Cheesecake Factory Sales Jump 15% in Third Quarter

Casual-dining operators get a concrete comparable-sales benchmark from a chain whose third-quarter results rose sharply.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Economic Indicators

Photograph of an empty casual-dining room with set wooden tables, white linen, and warm pendant lights over a bar counter. — Cheesecake Factory reported roughly $1.03 billion in third-quarter revenue on a 15% jump in comparable-restaurant sales, lifting its stock more than twofold this year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Cheesecake Factory reported about $1.03 billion in third-quarter revenue, driven by a 15% jump in comparable-restaurant sales, as its stock has more than doubled since the start of 2026. The chain drew political attention when former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump referenced it on the campaign trail in late October.

Why it matters

For operators, the episode is a reminder that a casual-dining brand's public profile can shift quickly, even as its operating results are the more durable signal. The chain's sales growth is being reported alongside a stock price that has more than doubled this year, a pairing that gives other restaurant operators a concrete benchmark for comparable-sales performance.

Cheesecake Factory reported roughly $1.03 billion in third-quarter revenue and a 15% jump in comparable-restaurant sales, operating 218 company-owned restaurants and 35 internationally licensed establishments. Its stock closed near $113 last Friday, more than doubling since the start of 2026, though the source does not give a prior-year revenue comparator.

The players

Cheesecake Factory

A large casual-dining chain operating 218 company-owned restaurants and 35 internationally licensed establishments, with third-quarter revenue of about $1.03 billion.

Barack Obama

Former U.S. President who made a joking reference to the chain at an Oct. 24 campaign rally in Michigan.

Donald Trump

President of the United States who praised the chain at an Oct. 26 campaign rally in Mississippi.

Scott Bessent

U.S. Treasury Secretary who said he had a great meal at a Cheesecake Factory in Washington, D.C.

The details

Comparable-restaurant sales measure growth at locations open long enough to be included in like-for-like results, so a 15% gain points to higher traffic or check size at existing units rather than new openings. The chain's mix of company-owned and licensed restaurants means its results reflect both direct operations and royalty-style international partnerships. The Connecticut market, where the brand has operated for nearly 20 years, was ranked first in Yelp's 2025 most loved brands listing, which the source cites as a loyalty signal.

October 2016: Cheesecake Factory opened its Stamford Town Center location.
August 2020: The Stamford location shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oct. 24, 2026: Obama made the Cheesecake Factory remark at a Michigan rally.
Oct. 26, 2026: Trump praised the chain at a Mississippi rally; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described his meal at a Washington, D.C. location.
Nov. 3, 2026: Midterm elections take place this week.

Market Landscape

Yelp's 2025 most loved brands rankings placed Cheesecake Factory No. 20 nationally, offering a consumer-sentiment reference point alongside its reported financial results. The chain's comparable-sales growth and stock performance this year place it among the stronger-performing casual-dining operators in the period the source covers.

Restaurant operators should track comparable-sales growth as a benchmark against their own same-store performance in the coming quarters. Operators in casual dining may also watch how public attention to a brand affects traffic, though the source does not establish a direct causal link.

The takeaway

The core operating signal is that a 15% comparable-sales gain at a scale of 218 company-owned units is a meaningful benchmark for casual-dining peers. Operators should pull their own comparable-sales figures for the same period and compare them against this reported growth rate before the next planning cycle.