Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) vs United Community Banks (UCB)
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 United Community Banks (UCB) over the past year, gaining 20.9% versus a gain of 3.7%. Over five years, CATY leads with a +44.3% price change compared with -2.1% for UCB. United Community Banks is the larger company by market cap ($3.98 billion vs $3.93 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Cathay General Bancorp trades at a lower forward P/E (9.9x vs 9.9x for United Community Banks). United Community Banks offers the higher dividend yield (3.01% vs 2.51%). Cathay General Bancorp converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 585.8% versus 30.9%.
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 | UCB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $58.85 | $33.22 |
| Market cap | $3.93B | $3.98B |
| 1-day change | -0.44% | -0.14% |
| YTD return | +22.15% | +6.53% |
| 1-year return | +20.90% | +3.71% |
| 5-year return | +44.28% | -2.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.49 | 10.85 |
| Forward P/E | 9.89 | 9.90 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.12 | $3.06 |
| Dividend yield | 2.51% | 3.01% |
| Annual dividend | $1.48 | $1.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $53.79M | $1.06B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.93% | +11.66% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $315.12M | $328.10M |
| Net margin | 585.81% | 30.86% |
| 52-week high | $65.26 | $37.18 |
| 52-week low | $44.57 | $28.65 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.82% | -10.66% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.45% | +20.94% |
| Average volume | 464.14K | 859.61K |
| Shares outstanding | 66.71M | 119.76M |
| Employees | 1,268 | 3,141 |
| 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
- CATY has outperformed UCB by 17.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Cathay General Bancorp is more profitable, keeping 585.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 30.9 cents for United Community Banks.
- United Community Banks grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+11.66% vs +2.93%).
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 United Community Banks
UCB stock →United Community Banks, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for United Community Bank that provides financial services in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 3,141 employees
CATY vs UCB FAQ
Which is bigger, Cathay General Bancorp or United Community Banks?
United Community Banks (UCB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.98B compared with $3.93B for Cathay General Bancorp (CATY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CATY or UCB?
CATY returned +20.90% over the past 12 months, compared with +3.71% for UCB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CATY or UCB?
UCB has the lower trailing P/E at 10.9, 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 United Community Banks?
United Community Banks has the higher yield at 3.01%, compared with 2.51% for Cathay General Bancorp.
Are Cathay General Bancorp and United Community Banks in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.