Note 4 - Earnings per Share

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share [Text Block]

4. Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share exclude dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock and resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in earnings. Potential dilution is excluded from computation of diluted per-share amounts when a net loss from operations exists.

Outstanding stock options with anti-dilutive effect were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. The following table sets forth earnings per common share calculations:

	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)	2013			2012			2013			2012
Net income attributable to Cathay General Bancorp	$	29,916		$	29,861		$	58,763		$	58,774
Dividends on preferred stock and noncash charge from repayment		(2,067	)		(4,121	)		(7,251	)		(8,238	)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	27,849		$	25,740		$	51,512		$	50,536
Weighted-average shares:
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding		78,869,089			78,710,279			78,832,530			78,694,462
Dilutive effect of weighted-average outstanding common share equivalents
Restricted stock units		30,817			1,893			25,228			6,690
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding		78,899,906			78,712,172			78,857,758			78,701,152
Average stock options and warrants with anti-dilutive effect		5,597,123			6,092,332			5,613,875			6,159,778
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.35		$	0.33		$	0.65		$	0.64
Diluted	$	0.35		$	0.33		$	0.65		$	0.64