Zacks Research Has Positive Outlook of CAKE FY2026 Earnings

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ:CAKE) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research increased their FY2026 EPS estimates for shares of Cheesecake Factory in a research report issued on Tuesday, August 11th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the restaurant operator will earn $4.36 per share for the year, up from their prior estimate of $3.87. Zacks Research currently has a “Strong-Buy” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Cheesecake Factory’s current full-year earnings is $4.43 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Cheesecake Factory’s FY2028 earnings at $5.29 EPS.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on CAKE. Stephens reiterated a “positive” rating on shares of Cheesecake Factory in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Cheesecake Factory from $65.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Cheesecake Factory from $53.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Citigroup upped their price target on Cheesecake Factory from $76.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Finally, Northcoast Research downgraded shares of Cheesecake Factory from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, June 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cheesecake Factory has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $81.00.

Cheesecake Factory Trading Up 3.7%

NASDAQ:CAKE opened at $117.29 on Thursday. Cheesecake Factory has a 1 year low of $43.07 and a 1 year high of $117.97. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $84.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 0.59 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The company has a market cap of $5.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.79, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.00.

Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The restaurant operator reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.18 by $0.26. Cheesecake Factory had a net margin of 4.61% and a return on equity of 43.97%. The business had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $999.54 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.16 EPS. Cheesecake Factory’s revenue was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cheesecake Factory

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CAKE. Salomon & Ludwin LLC grew its stake in Cheesecake Factory by 226.5% in the 4th quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 604 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 419 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP purchased a new stake in shares of Cheesecake Factory during the 2nd quarter valued at $36,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Cheesecake Factory by 661.7% during the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 716 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 622 shares in the last quarter. NFSG Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Cheesecake Factory by 115.8% during the 1st quarter. NFSG Corp now owns 682 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Cheesecake Factory by 973.2% during the 4th quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 880 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 798 shares during the last quarter. 94.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Cheesecake Factory

In other news, Chairman David Overton sold 94,145 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.27, for a total transaction of $10,004,789.15. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman owned 89,805 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,543,577.35. The trade was a 51.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Alexander L. Cappello sold 2,095 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.50, for a total transaction of $212,642.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 4,076 shares in the company, valued at approximately $413,714. This trade represents a 33.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 214,281 shares of company stock worth $22,249,374. 8.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Cheesecake Factory Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 11th will be issued a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 11th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Cheesecake Factory’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.52%.

Key Cheesecake Factory News

Here are the key news stories impacting Cheesecake Factory this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Upward earnings revisions: Zacks Research raised its EPS forecasts for multiple periods, including Q3 2026 to $0.84 from $0.70, FY2026 to $4.36 from $3.87, FY2027 to $4.64 from $4.24, and FY2028 to $5.29 from $4.82. Zacks maintained a “Strong Buy” rating, supporting the view that recent operating momentum can continue. Zacks Research earnings estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Strong latest results remain a catalyst: Cheesecake Factory’s second-quarter revenue reached $1.03 billion, beating estimates, while EPS of $1.44 exceeded expectations of $1.18. Revenue rose 7.7% year over year, and comparable sales, traffic and restaurant-level margins reportedly improved significantly. The company also declared a $0.30 quarterly dividend and repurchased shares. Cheesecake Factory strong Q2 results
• Positive Sentiment: CAKE was named to PEOPLE’s 2026 Companies That Care list for the sixth consecutive year, which may aid employee retention and brand reputation, although the direct financial impact is limited. Companies That Care recognition
• Neutral Sentiment: Institutional positioning has been mixed, with some funds adding shares and others reducing holdings. Existing analyst coverage remains cautious overall, with an average “Hold” rating and an $81 price target, well below recent trading levels.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling may temper enthusiasm: President David Gordon sold 31,950 shares for approximately $3.5 million, reducing his direct stake by more than half. Director Edie A. Ames also sold 3,000 shares. Such transactions may reflect portfolio diversification, but they add a cautionary signal after CAKE’s substantial run-up. CAKE insider selling

Cheesecake Factory Company Profile

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ:CAKE) is an American restaurant company and distributor renowned for its full-service casual-dining concept and specialty cheesecakes. Headquartered in Calabasas Hills, California, the company operates more than 200 restaurants under The Cheesecake Factory® brand across the United States, Puerto Rico and select international markets. In addition to sit-down dining, Cheesecake Factory franchised locations offer catering and take-out services, while a separate manufacturing arm supplies branded cheesecakes and desserts to supermarkets, hotels and other foodservice operators.

The origins of the brand trace back to a small cheesecake bakery founded in Detroit in the 1940s.