Arcos Dorados (ARCO) vs Cheesecake Factory (CAKE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) has outperformed Arcos Dorados (ARCO) over the past year, gaining 98.1% versus a gain of 17.9%. Over five years, CAKE leads with a +148.6% price change compared with +66.0% for ARCO. Cheesecake Factory is the larger company by market cap ($5.32 billion vs $1.66 billion), about 3.2 times the size.
On valuation, Arcos Dorados trades at a lower forward P/E (9.1x vs 21.4x for Cheesecake Factory). Arcos Dorados offers the higher dividend yield (3.54% vs 1.07%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ARCO | CAKE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $7.90 | $106.99 |
| Market cap | $1.66B | $5.32B |
| 1-day change | -2.71% | -1.15% |
| YTD return | +7.63% | +111.95% |
| 1-year return | +17.91% | +98.06% |
| 5-year return | +65.97% | +148.58% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.48 | 28.99 |
| Forward P/E | 9.14 | 21.41 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.22 | $3.69 |
| Dividend yield | 3.54% | 1.07% |
| Annual dividend | $0.28 | $1.14 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $3.75B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +4.75% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $148.43M |
| Operating margin | — | 4.99% |
| Net margin | — | 3.96% |
| 52-week high | $9.75 | $118.46 |
| 52-week low | $6.66 | $43.07 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -18.97% | -9.68% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +42.91% | -8.94% |
| Average volume | 1.37M | 1.65M |
| Shares outstanding | 130.66M | 49.76M |
| Employees | — | 48,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Cheesecake Factory is about 3.2 times larger than Arcos Dorados by market value ($5.32B vs $1.66B).
- CAKE has outperformed ARCO by 80.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Cheesecake Factory trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.0x vs 6.5x trailing P/E).
- Arcos Dorados offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.54% vs 1.07%).
About Arcos Dorados
ARCO stock →Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. operates as a franchisee of McDonald's restaurants.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants
About Cheesecake Factory
CAKE stock →The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated operates and licenses restaurants in the United States and Canada. It operates bakeries that produce cheesecakes and other baked products for its restaurants, international licensees, third-party bakery customers, external foodservice operators, retailers, and distributors.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 48,000 employees
ARCO vs CAKE FAQ
Which is bigger, Arcos Dorados or Cheesecake Factory?
Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.32B compared with $1.66B for Arcos Dorados (ARCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARCO or CAKE?
CAKE returned +98.06% over the past 12 months, compared with +17.91% for ARCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARCO or CAKE?
ARCO has the lower trailing P/E at 6.5, versus 29.0 for CAKE. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Arcos Dorados or Cheesecake Factory?
Arcos Dorados has the higher yield at 3.54%, compared with 1.07% for Cheesecake Factory.
Are Arcos Dorados and Cheesecake Factory in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.