CATY vs SPY: Correlation
Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) show a moderate relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.44.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are CATY and SPY?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of CATY and SPY correlate at 0.44, moderate. The link has loosened recently: the 1-year correlation (0.23) runs below the 3-year figure (0.44). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.49, with an annualized covariance of 170.4 %².
Within CATY's tracked universe of 28 assets, SPY comes in at #22 by 3-year correlation. The trailing year gives CATY the advantage: +26.7% versus +20.6%, a 6.1-point spread. One caveat on sizing: CATY is 1.8 times as volatile as the other leg, so an equal-dollar split is far from equal-risk.
How is this computed?
Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.
CATY vs SPY: side by side
| CATY (Cathay General Bancorp) | SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +26.7% | +20.6% |
| 5-year return | +83.2% | +82.4% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 26.8% | 14.5% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.82 | 1.00 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -29.7% | -18.8% |
| Market cap | $4.1B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 12.1 | – |
| Dividend yield | 2.39% | 1.01% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.09% |
| Assets under management | – | $795.3B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | ETF · US Large Cap |
SPY is a Large Blend fund from State Street Investment Management: $795.3B under management, 504 holdings, a 0.09% expense ratio, a 1.01% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | CATY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -2.1% | -18.2% |
| 2023 | +13.5% | +26.2% |
| 2024 | +10.3% | +24.9% |
| 2025 | +4.6% | +17.7% |
| 2026 | +30.2% | +13.7% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are CATY and SPY good diversifiers for each other?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.44 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
FAQ
What is the correlation between CATY and SPY?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between CATY and SPY is 0.44 over 3 years, 0.23 over 1 year and 0.49 over 5 years.
Is SPY a good diversifier for CATY?
Yes, to a useful degree: a correlation of 0.44 leaves real independence between the two, which historically damped combined volatility.
What does a correlation of 0.44 mean?
A reading of 0.44 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
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Related comparisons
Hubs: CATY correlations · SPY correlations