El Pollo LoCo (LOCO)
NASDAQ:LOCO
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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 - $15.90
Previous CloseN/A
Volume50.73K
Average Volume (3M)242.50K
Market Cap
$474.19M
Enterprise Value$707.83M
Total Cash (Recent Filing)$3.90M
Total Debt (Recent Filing)$232.97M
Price to Earnings (P/E)15.9
Beta0.87
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 Ratio1.99
Price to Book (P/B)1.05
Price to Sales (P/S)0.62
P/FCF Ratio12.03
Enterprise Value/Market Cap1.49
Enterprise Value/Revenue1.42
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit5.70
Enterprise Value/Ebitda11.39
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$18.50Price Target Upside32.62% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering4
EPS Forecast (FY)0.97
Revenue Forecast (FY)$503.76M
Bulls Say, Bears Say
Bulls Say
Asset-light Franchise ModelEl Pollo Loco's mix of company-operated and franchised restaurants creates recurring royalty and fee revenue while limiting corporate capital intensity. That asset-light element supports scalable unit growth, steadier cash-like revenue streams, and lower incremental capex per new system sale over a multi-month horizon.
Sustained Restaurant-level Margin ExpansionA 320bp improvement in restaurant contribution margin reflects durable operational gains (pricing, labor productivity, food cost management). Management's 18%–20% long-term restaurant margin target indicates these improvements are strategic, improving unit economics and supporting sustainable EBITDA generation over the next several quarters.
Digital And Loyalty-driven Sales MixHigh and rising digital penetration plus stronger loyalty metrics signal structural improvements in customer engagement and repeat visits. Higher average spend and frequency from members tend to be stickier, lower-cost demand drivers that bolster revenue stability and support off-premise trends over ensuing quarters.
Bears Say
Tight Liquidity Vs. Planned CapexVery low cash holdings relative to outstanding debt combined with nearly $40M of planned annual capex create a structural liquidity mismatch risk. Over the next several months management may need to draw on credit, issue debt, or reduce discretionary investment, constraining financial flexibility during expansion.
Gross Margin DeteriorationA multi-percentage-point drop in gross margin versus the prior year signals sustained commodity or pricing headwinds. If gross margin pressure persists, it will compress restaurant economics and require ongoing offsetting labor, pricing or mix improvements to preserve corporate profitability over the medium term.
Weak Cash ConversionOperating cash flow trailing net income and free cash flow at roughly half of net income indicate uneven cash conversion. Persistent working-capital absorption or reinvestment needs reduce available cash to fund openings, repurchases or debt reduction, constraining capital allocation flexibility longer term.
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 $15.90 in the past 12 months.
What is El Pollo LoCo’s market cap?
El Pollo LoCo’s market cap is $474.19M.
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 43 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
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Analyst Consensus
Moderate Buy
Average Price Target:
$18.50 (32.62% Upside)
$18.50 (32.62% Upside)
Blogger Sentiment
Bullish
LOCO Sentiment 100%
Sector Average 66%
Sector Average 66%
Hedge Fund Trend
Decreased
By 139.5K Shares
Last Quarter.
Last Quarter.
News Sentiment
Very Bullish
Bullish news 100%
Bearish news 0%
Bearish news 0%
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
$18.50
▲(32.62% Upside)
Technical Analysis
Ownership Overview
1.83% Insiders
16.69% Mutual Funds
38.21% Other Institutional Investors
30.64% Public Companies and
Individual Investors