Want to see LOCO full AI Analyst Report?
LOCO Stock Chart & Stats
$13.95
-$0.09(-0.81%)
At close: 4:00 PM EST
$13.95
-$0.09(-0.81%)
Day’s Range― - ―
52-Week Range$8.99 - $17.40
Previous CloseN/A
Volume50.73K
Average Volume (3M)242.50K
Market Cap
$500.38M
Enterprise Value$709.96M
Total Cash (Recent Filing)$3.90M
Total Debt (Recent Filing)$232.97M
Price to Earnings (P/E)16.9
Beta0.85
Next Earnings
Jul 30, 2026EPS Estimate
0.28Next Dividend Ex-DateN/A
Dividend YieldN/A
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)0.99
Shares Outstanding30,455,297
10 Day Avg. Volume278,012
30 Day Avg. Volume242,502
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio1.98
Price to Book (P/B)1.05
Price to Sales (P/S)0.62
P/FCF Ratio12.03
Enterprise Value/Market Cap1.42
Enterprise Value/Revenue1.43
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit5.71
Enterprise Value/Ebitda11.43
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$19.38Price Target Upside38.89% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering5
EPS Forecast (FY)0.97
Revenue Forecast (FY)$503.77M
Bulls Say, Bears Say
Bulls Say
Sustained Restaurant-level Margin ExpansionA 320bp year-over-year restaurant contribution margin improvement demonstrates durable operating leverage from cost controls, menu mix, and process gains. Management's raised margin guidance implies lasting margin structure improvements that support higher EBITDA and reinvestment capacity over multiple quarters.
Stronger Digital And Loyalty EngagementHigh and growing digital penetration plus rising loyalty metrics indicate more predictable, higher-frequency spend and a larger share of higher-margin direct channels. This structural shift supports customer retention, higher average check and lower marketing spend per transaction over the medium term.
Meaningful Leverage ImprovementA materially lower debt-to-equity ratio reflects improved capital structure and reduced financial risk, giving the company more flexibility to fund unit growth and share repurchases. Consistent ROE suggests returns are steady even as leverage normalizes, supporting sustainable shareholder value creation.
Bears Say
Suboptimal Cash ConversionPersistent gap between net income and cash from operations indicates working-capital demands or reinvestment requirements that reduce free cash available for debt paydown, capex, or buybacks. Over time, lower cash conversion constrains financial flexibility and raises sensitivity to sales volatility.
Near-term Liquidity Pressure Vs Planned CapexVery low cash on hand relative to outstanding debt and sizeable planned capex increases refinancing and execution risk. If operating performance softens or access to capital tightens, the company could face constrained options for funding growth or absorbing shocks without raising external capital.
Franchise Timing And Execution Risk From ExpansionAn aggressive unit-growth and remodel plan raises execution risk: mis-timed franchise activity or rollout issues can compress near-term margins, divert management attention, and strain operations. Franchise revenue timing volatility also makes franchise royalties less predictable over several quarters.
El Pollo LoCo News
LOCO FAQ
What was El Pollo LoCo’s price range in the past 12 months?
El Pollo LoCo lowest stock price was $8.98 and its highest was $17.40 in the past 12 months.
What is El Pollo LoCo’s market cap?
El Pollo LoCo’s market cap is $500.38M.
When is El Pollo LoCo’s upcoming earnings report date?
El Pollo LoCo’s upcoming earnings report date is Jul 30, 2026 which is in 19 days.
How were El Pollo LoCo’s earnings last quarter?
El Pollo LoCo released its earnings results on May 07, 2026. The company reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.216 by $0.064.
Is El Pollo LoCo overvalued?
According to Wall Street analysts El Pollo LoCo’s price is currently Undervalued.
Does El Pollo LoCo pay dividends?
El Pollo LoCo pays a Notavailable dividend of $1.5 which represents an annual dividend yield of N/A. See more information on El Pollo LoCo dividends here
What is El Pollo LoCo’s EPS estimate?
El Pollo LoCo’s EPS estimate is 0.28.
How many shares outstanding does El Pollo LoCo have?
El Pollo LoCo has 30,455,297 shares outstanding.
What happened to El Pollo LoCo’s price movement after its last earnings report?
El Pollo LoCo reported an EPS of $0.28 in its last earnings report, beating expectations of $0.216. Following the earnings report the stock price went up 3.627%.
Which hedge fund is a major shareholder of El Pollo LoCo?
Currently, no hedge funds are holding shares in LOCO
What is the TipRanks Smart Score and how is it calculated?
Smart Score combines eight research factors - such as analyst recommendations, hedge fund trends, and technical indicators - to measure a stock’s outlook. These signals are unified into a single score that reflects bullish or bearish momentum. See detailed methodology
El Pollo LoCo Stock Smart Score
Neutral
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Analyst Consensus
Moderate Buy
Average Price Target:
$19.38 (38.89% Upside)
$19.38 (38.89% Upside)
Blogger Sentiment
Bullish
LOCO Sentiment 100%
Sector Average 64%
Sector Average 64%
Hedge Fund Trend
Decreased
By 139.5K Shares
Last Quarter.
Last Quarter.
Insider Transactions
Sold Shares
Worth $6.2M over
the Last 3 Months
the Last 3 Months
Technicals
SMA
Positive
20 days / 200 days
Momentum
-7.82%
12-Months-Change
Fundamentals
Return on Equity
10.14%
Trailing 12-Months
Asset Growth
3.16%
Trailing 12-Months
Company Description
El Pollo LoCo
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., primarily operating through its El Pollo Loco, Inc. subsidiary, is engaged in the development, franchising, licensing, and direct management of quick-service restaurants under the El Pollo Loco brand. By May 4, 2022, its network encompassed 480 establishments: 189 company-owned locations and 291 franchised outlets situated across California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana. The company also licenses a single restaurant operating in the Philippines. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, the company adopted its current name, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., in April 2014, having previously been known as Chicken Acquisition Corp.
LOCO Earnings Call
Q1 2026
0:00 / 0:00
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call conveyed clear operational momentum: strong comparable sales (+5.8% in Q1), meaningful restaurant-level margin expansion (+320 bps to 19.2%), higher profitability (adjusted EBITDA +31%) and successful product innovation and loyalty engagement. Management raised full-year comps and EBITDA guidance and outlined an aggressive unit growth plan. Key risks include a modest near-term liquidity position (low cash vs. outstanding debt and elevated planned capex), a timing-related decline in franchise revenue, ongoing commodity/wage inflation and continued focus needed on speed-of-service. Overall, positive fundamentals and upgraded guidance outweigh the highlighted challenges.View all LOCO earnings summariesLOCO Stock 12 Month Forecast
Average Price Target
$19.38
▲(38.89% Upside)
Technical Analysis
Ownership Overview
15.38% Insiders
17.01% Mutual Funds
0.99% Other Institutional Investors
53.29% Public Companies and
Individual Investors