MetaCap

Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) vs Fulton Financial (FULT)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.

Summary

Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) has outperformed Fulton Financial (FULT) over the past year, gaining 20.6% versus a gain of 20.6%. Over five years, CATY leads with a +44.3% price change compared with +37.5% for FULT. Fulton Financial is the larger company by market cap ($4.22 billion vs $3.94 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Cathay General Bancorp is growing revenue faster (+2.9% vs -6.5%).

On valuation, Fulton Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (9.3x vs 9.9x for Cathay General Bancorp). Fulton Financial offers the higher dividend yield (3.39% vs 2.50%). Cathay General Bancorp converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 585.8% versus 141.5%.

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

CATY+20.63%FULT+20.57%
+40%+15%-11%
Oct 9, 20251 yearOct 9, 2026
CATY+39.73%FULT+35.42%
+58%+7%-44%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

CATY versus FULT key metrics
MetricCATYFULT
Share price$59.12$22.10
Market cap$3.94B$4.22B
1-day change-0.81%-0.76%
YTD return+22.17%+14.33%
1-year return+20.63%+20.57%
5-year return+44.30%+37.52%
P/E ratio (TTM)11.5510.63
Forward P/E9.949.27
EPS (TTM)$5.12$2.08
Dividend yield2.50%3.39%
Annual dividend$1.48$0.75
Revenue (latest FY)$53.79M$276.77M
Revenue growth (YoY)+2.93%-6.50%
Net income (latest FY)$315.12M$391.61M
Net margin585.81%141.49%
52-week high$65.26$25.23
52-week low$44.57$16.60
Distance from 52-week high-9.41%-12.41%
Analyst consensusholdbuy
Avg. price target upside+9.95%+19.55%
Average volume460.73K1.67M
Shares outstanding66.71M190.91M
Employees1,2683,400
SectorFinanceFinance
IndustryMajor BanksMajor 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

  • Cathay General Bancorp is more profitable, keeping 585.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 141.5 cents for Fulton Financial.
  • Cathay General Bancorp grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+2.93% vs -6.50%).

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 Fulton Financial

FULT stock →

Fulton Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Fulton Bank that provides banking and financial products and services in the United States. It provides various checking accounts and savings deposit products, and certificates of deposit.

Finance · Major Banks · 3,400 employees

CATY vs FULT FAQ

Which is bigger, Cathay General Bancorp or Fulton Financial?

Fulton Financial (FULT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.22B compared with $3.94B for Cathay General Bancorp (CATY).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, CATY or FULT?

CATY returned +20.63% over the past 12 months, compared with +20.57% for FULT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Which has the lower P/E ratio, CATY or FULT?

FULT has the lower trailing P/E at 10.6, versus 11.5 for CATY. 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 Fulton Financial?

Fulton Financial has the higher yield at 3.39%, compared with 2.50% for Cathay General Bancorp.

Are Cathay General Bancorp and Fulton Financial in the same industry?

Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.

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