The Cheesecake Factory logo

The Cheesecake Factory(CAKE)

Top Performer Top performer
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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
5-STAR RATING
REGULAR BUY
BUY for 9 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
-3.56% ▼
LAST CLOSE
$108.37
10/23/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CAKE

10/23/2026: CAKE (5-star) is a STRONG-BUY. BUY for 9 days. Simulated Profits (-3.56%). Updated daily EoD!

The Cheesecake Factory is a prominent player in the upscale casual dining segment, recognized for its extensive menu and proprietary desserts. The company has successfully evolved from a single brand into a diversified portfolio, with emerging concepts like North Italia serving as key growth drivers. While the company maintains a leading position and has historically delivered solid operational results, it faces ongoing challenges from inflationary pressures, labor costs, and intense industry competition. The stock may suit investors seeking long-term growth through brand diversification and a history of dividend payments, though it carries exposure to economic cycles. Key factors to monitor include unit expansion progress, margin management, and off-premise sales trends.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitGrowth is largely dependent on successful unit expansion of newer concepts rather than rapid core-brand scaling.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThis style is conditional on the stock displaying sustained price uptrends in line with market sector sentiment.
Value investorMixed fitValuation fluctuates based on cyclical dining trends and margin performance, requiring careful entry points.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company has a history of providing consistent dividend payments to shareholders.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe restaurant industry is inherently sensitive to consumer spending and economic cycles, leading to moderate to high volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highRestaurant stocks are highly sensitive to macro news and consumer sentiment.
Valuation riskMediumThe stock's P/E ratio can fluctuate significantly based on future growth expectations.
Competition risk (Casual Dining)HighHigh competition in the dining sector can pressure pricing power and market share.
Business qualityMediumThe brand has strong market presence, but operational complexity remains a factor.
Dividend incomeMediumDividends can be impacted by cyclical profitability and capital expenditure needs.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully scaling diverse concepts requires disciplined management and capital deployment.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 117.08%
Avg. Invested days 47
Today’s Advisory Regular Buy
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 5.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CAKE receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CAKE has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and strong ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, growth and ownership metrics are mixed: negative earnings growth (-5.3%), soft cash generation (FCF margin 4.1%), moderate revenue growth (+4.7%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CAKE's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (4.1% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is CAKE's strongest growth driver at +43.6% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (+4.7%, moderate) and earnings growth (-5.3%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 104.6% and approximately 92.2% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 7.46% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 14.02%
FMR Inc 12.25%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 5.73%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.07%
Earnest Partners LLC 4.04%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CAKE generates approximately $783 of gross profit, $50 of operating income, and $41 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Moderate margins and moderate cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is soft.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 8.88%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CAKE has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Small / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 5.39B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 29.37
1Y Target Price 105.73
Price to earnings Ratio 29.37
1Y Target Price 105.73
Volume (30-day avg) 1.3M shares
Beta 1.04
52 Weeks Range 42.54 - 118.63
Updated Date 10/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 42.54 - 118.63
Updated Date 10/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.01%
Basic EPS (TTM) 3.69

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
The Cheesecake Factory RestaurantsRevenue from food and beverage sales at full-service dining locations.This is the core engine generating the majority of the company's revenue.
Emerging Brands (North Italia/Flower Child)Revenue from specialized, high-growth restaurant concepts.These represent the primary growth engine outside the flagship brand.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-27
When After Market
Estimate 0.95
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 4.61%
Operating Margin (TTM) 7.77%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 4.7%
Return on Equity (TTM) 38.83%

Valuation

Trailing PE 29.37
Forward PE 22.42
Enterprise Value 7.04B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.39
Enterprise Value 7.04B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.39
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.82
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 22.07
Shares Outstanding 49.76M
Shares Floating 45.86M
Shares Outstanding 49.76M
Shares Floating 45.86M
Percent Insiders 7.46
Percent Institutions 104.58

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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