Note 4 - Earnings per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share [Text Block]

4. Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share excludes 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.

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 September 30,					Nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)	2014		2013			2014		2013
Net income attributable to Cathay General Bancorp	$	35,909	$	32,478		$	102,252	$	91,241
Dividends on preferred stock and noncash charge from repayment		-		(2,434	)		-		(9,685	)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	35,909	$	30,044		$	102,252	$	81,556
Weighted-average shares:
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding		79,677,952		78,894,262			79,639,202		78,853,333
Dilutive effect of weighted-average outstanding common share equivalents
Warrants		346,101		171,426			306,306		57,771
Options		109,803		-			103,022		-
Restricted stock units		42,244		48,434			39,289		33,048
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding		80,176,100		79,114,122			80,087,819		78,944,152
Average stock options and warrants with anti-dilutive effect		1,990,358		3,668,285			1,993,384		4,958,218
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.45	$	0.38		$	1.28	$	1.03
Diluted	$	0.45	$	0.38		$	1.28	$	1.03