Cheesecake Factory ($CAKE) has got something cookin', and it just might be tasty.
One of the things most certain to make US investors psyched for the delectable restaurant chain, is the fact that it's got no exposure to international markets, where the Coronavirus outbreak has created lots of uncertainty and the rising likelihood of a miss for many top consumer companies.
Cheesecake Factory is not in China. What was once a disadvantage to retail growth plays taken on by restaurants from YUM Brands to Starbucks has turned into a relief for Cheesecake Factory, now that their competitors who pursued expansion on a global scale are suffering the brunt of Coronavirus shutdowns rippling across the Chinese economy. Above, our map of Cheesecake Factory locations.
What should be encouraging to Cheesecake Factory investors is the company's growth in store count. It has increased by about 9% since early 2016 - which is helpful for investors, but hardly on the same trajectory of market darlings like Shake Shack.
Our final chart tracks job postings with Cheesecake Factory. From their 2019 peak, job postings are down a little under 3%, but most companies kick the new year off by reducing job postings and then building as the fiscal calendar continues.
The Calabasas-based cake proprietor will announce earnings February 19 and analysts tracked by Zacks Investment Research are looking for EPS of $0.61. Over the last 12 months, Cheesecake Factory stock is down about 14%.
About the Data:
Thinknum tracks companies using the information they post online - jobs, social and web traffic, product sales and app ratings - and creates data sets that measure factors like hiring, revenue and foot traffic. Data sets may not be fully comprehensive (they only account for what is available on the web), but they can be used to gauge performance factors like staffing and sales.