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Cathay General Bancorp: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 October 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose slightly on quarter: The company reported net income of $77.7 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, up $0.2 million or 0.3% from the second quarter's $77.5 million. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 3.31%: Net interest margin rose to 3.31%, from 3.27% in the second quarter and 3.04% a year earlier. Source
  • Loans grew 1.6% in the quarter: Gross loans excluding held-for-sale reached $20.10 billion, up $320.0 million or 1.62%, mainly residential mortgage, commercial real estate and construction loans. Source
  • Provision rose to $28.7 million: Provision for credit losses was $28.7 million, against $11.2 million in the second quarter, including a $9.1 million reserve on two movie theatre loans. Source
  • Non-performing assets little changed: Non-performing assets were $198.7 million, against $199.5 million; non-accrual loans fell 4.9% to $165.6 million, with commercial real estate non-accrual at $103.2 million. Source
  • Accruing modifications rose to $63.4 million: Accruing loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties rose to $63.4 million from $10.5 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Capital ratios remained well capitalized: Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 13.15%, total risk-based 14.76% and Tier 1 leverage 10.88%, all within the well-capitalized category under Basel III rules. Source

“We are pleased by the continued increase in the net interest margin compared to the second quarter of 2025.”

Chang M. Liu, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Earnings and returns

  • Net income rose slightly on quarter: The company reported net income of $77.7 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, up $0.2 million or 0.3% from the second quarter's $77.5 million. Source
  • Return ratios eased slightly: Return on average equity was 10.60% and return on average assets 1.29%, against 10.72% and 1.33% in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Efficiency ratio declined: Efficiency ratio was 41.84%, compared with 45.34% in the second quarter, measured as non-interest expense over net revenue. Source
  • Nine-month net income rose 9.1%: For the nine months, net income was $224.6 million, up 9.1%, and diluted EPS was $3.21 against $2.83. Nine-month net interest margin was 3.28% against 3.03%. Source

Net interest margin and pricing

  • Net interest margin rose to 3.31%: Net interest margin rose to 3.31%, from 3.27% in the second quarter and 3.04% a year earlier. Source
  • Net interest income rose on loan interest: Net interest income before provision rose $8.4 million, or 4.6%, to $189.6 million, from higher interest income on loans and securities, partly offset by deposit expense. Source
  • Deposit costs fell on time deposit repricing: Cost of average interest-bearing deposits fell to 3.28% from 3.35%, and cost of funds to 3.32% from 3.37%, mainly due to lower repricing of maturing time deposits. Source
  • Asset yield rose on loan rates: Yield on average interest-earning assets rose to 5.84% from 5.83%, driven mainly by higher interest rates on loans. Source
  • Net interest spread widened to 2.52%: Net interest spread was 2.52%, compared with 2.46% in the second quarter, the difference between asset yield and cost of funds. Source

“During the third quarter, we repurchased 1,070,000 common shares at an average cost of $46.81 per share, for a total of $50.1 million.”

Chang M. Liu, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Loans and deposits

  • Loans grew 1.6% in the quarter: Gross loans excluding held-for-sale reached $20.10 billion, up $320.0 million or 1.62%, mainly residential mortgage, commercial real estate and construction loans. Source
  • Deposits rose $514.8 million: Total deposits reached $20.52 billion, up $514.8 million or 2.6% from June 30, 2025, with non-interest-bearing demand deposits at $3.57 billion. Source
  • Savings and money market deposits rose: Time deposits were little changed at $9.71 billion, while money market deposits rose to $3.59 billion and savings deposits to $1.42 billion. Source

Credit quality and provisions

  • Provision rose to $28.7 million: Provision for credit losses was $28.7 million, against $11.2 million in the second quarter, including a $9.1 million reserve on two movie theatre loans. Source
  • Net charge-offs rose to $15.6 million: Net charge-offs were $15.6 million, against $12.7 million in the second quarter; commercial loan charge-offs were $16.2 million. Source
  • Non-performing assets little changed: Non-performing assets were $198.7 million, against $199.5 million; non-accrual loans fell 4.9% to $165.6 million, with commercial real estate non-accrual at $103.2 million. Source
  • Other real estate owned rose 73.7%: Other real estate owned rose $14.0 million to $33.0 million, offset in part by lower accruing loans 90 days or more past due. Source
  • Accruing modifications rose to $63.4 million: Accruing loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties rose to $63.4 million from $10.5 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Allowance covered 112.61% of non-performing loans: Allowance for loan losses was 0.93% of period-end gross loans, up from 0.88%, and covered 112.61% of non-performing loans, up from 96.12%. Source

Non-interest income and expense

  • Non-interest income rose 36.4%: Non-interest income was $21.0 million, up $5.6 million, mainly from a $4.7 million rise in gains on equity securities and $1.3 million more in wealth management fees. Source
  • Non-interest expense fell 1.2%: Non-interest expense fell $1.0 million to $88.1 million, mainly from $1.5 million lower professional services, partly offset by $1.0 million higher low-income housing amortization. Source
  • Effective tax rate fell to 17.18%: Effective tax rate was 17.18%, against 19.56% in the second quarter; low-income housing tax credits are included in both quarters. Source

Capital and book value

  • Capital ratios remained well capitalized: Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 13.15%, total risk-based 14.76% and Tier 1 leverage 10.88%, all within the well-capitalized category under Basel III rules. Source
  • Tangible book value per share rose: Tangible book value per share was $36.96, up from $36.16 at June 30, 2025; book value per common share was $42.50. Source
  • Quarterly dividend unchanged at $0.34: Cash dividends paid per common share were $0.34, the same as in the second quarter, and the dividend payout ratio was 29.93%. Source
  • Return on tangible common equity 12.33%: Return on tangible common equity was 12.33%, against 12.39% in the second quarter; tangible net income was $77.8 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.31%
Net interest income Source$189.6 million
Loans Source$20.10 billion
Deposits Source$20.52 billion
Deposit costs Source3.28%
Provision for credit losses Source$28.7 million
Net charge-offs Source$15.6 million
Nonperforming assets Source$198.7 million
Efficiency ratio Source41.84%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Non-accrual commercial real estate loans rose to $103.2 million from $93.8 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Financial: Management cited a $9.1 million reserve on two movie theatre loans as part of the quarter's provision for credit losses. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.