Ashley Hanscom Sells 3,500 Shares of Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) Stock

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ:CAKE) insider Ashley Hanscom sold 3,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total value of $350,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,541 shares in the company, valued at $754,100. This represents a 31.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Cheesecake Factory Price Performance

NASDAQ CAKE opened at $101.42 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The company has a market cap of $5.04 billion, a PE ratio of 27.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.01. The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated has a 52 week low of $43.07 and a 52 week high of $103.33. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $77.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $66.16.

Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The restaurant operator reported $1.44 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.18 by $0.26. The company had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $999.54 million. Cheesecake Factory had a net margin of 4.61% and a return on equity of 45.94%. Cheesecake Factory’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.16 EPS. Research analysts predict that The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated will post 4.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Cheesecake Factory Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 11th. Cheesecake Factory’s payout ratio is presently 32.52%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CAKE. Salomon & Ludwin LLC raised its stake in Cheesecake Factory by 226.5% in the fourth quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 604 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 419 shares in the last quarter. NFSG Corp increased its holdings in shares of Cheesecake Factory by 115.8% in the 1st quarter. NFSG Corp now owns 682 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Cheesecake Factory by 661.7% in the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 716 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 622 shares during the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC raised its position 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 valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 798 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arax Advisory Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Cheesecake Factory during the 4th quarter valued at $50,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.48% of the company’s stock.

More Cheesecake Factory News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Record quarterly performance: Cheesecake Factory reported its first quarter with revenue above $1 billion, alongside earnings and revenue that exceeded Wall Street expectations. Revenue increased 7.7% year over year, reinforcing the view that stronger traffic and execution are driving the core brand. Cheesecake Factory quarterly revenues surpass $1B for the first time
• Positive Sentiment: Improved analyst outlook: Zacks added CAKE to its Rank #1, or “Strong Buy,” list, citing favorable earnings-estimate revisions. A separate analysis said stronger namesake-brand traffic, menu innovation, digital engagement and brand expansion could support continued growth. Why Cheesecake Factory Might Be Well Poised for a Surge
• Positive Sentiment: Broader bullish sentiment: Seeking Alpha upgraded the stock to Buy after noting improved core traffic, while Stephens and Robert W. Baird raised their price targets. These actions reinforce investor confidence following the earnings beat. The Cheesecake Factory: Core Traffic Improved
• Neutral Sentiment: Customer engagement initiatives: National Cheesecake Day promotions, including half-price slices and a new brownie-toffee flavor, may support near-term traffic and brand visibility, but their effect on earnings is likely limited. The Cheesecake Factory celebrates National Cheesecake Day
• Negative Sentiment: Large insider sale: CFO Matthew Eliot Clark sold 68,900 shares for approximately $6.8 million after exercising options, reducing his direct stake by about 60%. Another insider sold 3,500 shares for $350,000. The transactions may raise caution because they occurred near record highs, although insider sales can also reflect diversification or scheduled compensation activity. What This Cheesecake Factory Insider Sale Means
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and execution risks: CAKE has more than doubled during 2026, making its valuation richer. Investors are also watching softer North Italia demand and inflation-driven margin pressure, which could challenge the sustainability of the rally. Is CAKE Stock Still Attractive After Its Powerful 2026 Rally?

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on CAKE. Jefferies Financial Group cut Cheesecake Factory from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and upped their price target for the company from $75.00 to $88.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Cheesecake Factory from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Cheesecake Factory from $53.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Cheesecake Factory from $66.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Cheesecake Factory from $65.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $79.81.

About Cheesecake Factory

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.