El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) P/E Ratio History
Fairly ValuedTrading at 13.1x, near 5Y avg of 13.9x · 45th percentile · In line with own history · Data 2014–2026
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P/E Ratio Analysis
As of November 8, 2026, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.1x, with a stock price of $14.88 and trailing twelve-month earnings per share of $1.14.
The current P/E is roughly in line with its 5-year average of 13.9x. Over the past five years, LOCO's P/E has ranged from a low of 11.3x to a high of 17.7x, placing the current valuation at the 45th percentile of its historical range.
Compared to the Consumer Cyclical sector median P/E of 18.2x, LOCO trades at a 28% discount to its sector peers. The sector includes 282 companies with P/E ratios ranging from 0.8x to 168.0x.
The PEG ratio of 2.27 (P/E divided by 5% EPS growth) suggests the stock may be expensive relative to its earnings growth. Peter Lynch popularized the rule that a PEG below 1.0 indicates an attractive entry point.
Relative to the broader market, LOCO trades at a notable discount to the S&P 500 median P/E of 21.8x. Investors should consider the company's growth prospects, competitive position, and earnings quality when evaluating whether the current valuation is justified.
For a comprehensive intrinsic value estimate using discounted cash flow analysis, see our LOCO DCF Valuation Calculator →
Note: P/E ratio is just one valuation metric. It does not account for balance sheet strength, cash flow quality, or growth sustainability. Always conduct comprehensive due diligence before making investment decisions.
LOCO Cross-Benchmark Valuation
How does the current P/E compare to sector peers and the broader market?
LOCO P/E vs Peers
Quick-Service Burger and Pizza Chains peers sorted by market cap
| Company | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | PEG Ratio | EPS Growth (1Y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $269M | 8.1Lowest | - | -128% | |
| $12B | 28.8 | 0.42Best | -6% | |
| $3B | 68.9 | - | +354%Best | |
| $3B | 15.5 | - | +297% | |
| $4B | 45.7 | - | +103% | |
| $418M | 21.0 | 1.68 | -17% | |
| $27B | 23.7 | 2.96 | -26% | |
| $196B | 21.8 | 1.60 | +5% | |
| $44B | 12.8 | 0.94 | +7% |
Lower P/E can signal a discount or weaker growth expectations; PEG adds growth context.
LOCO Historical P/E Data (2014–2026)
Quarterly P/E ratios calculated from closing price and TTM EPS
| Quarter | Period End | Price | TTM EPS | P/E Ratio | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Q3 | Sep 30 2026 | $14.35 | $1.15 | 12.5x | -49% |
| FY2026 Q2 | Jul 01 2026 | $17.20 | $1.17 | 14.7x | -40% |
| FY2026 Q1 | Apr 01 2026 | $13.88 | $0.98 | 14.2x | -42% |
| FY2025 Q4 | Dec 31 2025 | $10.46 | $0.90 | 11.6x | -53% |
| FY2025 Q3 | Sep 24 2025 | $10.04 | $0.88 | 11.4x | -54% |
| FY2025 Q2 | Jun 25 2025 | $10.81 | $0.84 | 12.9x | -48% |
| FY2025 Q1 | Mar 26 2025 | $10.54 | $0.85 | 12.4x | -49% |
| FY2024 Q4 | Dec 25 2024 | $11.81 | $0.85 | 13.9x | -43% |
| FY2024 Q3 | Sep 25 2024 | $13.61 | $0.79 | 17.2x | -30% |
| FY2024 Q2 | Jun 26 2024 | $11.21 | $0.86 | 13.0x | -47% |
| FY2024 Q1 | Mar 27 2024 | $9.40 | $0.81 | 11.6x | -53% |
| FY2023 Q4 | Dec 27 2023 | $9.05 | $0.75 | 12.1x | -51% |
| FY2023 Q3 | Sep 27 2023 | $8.90 | $0.79 | 11.3x | -54% |
| FY2023 Q2 | Jun 28 2023 | $9.14 | $0.65 | 14.1x | -43% |
| FY2023 Q1 | Mar 29 2023 | $9.69 | $0.65 | 14.9x | -39% |
| FY2022 Q4 | Dec 31 2022 | $9.96 | $0.58 | 17.2x | -30% |
| FY2022 Q3 | Sep 28 2022 | $9.19 | $0.57 | 16.2x | -34% |
| FY2022 Q2 | Jun 29 2022 | $9.80 | $0.71 | 13.8x | -44% |
| FY2022 Q1 | Mar 30 2022 | $11.45 | $0.75 | 15.3x | -38% |
| FY2021 Q4 | Dec 31 2021 | $14.19 | $0.80 | 17.7x | -28% |
| FY2021 Q3 | Sep 29 2021 | $17.17 | $0.78 | 22.0x | -10% |
| FY2021 Q2 | Jun 30 2021 | $18.29 | $0.78 | 23.4x | -4% |
| FY2021 Q1 | Mar 31 2021 | $16.12 | $0.70 | 23.0x | -6% |
| FY2020 Q4 | - | $18.10 | $0.69 | 26.2x | +7% |
| FY2020 Q3 | Sep 23 2020 | $15.50 | $0.64 | 24.2x | -1% |
| FY2020 Q2 | Jun 24 2020 | $14.45 | $0.54 | 26.8x | +9% |
| FY2020 Q1 | Mar 25 2020 | $9.75 | $0.75 | 13.0x | -47% |
| FY2019 Q4 | - | $15.14 | $0.67 | 22.6x | -8% |
| FY2018 Q3 | Sep 26 2018 | $12.45 | $0.36 | 34.7x | +41% |
| FY2018 Q2 | Jun 27 2018 | $11.30 | $0.08 | 143.0x | +483% |
| FY2018 Q1 | Mar 28 2018 | $9.50 | $0.15 | 63.8x | +160% |
| FY2017 Q4 | Dec 31 2017 | $9.90 | $0.21 | 47.4x | +93% |
| FY2017 Q3 | Sep 27 2017 | $12.00 | $0.22 | 54.5x | +122% |
| FY2017 Q2 | Jun 28 2017 | $14.20 | $0.46 | 30.9x | +26% |
| FY2017 Q1 | Mar 29 2017 | $12.00 | $0.45 | 26.7x | +9% |
| FY2016 Q4 | Dec 31 2016 | $12.30 | $0.47 | 26.2x | +7% |
| FY2016 Q3 | Sep 28 2016 | $13.06 | $0.60 | 21.8x | -11% |
| FY2016 Q2 | Jun 29 2016 | $12.67 | $0.59 | 21.5x | -13% |
| FY2016 Q1 | Mar 30 2016 | $13.45 | $0.58 | 23.2x | -6% |
| FY2015 Q4 | - | $12.63 | $0.61 | 20.7x | -16% |
| FY2015 Q3 | Sep 30 2015 | $10.78 | $0.59 | 18.3x | -26% |
| FY2015 Q2 | Jul 01 2015 | $20.47 | $1.17 | 17.5x | -29% |
| FY2015 Q1 | Apr 01 2015 | $25.21 | $1.22 | 20.7x | -16% |
| FY2014 Q4 | Dec 31 2014 | $19.97 | $1.24 | 16.1x | -34% |
| FY2014 Q3 | Sep 24 2014 | $35.72 | $0.61 | 58.6x | +139% |
Average P/E for displayed period: 24.5x
LOCO Chart Terminal
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Intrinsic Valuation
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Historical Returns
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Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
LOCO — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying LOCO stock.
What is LOCO's P/E ratio?
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) trailing twelve-month P/E ratio is 13.1x, based on TTM diluted EPS of $1.14. The 5-year average P/E is 13.9x and the historical range spans 11.3x to 17.7x.
Is LOCO stock overvalued or undervalued?
LOCO trades at 13.1x P/E, near its 5-year average of 13.9x. The 45th percentile ranking within the 11.3x–17.7x historical range places valuation within normal bounds.
Is LOCO stock expensive?
LOCO is fairly valued relative to its own history. The current P/E of 13.1x is near the 5-year average of 13.9x (45th percentile of historical range).
What is LOCO's historical P/E range?
Over the past 5 years, LOCO's P/E ratio has ranged from 11.3x to 17.7x, with a median of 13.9x and an average of 13.9x. The current P/E of 13.1x places the stock at the 45th percentile of this range. Full historical data spans 2014–2026.
How does LOCO's P/E compare to the S&P 500?
LOCO trades at 13.1x P/E versus the S&P 500 median of 21.8x. The 40% discount to the market suggests lower growth expectations or perceived higher risk.
How does LOCO's valuation compare to Consumer Cyclical peers?
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. P/E of 13.1x compares to the Consumer Cyclical sector median of 18.2x. The discount suggests lower growth expectations, weaker margins, or higher perceived risk relative to peers. See the peer comparison table on this page for ticker-by-ticker P/E and PEG.
What is LOCO's PEG ratio?
LOCO PEG ratio is 2.27, based on a P/E of 13.1x and EPS growth of 4.7%. A PEG above 2.0 indicates a premium valuation relative to earnings growth — typically considered expensive.
What is LOCO's earnings yield?
LOCO earnings yield is 7.65%, the inverse of its 13.1x P/E ratio. Earnings yield represents the percentage of each dollar invested that the company earns. It can be compared directly to bond yields to assess relative attractiveness of stocks versus fixed income.