Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) EVP gets 2,600-share restricted stock grant via trust

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Alex Spero G reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Cheesecake Factory executive Alex G. Spero reported an award of restricted common stock held through a family trust. On 2/11/26, the Alex Family Trust, of which Mr. Alex is a trustee, received a grant of 2,600 shares of restricted common stock at no cash cost.

The award vests 60% on 2/11/29 and 20% on each of 2/11/30 and 2/11/31, subject to his continued service, and the shares are subject to forfeiture until vested. Following this grant, one trust holding reflected 27,650 shares and another trust position showed 1,597 shares of common stock.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Alex Spero G

(Last) (First) (Middle)

26901 MALIBU HILLS RD

(Street)

CALABASAS HILLS CA 91301

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC [ CAKE ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	EVP Operations - CFRI

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/11/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/11/2026		A		2,600(1)	A	$0	27,650(2)	I	By Trust(3)
Common Stock								1,597	I	By Trust(3)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Restricted stock award which vests 60% on 2/11/29 and 20% on each of 2/11/30 and 2/11/31, subject to the Reporting Persons continued service.

2. Shares of restricted stock subject to forfeiture.

3. Shares held by the Alex Family Trust of which Mr. Alex is a trustee.

	/s/ Spero G. Alex by Scarlett May, Attorney-in-Fact	02/26/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) report for Alex G. Spero?

Cheesecake Factory reported that Alex G. Spero received a grant of 2,600 shares of restricted common stock through the Alex Family Trust. The award carries no cash purchase price and is structured as an equity-based compensation grant subject to vesting and forfeiture conditions.

How do the restricted stock awards for CAKE’s Alex G. Spero vest?

The restricted stock award for Alex G. Spero vests 60% on February 11, 2029 and 20% on each of February 11, 2030 and February 11, 2031. Vesting is conditioned on his continued service, and unvested shares remain subject to forfeiture until they vest.

Who legally holds the reported Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) shares for Alex G. Spero?

The reported Cheesecake Factory shares are held by the Alex Family Trust, of which Mr. Alex is a trustee. This means the ownership is indirect, with the trust as the legal holder, and the Form 4 attributes the positions as held "By Trust" rather than directly.

What is the size of the new restricted stock grant to Alex G. Spero at CAKE?

The new restricted stock grant to Alex G. Spero totals 2,600 shares of Cheesecake Factory common stock. These shares were granted at a reported price of $0.00 per share as equity compensation, with vesting spread over three future dates and subject to forfeiture conditions.

What share holdings were reported after the latest CAKE restricted stock grant?

After the latest transaction, one indirect holding "By Trust" showed 27,650 shares of Cheesecake Factory common stock. A separate line reported 1,597 additional shares held by the same trust, indicating multiple indirect positions associated with the Alex Family Trust structure.

Does the Form 4 for CAKE show a purchase or a grant for Alex G. Spero?

The Form 4 reflects a grant or award acquisition rather than an open-market purchase. The transaction code is "A," indicating a grant of 2,600 restricted shares at $0.00 per share as part of compensation, not a buy or sell trade in the market.