12B | 3.1B | 4.24B | 3.67B | 1.29B | 369.44M | 555.52M | 647.05M | 742.73M | 345.51M | 1.02B | 763.36M | 1.24B | 1.13B | 461M | 102.4M |
| Net Investment Activity | -259.52M | -39.89M | 50.23M | -146.13M | -504.21M | -143.88M | 341.56M | -229.5M | 49.88M | 66.72M | -481.03M | 207.47M | -107.3M | 351.33M | 355.49M | 464.09M | -418.92M | -684.84M | -678.01M | -1.39B | -265.68M | 543.91M | -131.47M | 128.28M | -63.91M | -54.71M | 24.7M | 68M | -91M | 29.2M | -86.6M |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -73.88M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.39M | 0 | 6.57M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -968K | -3.02M | -14.12M | -15.14M | -3.65M | -31.25M | -87K | -7.32M | -61.6M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | -793.6M | -812.52M | 137.44M | -1.33B | -1.27B | -712.32M | -577.99M | -1.15B | -1.18B | -966.13M | -368.94M | -1.39B | -347.29M | -656.96M | -398.92M | -333.18M | 1.02B | 431.59M | -578.17M | -915.26M | -783.12M | -835.18M | -538.31M | -258.96M | -234.02M | -197.9M | -197.74M | -298.3M | -115.3M | -97.5M | -64.7M |
| Cash from Financing | 516.88M | 873.64M | -302.47M | 758.74M | 94.74M | 1.55B | 749.55M | 940.18M | 863.28M | 4.83M | 1.09B | 1B | 332.37M | 205.57M | -91.02M | -270.56M | -777.88M | 148.48M | 1.09B | 2.15B | 994.8M | 201.94M | 453.39M | 288.17M | 210.13M | 205.69M | 149.68M | 186.2M | 129.7M | 93.7M | 135.1M |
| Dividends Paid | -95.39M | -93.8M | -97.97M | -98.64M | -100.95M | -99.32M | -98.69M | -99.13M | -83.43M | -69.89M | -59.27M | -45.28M | -23.1M | -12.61M | -16.05M | -16.05M | -16.04M | -22.46M | -20.98M | -20.52M | -18.43M | -18.15M | -14.93M | -10.09M | -9.8M | -9.06M | -7.96M | -7.2M | -6.3M | -5.6M | -4.7M |
| Share Repurchases | -151.47M | -180.29M | -84.7M | -16.67M | -141.32M | -167.1M | -23.59M | -36.3M | -42.65M | 0 | -54.44M | -59.41M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 2.59M | 2.61M | 2.93M | 3.49M | 3.72M | 3.56M | 9.78M | 3.37M | 2.82M | 2.53M | 2.28M | 4.17M | 2.85M | 605K | 291K | 287K | 125.24M | 120.61M | 2.55M | 0 | 0 | -124K | 23.23M | 4.41M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Stock Activity | -148.88M | -177.68M | -81.77M | -13.18M | -137.6M | -163.54M | -13.82M | -32.94M | -39.83M | 2.53M | -52.16M | -55.24M | 2.85M | 605K | 291K | 287K | 125.24M | 120.61M | 2.55M | 0 | 0 | -124K | 23.23M | 4.41M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | -2M | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K |
| Other Financing | 887.15M | 1.21B | 357.27M | 815.55M | -131.71M | 1.95B | 1.42B | 987.63M | 915.94M | -52.81M | 1.13B | 1.25B | 450.27M | 150.57M | 4.42M | 77.78M | -508.97M | 563.12M | 806.14M | 549.69M | 351.25M | 321.25M | 177.09M | 225.73M | 192.29M | 245.9M | 154.71M | 161.2M | 111.4M | 84.4M | 129.6M |
| Net Change in Cash | -179.03M | 384.89M | 210.72M | -333.6M | -1.29B | 1.03B | 827.3M | -6.51M | 65.49M | -650.28M | 468.07M | 3.3M | 23.08M | 8.84M | 27.02M | 30.54M | -12.78M | 15.31M | -33.62M | -14.36M | 23.52M | 23.14M | -107.57M | 103.92M | 3.26M | 1.83M | 20.61M | -17.6M | -43M | 49.5M | -56.3M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 1.42B | 1.04B | 828.8M | 1.16B | 2.45B | 1.42B | 593.78M | 600.29M | 534.8M | 1.19B | 717.01M | 176.83M | 153.75M | 144.91M | 117.89M | 87.35M | 100.12M | 84.82M | 118.44M | 132.8M | 109.28M | 86.13M | 193.7M | 89.78M | 86.51M | 84.69M | 64.08M | 81.7M | 124.7M | 75.2M | 56.3M |
| Cash at End | 1.21B | 1.42B | 1.04B | 828.8M | 1.16B | 2.45B | 1.42B | 593.78M | 600.29M | 534.8M | 1.19B | 180.13M | 176.83M | 153.75M | 144.91M | 117.89M | 87.35M | 100.12M | 84.82M | 118.44M | 132.8M | 109.28M | 86.13M | 193.7M | 89.78M | 86.51M | 84.69M | 64.1M | 81.7M | 124.7M | 191.4M |
| Interest Paid | 552.5M | 568.67M | 662.07M | 484.86M | 105.52M | 75.49M | 162.43M | 182.53M | 116.52M | 81.07M | 81.79M | 72.87M | 78.37M | 84.85M | 112.41M | 142.64M | 197.76M | 255.24M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Income Taxes Paid | 59.84M | 55.82M | 56.17M | 70.33M | 96.88M | 92.69M | 45.37M | 61.55M | 65.87M | 76.71M | 38.67M | 69.07M | 60.23M | 55.52M | 36.08M | 53.15M | 13.37M | 25.25M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Free Cash Flow | 357.22M | 363.66M | 325.52M | 381.34M | 464M | 330.59M | 314.18M | 427.85M | 329.87M | 245.69M | 230.88M | 173.18M | 145.29M | 108.89M | 161.47M | 171.16M | 163.53M | 134.19M | 143.58M | 146.19M | 108.77M | 112.57M | 116.14M | 8.03M | 91.07M | 48.75M | 43.97M | 26.5M | 33.6M | 24.2M | 35.1M |
| FCF Growth % | 6.78% | 11.72% | -14.64% | -17.81% | 40.36% | 5.22% | -26.57% | 29.7% | 34.26% | 6.41% | 33.32% | 19.19% | 33.43% | -32.56% | -5.66% | 4.67% | 21.87% | -6.54% | -1.79% | 34.41% | -3.38% | -3.08% | 1346.39% | -91.18% | 86.83% | 10.87% | 65.91% | -21.13% | 38.84% | -31.05% | 119.38% |
CRE Concentration and Credit Quality
Based on reported quarterly figures, CATY consistently generates positive net income, with 2026Q1 earnings of $86.9 million, providing a stable foundation for capital retention that allows the bank to maintain its conservative leverage profile while navigating the current interest rate environment and potential credit headwinds.
The bank's ability to generate consistent net income suggests that its core business model remains viable despite the recent revenue contraction. Investors should monitor whether this internal capital generation remains sufficient to support the loan book without requiring external financing, especially given the bank's reliance on organic growth.
As indicated by the bank's cash flow statements, CATY maintains high turnover in its investment securities portfolio, with 2026Q1 purchases of $515.6 million and sales of $501.9 million, suggesting an active strategy to manage duration and liquidity in response to shifting market interest rate expectations.
This high level of activity implies that the investment portfolio is being used as a primary liquidity buffer rather than a static yield-enhancement tool. Analysts should investigate whether these frequent reallocations are effectively mitigating interest rate risk or if they are incurring transaction costs that weigh on net interest margin performance.
According to financial disclosures, CATY has balanced shareholder returns through a combination of dividends and buybacks, with $25.4 million in dividends and $12.7 million in share repurchases during 2026Q1, reflecting a management approach that prioritizes capital preservation while providing consistent returns to its investor base.
The variability in share buyback activity, which peaked at $52.4 million in 2025Q4, suggests that management uses repurchases as a flexible tool to manage excess capital. This approach appears prudent, as it allows the bank to conserve resources during periods of heightened credit uncertainty while still rewarding shareholders.
Based on the provided data, CATY's provision for credit losses has shown significant quarterly variance, reaching a high of $28.7 million in 2025Q3, which suggests that management is actively adjusting its reserve levels to account for the evolving risk profile of its commercial real estate portfolio.
The fluctuation in these provisions indicates a reactive stance to potential credit deterioration rather than a static reserve policy. Investors should monitor whether these provisions are sufficient to cover potential losses, particularly if the commercial real estate market in the bank's core California and New York regions continues to soften.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CATY stock.
Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) generated $368.6M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) generated $363.7M in free cash flow in 2025. Free cash flow is the cash left over after capital expenditures, which can be used to pay dividends, repurchase shares, or pay down debt.
Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) spent $4.9M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.
In 2025, Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) returned $93.8M to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $180.3M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.