It may sound cheesy, but The Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) has all the right pick-up lines.
The casual restaurant chain's same-store sales have been growing each quarter since the beginning of 2009, thanks to an increase in diners.
Analysts at Sterne Agee expect sales to keep increasing as Cheesecake Factory, which also operates the Grand Lux restaurants, continues to expand, particularly in international markets.
Through an agreement with international franchise operator Alshaya, the Cheesecake Factory opened its first three locations outside of the United States last year -- two in Dubai and one in Kuwait. Its outpost in Dubai Mall is its largest in the world.
Cheesecake Factory plans to open 19 other locations throughout the Middle East, and also to expand to North Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey.
In addition to going global last year, the restaurant also introduced a dividend yielding 1.4% for shareholders.
Sterne Agee analysts have a price target of $40, up almost 20% from current levels.
