Cathay General Bancorp

CATY · NASDAQ

$60.67+$1.00 (+1.68%)TodayMarket closed · Oct 20, 7:30 PM ET

Prev close $59.67

CATY analyst rating

HoldConsensus of 5 analysts over the last 12 months. 0% rate it a buy.

Strong buy0
Buy0
Hold4
Underperform1
Sell0

12-month price target · 7 analysts

Average $66.30 (+9.3% upside)

Low: $53.53
Now: $60.67
High: $78.75

Upgrades and downgrades

The latest rating actions, newest first

CATY analyst upgrades, downgrades and rating actions
Firm	Date	Action	Rating	Price target	Hit rate
StoneX	Sep 24, 2026	Initiates	Hold	—	70%
Piper Sandler	Jul 27, 2026	Maintains	Underweight	$49.50 → $53.00	68%
Stephens & Co.	Jul 23, 2026	Maintains	Equal-Weight	$56.00 → $63.00	67%
DA Davidson	Jul 23, 2026	Maintains	Neutral	$56.00 → $66.00	78%
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods	Jul 23, 2026	Maintains	Market Perform	$64.00 → $67.00	61%
Piper Sandler	Apr 27, 2026	Maintains	Underweight	$45.00 → $47.00	68%
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods	Apr 23, 2026	Maintains	Market Perform	$55.00 → $58.00	61%
DA Davidson	Oct 23, 2025	Maintains	Neutral	$51.00 → $52.00	78%
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods	Oct 22, 2025	Maintains	Market Perform	$53.00 → $55.00	61%

The case for and against

Updated Jan 12, 2026

Bull case

Cathay General Bancorp demonstrated resilience in its financial performance, as evidenced by a 2 basis points expansion in net interest margin (NIM) to 3.27% quarter over quarter. Although non-performing assets (NPAs) increased by 15% to $199.5 million, this figure represents 1.01% of loans and other real estate owned (OREO), suggesting manageable asset quality. The bank's focus on serving low-to-moderate income groups and small to medium-sized businesses positions it favorably in its target markets, potentially enhancing future growth opportunities.

Bear case

Cathay General Bancorp has demonstrated a decline in its allowance for credit losses (ACL), which decreased by 2 basis points quarter-over-quarter to 0.88%, reflecting a concerning trend in credit quality as non-performing loans (NCOs) reached 26 basis points. The bank's proactive share buyback strategy of 804,000 shares for $36 million following a $150 million authorization highlights efforts to support stock performance, yet could detract from liquidity during economic downturns. Additionally, the outlook remains clouded by multiple risks, including potential increases in credit costs, reduced loan demand, and margin pressure, exacerbated by declining economic activity, which pose significant challenges to future earnings.

Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Market data is delayed at least 15 minutes and is provided without warranty. Analyst ratings, price targets and company data come from third-party sources. Past performance does not guarantee future results.