Why Cathay General (CATY) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Company Overview - Cathay General (CATY) is headquartered in Los Angeles and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date stock price change of -2.09% [3] Dividend Information - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.38 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.21%, which is higher than the Banks - West industry's yield of 3.03% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.47% [3] - The annualized dividend of $1.52 represents an 11.8% increase from the previous year, with an average annual increase of 2.11% over the last five years [4] - The current payout ratio is 30%, indicating that the company pays out 30% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in 2026 is projected at $5.11 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 12.56% [5] Investment Appeal - Cathay General is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]