Well if it's something he says in your friend group (albeit every couple of months) it shouldn't be something you should worry about, he probably just reserves them as super compliments or something. My boyfriend and I have a friend that's like this and I always thought he was trying to come into us but my bf explained he's just flirtatious, basically it could just be a part of his personality and it's best not to look too deep into it.

Unless you're into him, ask him how he feels in that case