Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 13.3x · EV/EBITDA 9.5x · ROE 10.9%. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $4.1B | $3.3B | $3.4B | $3.2B | $3.0B | $3.4B | $2.6B | $3.1B | $2.7B | $3.4B | $3.0B |
| Enterprise Value | $4.1B | $3.4B | $3.5B | $3.8B | $3.5B | $3.4B | $2.8B | $3.8B | $3.2B | $3.9B | $3.7B |
| P/E Ratio → | 13.32 | 10.66 | 12.05 | 9.17 | 8.45 | 11.31 | 11.22 | 10.93 | 10.04 | 19.43 | 17.37 |
| P/S Ratio | 4.96 | 4.02 | 4.72 | 4.01 | 3.85 | 5.18 | 4.32 | 4.93 | 4.58 | 6.49 | 6.74 |
| P/B Ratio | 1.41 | 1.12 | 1.21 | 1.19 | 1.23 | 1.38 | 1.06 | 1.33 | 1.29 | 1.74 | 1.66 |
| P/FCF | 11.15 | 9.05 | 10.58 | 8.52 | 6.56 | 10.22 | 8.17 | 7.14 | 8.30 | 13.90 | 13.17 |
| P/OCF | 11.00 | 8.93 | 10.46 | 8.44 | 6.52 | 10.10 | 8.03 | 7.02 | 8.13 | 13.73 | 12.97 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 4.10 | 4.82 | 4.67 | 4.44 | 5.27 | 4.63 | 6.06 | 5.44 | 7.43 | 8.11 |
| EV / EBITDA | 9.55 | 7.78 | 10.51 | 8.97 | 7.13 | 8.64 | 10.19 | 10.30 | 9.41 | 12.80 | 14.65 |
| EV / EBIT | 10.10 | 8.23 | 11.07 | 9.37 | 7.43 | 9.00 | 10.85 | 10.74 | 9.62 | 13.11 | 15.11 |
| EV / FCF | — | 9.22 | 10.80 | 9.92 | 7.56 | 10.40 | 8.77 | 8.77 | 9.85 | 15.92 | 15.85 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 55.1% | 55.1% | 49.8% | 59.8% | 85.5% | 92.7% | 72.3% | 77.0% | 83.7% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| Operating Margin | 29.4% | 29.4% | 22.8% | 30.8% | 52.0% | 53.0% | 34.2% | 42.9% | 46.9% | 49.2% | 45.5% |
| Net Profit Margin | 22.8% | 22.8% | 20.6% | 27.0% | 39.7% | 41.4% | 30.8% | 34.3% | 37.8% | 29.0% | 32.9% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.2% | 13.6% | 14.7% | 12.3% | 9.7% | 12.6% | 13.3% | 9.3% | 9.8% |
| ROA | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| ROIC | 9.8% | 9.8% | 7.3% | 9.2% | 12.3% | 10.6% | 6.4% | 8.7% | 9.1% | 8.3% | 7.0% |
| ROCE | 4.5% | 4.5% | 8.9% | 11.2% | 15.1% | 13.3% | 8.0% | 10.8% | 11.4% | 11.2% | 10.0% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.26 | 0.27 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.38 | 0.35 | 0.38 | 0.46 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 0.48 | 0.48 | 0.68 | 1.68 | 1.34 | 0.48 | 1.21 | 2.41 | 2.14 | 2.43 | 3.35 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.20 | 0.19 | 0.02 | 0.08 | 0.31 | 0.24 | 0.25 | 0.34 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.21 | 1.27 | 0.94 | 0.15 | 0.69 | 1.92 | 1.48 | 1.62 | 2.48 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 0.17 | 0.22 | 1.40 | 1.00 | 0.18 | 0.60 | 1.64 | 1.55 | 2.01 | 2.68 |
| Interest Coverage | 0.72 | 0.72 | 0.48 | 0.81 | 4.02 | 5.55 | 1.71 | 1.80 | 2.77 | 3.71 | 2.98 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.09 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.09 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Inventory Turnover | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 2.3% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| Payout Ratio | 29.8% | 29.8% | 34.3% | 27.9% | 28.0% | 33.3% | 43.1% | 35.5% | 30.7% | 39.7% | 33.9% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 7.5% | 9.4% | 8.3% | 10.9% | 11.8% | 8.8% | 8.9% | 9.1% | 10.0% | 5.1% | 5.8% |
| FCF Yield | 9.0% | 11.1% | 9.5% | 11.7% | 15.2% | 9.8% | 12.2% | 14.0% | 12.1% | 7.2% | 7.6% |
| Buyback Yield | 4.4% | 5.5% | 2.5% | 0.5% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.0% | 1.8% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 6.7% | 8.3% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 8.0% | 7.9% | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 2.0% | 3.7% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $68M | $72M | $73M | $75M | $79M | $80M | $80M | $82M | $81M | $80M |
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CATY stock.
Cathay General Bancorp's current P/E ratio is 13.3x. The historical average is 14.5x. This places it at the 39th percentile of its historical range.
Cathay General Bancorp's current EV/EBITDA is 9.5x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 12.9x.
Cathay General Bancorp's return on equity (ROE) is 10.9%. The historical average is 11.4%.
Based on historical data, Cathay General Bancorp is trading at a P/E of 13.3x. This is at the 39th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Cathay General Bancorp's current dividend yield is 2.28% with a payout ratio of 29.8%.
Cathay General Bancorp has 55.1% gross margin and 29.4% operating margin. Operating margin above 20% indicates strong pricing power and cost efficiency.
Cathay General Bancorp's Debt/EBITDA ratio is 0.5x, indicating low leverage. A ratio below 2x is generally considered financially healthy.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
CRE concentration and deposit costs
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Premium Niche Pricing vs. CRE Risk
CATY trades at 1.45x book and 13.75x trailing earnings, a premium to most Asian-American peers, reflecting its sticky deposit franchise but also pricing in CRE concentration risk, per reported market data.
The P/B of 1.45x sits above HAFC's 1.18x and HOPE's 0.79x but below PFBC's 1.68x, suggesting the market rewards CATY's cultural niche and deposit stability. The forward P/E of 11.26x implies modest earnings growth expectations, consistent with the flat revenue trajectory. Investors appear to be paying for a quality franchise while discounting potential credit deterioration in the CRE book, a balance that warrants monitoring.
ROE Stability Masks Fee Volatility
ROE has held near 2.4-3.1% over the past ten quarters, with NIM stable at 0.8%, but fee income swings from 1.0% to 7.7% of revenue introduce earnings variability, as per quarterly data.
The DuPont decomposition shows ROE is driven primarily by asset utilization and leverage, with equity/assets constant at 12%. The stable NIM of 0.8% indicates that loan repricing is offsetting deposit cost increases, but the volatile fee contribution—ranging from $21.4M to $27.8M—suggests non-interest income is not a reliable growth engine. The efficiency ratio improvement to 24.2% from 26.3% a year ago provides some offset, but the overall profitability quality is moderate given the reliance on interest income.
NIM Flat, Efficiency Gains Offset Costs
Net interest margin remained at 0.8% for five consecutive quarters, while the efficiency ratio improved to 24.2% in Q2 2026 from 26.3% a year earlier, indicating cost discipline, according to financial statements.
The stable NIM suggests that rising deposit costs are being offset by loan repricing, but the narrow spread leaves little room for error if deposit betas accelerate. The efficiency ratio improvement reflects better cost control, likely from branch optimization and digital investments, but the absolute level is already low, limiting further gains. Investors should monitor whether NIM can expand beyond 0.8% as the loan book reprices, or if deposit competition will cap the spread.
Solid Capital Buffer, Limited Return Upside
Equity/assets held steady at 12% with equity of $3.0B, providing a stable capital base, while dividends and buybacks totaled $39.5M in Q2 2026, well covered by operating cash flow, per reported figures.
The low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07% indicates minimal reliance on wholesale funding, with deposits serving as the primary liability. The stable equity ratio suggests the bank is not aggressively levering up, which is prudent given the CRE concentration. However, the dividend yield of 2.2% and modest buyback activity imply that capital return is conservative, potentially limiting shareholder upside compared to peers like PFBC with a 2.9% yield.
Provision Swing Signals Emerging Credit Risk
Loan loss provisions swung from $0 in Q4 2025 to $11.2M in Q2 2026, indicating management's cautious stance amid CRE concentration, while the efficiency ratio improvement masks this credit cost, as per quarterly data.
The provision increase, despite stable NIM, suggests that management is building reserves for potential deterioration in the CRE portfolio, particularly in California and New York office properties. The flat revenue trajectory provides limited buffer against further credit costs, and the maturity wall of low-interest CRE loans could force restructuring. Investors should monitor whether provisions continue to rise and whether the allowance for credit losses adequately covers potential defaults.
P/E Misleads on Provision Volatility
The trailing P/E of 13.75x is distorted by volatile provisions, which swung from $0 to $11.2M in recent quarters, obscuring underlying earnings power; P/B of 1.45x better reflects franchise value, based on reported data.
For banks, P/E is often misapplied because provisions are lumpy and can depress or inflate earnings in a given period. CATY's Q2 2026 EPS miss of $1.37 versus $1.43 estimate highlights this issue, as the provision charge reduced reported earnings despite stable core operations. A more appropriate metric is P/TBV, which at 1.45x (based on tangible book value of $39.65) captures the franchise value without the noise of credit costs. Investors should focus on ROTCE and NIM trends rather than P/E alone.