El Pollo Loco's near-term earnings recovery is heavily reliant on a volatile gross margin expansion to a record 32.8% in Q2 2026, which appears anomalous versus its historical average and may not be sustainable. The company has made strategic progress in delev...
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Trailing total returns as of 9/24/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q3 2026Latest Aug 6, 2026 | $0.30+7.8% vs $0.28 | $130M-0.6% vs $130M |
Q2 2026 May 7, 2026 | $0.28+27.3% vs $0.22 | $126M+3.4% vs $122M |
Q2 2026 Mar 12, 2026 | $0.25+19.0% vs $0.21 | $124M+0.8% vs $123M |
Q4 2025 Oct 30, 2025 | $0.27+17.4% vs $0.23 | $122M-0.5% vs $122M |
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El Pollo Loco Holdings remains a high-quality value pick, outperforming the market with >40% YTD gains despite the recent pullback. LOCO raised FY26 comparable sales guidance to 3.5-4.5%, up from the prior 2-4%, signaling resilient demand in a tough consumer environment. Carryout sales and loyalty program strength are driving comps, with carryout up 12% y/y and Rewards members visiting 3x more frequently.
Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.
The average of price targets set by Wall Street analysts indicates a potential upside of 33.8% in El Pollo Loco (LOCO). While the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric is questionable, the positive trend in earnings estimate revisions might translate into an upside in the stock.
Benchmark LOCO against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $14.28 | $434.9M | 15.87 | 3.6% | 5.4% | 9.6% | — | |
| $13.46 | $256.73M | -3.20 | -6.75% | 2.84% | — | — | |
| $164.84 | $10.83B | 27.02 | 9.39% | 6.63% | 27.2% | — | |
| $58.47 | $2.36B | 53.64 | 15.38% | 2.56% | 7.17% | — | |
| $12.87 | $3.56B | 20.43 | 16.43% | 20.49% | 19.5% | — | |
| $38.43 | $4.88B | 61.00 | 27.88% | 4.91% | 10.1% | — |
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Aug 6, 2026·SEC
May 29, 2026·SEC
May 28, 2026·SEC
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El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) reported $500.8M in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 71% increase from $293.6M in 2012.
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) grew revenue by 3.6% over the past year. Growth has been modest.
Yes, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) is profitable, generating $34.9M in net income for fiscal year 2025 (5.4% net margin).
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) has a return on equity (ROE) of 9.6%. This is below average, suggesting room for improvement.
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) generated $41.0M in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.
