Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) vs CVB Financial (CVBF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) has outperformed CVB Financial (CVBF) over the past year, gaining 20.9% versus a gain of 13.9%. Over five years, CATY leads with a +44.3% price change compared with +7.7% for CVBF. Cathay General Bancorp is the larger company by market cap ($3.94 billion vs $3.79 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Cathay General Bancorp trades at a lower forward P/E (9.9x vs 10.8x for CVB Financial). CVB Financial offers the higher dividend yield (3.72% vs 2.50%). Cathay General Bancorp converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 585.8% versus 40.6%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CATY | CVBF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $59.11 | $21.53 |
| Market cap | $3.94B | $3.79B |
| 1-day change | -1.75% | -1.64% |
| YTD return | +22.15% | +15.75% |
| 1-year return | +20.90% | +13.92% |
| 5-year return | +44.28% | +7.70% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.54 | 15.06 |
| Forward P/E | 9.94 | 10.76 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.12 | $1.43 |
| Dividend yield | 2.50% | 3.72% |
| Annual dividend | $1.48 | $0.80 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $53.79M | $515.46M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.93% | +2.72% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $315.12M | $209.30M |
| Operating margin | — | 60.92% |
| Net margin | 585.81% | 40.60% |
| 52-week high | $65.26 | $23.41 |
| 52-week low | $44.57 | $17.95 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.42% | -8.03% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +9.96% | +20.76% |
| Average volume | 464.14K | 1.33M |
| Shares outstanding | 66.71M | 176.00M |
| Employees | 1,268 | 1,079 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major Banks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- CVB Financial trades at a higher earnings multiple (15.1x vs 11.5x trailing P/E).
- CVB Financial offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.72% vs 2.50%).
- Cathay General Bancorp is more profitable, keeping 585.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 40.6 cents for CVB Financial.
About Cathay General Bancorp
CATY stock →Cathay General Bancorp operates as the holding company for Cathay Bank that offers various commercial banking products and services to individuals, professionals, and small to medium-sized businesses in the United States. It offers savings accounts, checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, and public funds deposits, and acceptance of checking, savings, demand deposits, time deposits, real estate, and consumer loans.
Finance · Major Banks · 1,268 employees
About CVB Financial
CVBF stock →CVB Financial Corp. operates as bank holding company for Citizens Business Bank, National Association, a state-chartered bank that provides banking and financial services to small to mid-sized businesses and individuals.
Finance · Major Banks · 1,079 employees
CATY vs CVBF FAQ
Which is bigger, Cathay General Bancorp or CVB Financial?
Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.94B compared with $3.79B for CVB Financial (CVBF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CATY or CVBF?
CATY returned +20.90% over the past 12 months, compared with +13.92% for CVBF (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CATY or CVBF?
CATY has the lower trailing P/E at 11.5, versus 15.1 for CVBF. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cathay General Bancorp or CVB Financial?
CVB Financial has the higher yield at 3.72%, compared with 2.50% for Cathay General Bancorp.
Are Cathay General Bancorp and CVB Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.