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Cathay General Bancorp: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and diluted EPS fell: Net income fell $3.6 million, or 4.0%, to $86.9 million. Return on average equity was 11.88%, against 12.27% in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Net interest margin widened to 3.43%: Net interest income before provision was $194.2 million, down $0.8 million, as lower loan and securities interest income was partly offset by lower deposit expense. Source
  • Gross loans rose 0.14% in quarter: Gross loans, excluding held-for-sale loans, reached $20.17 billion, up $27.4 million from December 31, 2025, led by commercial lending. Source
  • Provision rose to $18.2 million: The provision rose $1.0 million from the fourth quarter, when it was $17.2 million, and was above the $15.5 million recorded in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Non-accrual loans fell 20.8%: Non-accrual commercial real estate loans fell to $51.1 million from $59.5 million, and commercial non-accrual loans fell to $7.7 million from $21.5 million. Source
  • Non-interest income fell 25.5%: Non-interest income totaled $20.7 million in the quarter, against $27.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Strategy prioritizes credit quality over volume: The CEO said the company is choosing credit quality and customer relationships over loan volume during a period of geopolitical uncertainty. Source

“Our ability to expand net interest margin while keeping deposit costs contained underscores the strength of our franchise and the loyalty of our customers.”

Chang M. Liu, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Share repurchases SourceAdditional $150.0 million program; start timing not stated$150.0 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The Board approved a new additional $150.0 million buyback program, subject to regulatory approval. Source
  • Ended: The $150.0 million share repurchase program announced in June 2025 was completed. Source

Earnings and net interest margin

  • Net income and diluted EPS fell: Net income fell $3.6 million, or 4.0%, to $86.9 million. Return on average equity was 11.88%, against 12.27% in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Net interest margin widened to 3.43%: Net interest income before provision was $194.2 million, down $0.8 million, as lower loan and securities interest income was partly offset by lower deposit expense. Source
  • Funding costs fell faster than yields: Yield on interest-earning assets was 5.70%, against 5.74%. Cost of funds fell to 2.99% from 3.14%, widening the net interest spread to 2.71% from 2.60%. Source

Loan growth and mix

  • Gross loans rose 0.14% in quarter: Gross loans, excluding held-for-sale loans, reached $20.17 billion, up $27.4 million from December 31, 2025, led by commercial lending. Source
  • Residential and construction loans declined: Construction loans fell 14.4% and residential real estate loans fell 0.9%, partly offsetting the commercial increases. Source
  • Commercial real estate remains largest book: Commercial real estate loans were $10.59 billion at March 31, 2026, up from $10.56 billion at December 31, 2025, and are the largest loan category. Source

“Although loan growth did not meet our earlier expectations, we are intentionally choosing to prioritize credit quality and deepen customer relationships rather than chase volume in a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.”

Chang M. Liu, President and Chief Executive Officer

Deposits and funding costs

  • Deposits fell 1.0% from year-end: Savings deposits rose to $1.52 billion, while NOW and money market balances declined from year-end. Source
  • Deposit costs eased on time deposit repricing: The cost of average interest-bearing deposits was 2.96%, down from 3.12% in the fourth quarter, as maturing time deposits repriced lower. Source
  • Non-interest-bearing deposits declined: Non-interest-bearing demand deposits were $3.40 billion, down from $3.51 billion at December 31, 2025, while time deposits were $9.72 billion. Source

Asset quality and provisions

  • Provision rose to $18.2 million: The provision rose $1.0 million from the fourth quarter, when it was $17.2 million, and was above the $15.5 million recorded in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Allowance rose to 1.03% of loans: The allowance for off-balance sheet commitments rose to $15.6 million from $12.4 million, and the total allowance for credit losses was $224.4 million. Source
  • Non-accrual loans fell 20.8%: Non-accrual commercial real estate loans fell to $51.1 million from $59.5 million, and commercial non-accrual loans fell to $7.7 million from $21.5 million. Source
  • Accruing 90-day past-due loans rose: Accruing loans past due 90 days or more reached $5.5 million from $1.0 million at year-end, and other real estate owned rose to $33.4 million from $30.3 million. Source
  • Commercial recoveries exceeded charge-offs' gap: Commercial recoveries were $7.1 million, against total charge-offs of $9.4 million. The allowance for loan losses was 220.95% of non-performing loans. Source

“This disciplined approach positions us well for sustainable performance.”

Chang M. Liu, President and Chief Executive Officer

Non-interest income and securities

  • Non-interest income fell 25.5%: Non-interest income totaled $20.7 million in the quarter, against $27.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Securities impairment booked on sales: The impairment on available-for-sale securities of $15.7 million reflects the decision to sell certain impaired holdings within that portfolio. Source
  • Equity securities gains offset impairment: Net gains from equity securities were $17.3 million in the quarter, up from $9.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Expenses and efficiency

  • Non-interest expense fell 6.0%: Non-interest expense was $86.7 million, against $92.2 million in the fourth quarter and $85.7 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Lower salaries and partnership amortization: Other real estate owned expense rose $1.5 million over the same comparison, partly offsetting the lower salary and amortization costs. Source
  • Adjusted efficiency ratio at 36.9%: The adjusted ratio excludes partnership amortization and other items; it was 38.4% in the fourth quarter and 39.6% a year earlier. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Capital ratios remained well capitalized: The Tier 1 risk-based ratio rose from 13.27% at year-end. Management said the company remains in the well capitalized category. Source
  • June 2025 buyback program completed: The $150.0 million repurchase program from June 2025 is complete, following the fourth-quarter 2025 repurchase activity. Source
  • Dividend paid per share rose: Dividends paid per share were $0.38, up from $0.34. The dividend payout ratio was 29.28%, up from 25.28% in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Shares outstanding declined with buybacks: Shares outstanding fell to 66.97 million from 67.20 million at December 31, 2025, and book value per share rose to $44.60 from $43.53. Source

Strategy and franchise

  • Strategy prioritizes credit quality over volume: The CEO said the company is choosing credit quality and customer relationships over loan volume during a period of geopolitical uncertainty. Source
  • Franchise strength cited by management: The CEO credited the margin expansion and contained deposit costs to the strength of the franchise and to customer loyalty. Source
  • Additional buyback pending regulatory approval: The additional $150.0 million program remains pending regulatory approval, and the release gave no assurance on timing. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 April 2026

  • Additional buyback start depends on approval: Management will announce the start of the additional buyback program only if and when regulatory approval is received. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.43%
Net interest income Source$194.2 million
Loans Source$20.17 billion
Deposits Source$20.68 billion
Cost of interest-bearing deposits Source2.96%
Provision for credit losses Source$18.2 million
Net charge-offs Source$2.1 million
Nonperforming assets Source$127.9 million
Efficiency ratio Source40.35%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Loan growth fell short of management's earlier expectations, which it attributes to a choice to prioritize credit quality. Source
  • External: Management tied its restrained lending to the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty during the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: The additional buyback depends on regulatory approval, and the release gave no assurance on whether or when approval would be received. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Missed: Management said loan growth did not meet its earlier expectations for the quarter. Source
  • Met: The company completed the $150.0 million repurchase program previously announced in June 2025. 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.