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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

Correlation (3Y)
0.44
moderate
Correlation (1Y)
0.23
last 12 months
Correlation (5Y)
0.49
long-run
Ann. covariance
170.4
%² · weekly, annualized

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 5000.821.00
Max drawdown (3Y)-29.7%-18.8%
Market cap$4.1B
P/E (trailing)12.1
Dividend yield2.39%1.01%
Expense ratio0.09%
Assets under management$795.3B
Sector / categoryUS ListedETF · US Large Cap
Higher yield: CATY 2.39% vs 1.01%Smaller drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs -29.7%Higher 5y return: CATY +83.2% vs +82.4%

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.

-8%0%+34%2025-09-052026-08-27
Both assets over the last year, indexed to 100 at the starting week. CATY · SPY

Year-by-year returns

YearCATYSPY
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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CATY vs SPY: 3-year weekly correlation 0.44CATY vs SPY0.44

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Hubs: CATY correlations · SPY correlations