EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO) Fundamental Analysis & Valuation

NASDAQ:LOCO • US2686031079

Current stock price

12.72 USD
+1.84 (+16.91%)
At close:
12.61 USD
-0.11 (-0.86%)
Pre-Market:

This LOCO fundamental analysis includes valuation metrics, fair value assessment, financial health analysis, profitability trends, growth metrics and dividend sustainability analysis.

5

1. LOCO Profitability Analysis

1.1 Basic Checks

  • LOCO had positive earnings in the past year.
  • In the past year LOCO had a positive cash flow from operations.
  • Each year in the past 5 years LOCO has been profitable.
  • Of the past 5 years LOCO 4 years had a positive operating cash flow.
LOCO Yearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCFLOCO Yearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCFYearly Net Income VS EBIT VS OCF VS FCF 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 0 20M 40M

1.2 Ratios

  • LOCO has a better Return On Assets (4.30%) than 65.08% of its industry peers.
  • LOCO has a Return On Equity of 9.15%. This is in the better half of the industry: LOCO outperforms 69.05% of its industry peers.
  • LOCO's Return On Invested Capital of 5.54% is in line compared to the rest of the industry. LOCO outperforms 52.38% of its industry peers.
Industry RankSector Rank
ROA 4.3%
ROE 9.15%
ROIC 5.54%
ROA(3y)N/A
ROA(5y)N/A
ROE(3y)N/A
ROE(5y)N/A
ROIC(3y)N/A
ROIC(5y)N/A
LOCO Yearly ROA, ROE, ROICLOCO Yearly ROA, ROE, ROICYearly ROA, ROE, ROIC 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 0 2 -2 4 6 8 10

1.3 Margins

  • Looking at the Profit Margin, with a value of 5.39%, LOCO is in the better half of the industry, outperforming 60.32% of the companies in the same industry.
  • In the last couple of years the Profit Margin of LOCO has remained more or less at the same level.
  • With a Operating Margin value of 8.58%, LOCO perfoms like the industry average, outperforming 50.00% of the companies in the same industry.
  • In the last couple of years the Operating Margin of LOCO has remained more or less at the same level.
  • With a decent Gross Margin value of 53.19%, LOCO is doing good in the industry, outperforming 61.90% of the companies in the same industry.
  • In the last couple of years the Gross Margin of LOCO has remained more or less at the same level.
Industry RankSector Rank
OM 8.58%
PM (TTM) 5.39%
GM 53.19%
OM growth 3Y10.11%
OM growth 5Y-1.14%
PM growth 3Y6.89%
PM growth 5Y-1.23%
GM growth 3Y4.4%
GM growth 5Y1.42%
LOCO Yearly Profit, Operating, Gross MarginsLOCO Yearly Profit, Operating, Gross MarginsYearly Profit, Operating, Gross Margins 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 0 10 20 30 40 50

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3

2. LOCO Health Analysis

2.1 Basic Checks

  • With a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) below the Cost of Capital (WACC), LOCO is destroying value.
  • There is no outstanding debt for LOCO. This means it has a Debt/Equity and Debt/FCF ratio of 0 and it is amongst the best of the sector and industry.
LOCO Yearly Shares OutstandingLOCO Yearly Shares OutstandingYearly Shares Outstanding 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 10M 20M 30M
LOCO Yearly Total Debt VS Total AssetsLOCO Yearly Total Debt VS Total AssetsYearly Total Debt VS Total Assets 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 200M 400M 600M

2.2 Solvency

  • Based on the Altman-Z score of 1.74, we must say that LOCO is in the distress zone and has some risk of bankruptcy.
  • LOCO has a Altman-Z score of 1.74. This is comparable to the rest of the industry: LOCO outperforms 53.17% of its industry peers.
  • LOCO has a debt to FCF ratio of 2.91. This is a good value and a sign of high solvency as LOCO would need 2.91 years to pay back of all of its debts.
  • LOCO has a better Debt to FCF ratio (2.91) than 80.95% of its industry peers.
  • A Debt/Equity ratio of 0.22 indicates that LOCO is not too dependend on debt financing.
  • With a decent Debt to Equity ratio value of 0.22, LOCO is doing good in the industry, outperforming 76.98% of the companies in the same industry.
Industry RankSector Rank
Debt/Equity 0.22
Debt/FCF 2.91
Altman-Z 1.74
ROIC/WACC0.67
WACC8.32%
LOCO Yearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCFLOCO Yearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCFYearly LT Debt VS Equity VS FCF 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 100M 200M 300M

2.3 Liquidity

  • LOCO has a Current Ratio of 0.41. This is a bad value and indicates that LOCO is not financially healthy enough and could expect problems in meeting its short term obligations.
  • LOCO's Current ratio of 0.41 is on the low side compared to the rest of the industry. LOCO is outperformed by 84.92% of its industry peers.
  • A Quick Ratio of 0.38 indicates that LOCO may have some problems paying its short term obligations.
  • LOCO has a Quick ratio of 0.38. This is amonst the worse of the industry: LOCO underperforms 82.54% of its industry peers.
Industry RankSector Rank
Current Ratio 0.41
Quick Ratio 0.38
LOCO Yearly Current Assets VS Current LiabilitesLOCO Yearly Current Assets VS Current LiabilitesYearly Current Assets VS Current Liabilites 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 20M 40M 60M 80M

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WACCDebt/EquityHow to determine the health of a companyAltman-Z scoreShow peers with great health

4

3. LOCO Growth Analysis

3.1 Past

  • The Earnings Per Share has grown by an nice 11.24% over the past year.
  • The Earnings Per Share has been growing slightly by 4.35% on average over the past years.
  • The Revenue has been growing slightly by 3.60% in the past year.
  • LOCO shows a small growth in Revenue. Measured over the last years, the Revenue has been growing by 2.84% yearly.
EPS 1Y (TTM)11.24%
EPS 3Y19.51%
EPS 5Y4.35%
EPS Q2Q%25%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)3.6%
Revenue growth 3Y1.4%
Revenue growth 5Y2.84%
Sales Q2Q%8.08%

3.2 Future

  • LOCO is expected to show a small growth in Earnings Per Share. In the coming years, the EPS will grow by 3.51% yearly.
  • The Revenue is expected to grow by 1.88% on average over the next years.
EPS Next Y-2.12%
EPS Next 2Y3.51%
EPS Next 3YN/A
EPS Next 5YN/A
Revenue Next Year1.67%
Revenue Next 2Y1.88%
Revenue Next 3YN/A
Revenue Next 5YN/A

3.3 Evolution

  • When comparing the EPS growth rate of the last years to the growth rate of the upcoming years, we see that the growth is stable.
  • The Revenue growth rate is decreasing: in the next years the growth will be less than in the last years.
LOCO Yearly Revenue VS EstimatesLOCO Yearly Revenue VS EstimatesYearly Revenue VS Estimates 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 100M 200M 300M 400M 500M
LOCO Yearly EPS VS EstimatesLOCO Yearly EPS VS EstimatesYearly EPS VS Estimates 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

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5

4. LOCO Valuation Analysis

4.1 Price/Earnings Ratio

  • The Price/Earnings ratio is 12.85, which indicates a correct valuation of LOCO.
  • 83.33% of the companies in the same industry are more expensive than LOCO, based on the Price/Earnings ratio.
  • The average S&P500 Price/Earnings ratio is at 25.71. LOCO is valued rather cheaply when compared to this.
  • LOCO is valuated correctly with a Price/Forward Earnings ratio of 13.13.
  • 75.40% of the companies in the same industry are more expensive than LOCO, based on the Price/Forward Earnings ratio.
  • The average S&P500 Price/Forward Earnings ratio is at 23.83. LOCO is valued slightly cheaper when compared to this.
Industry RankSector Rank
PE 12.85
Fwd PE 13.13
LOCO Price Earnings VS Forward Price EarningsLOCO Price Earnings VS Forward Price Earnings ChartPrice Earnings - Forward Price Earnings PE FPE 10 20 30

4.2 Price Multiples

  • Based on the Enterprise Value to EBITDA ratio, LOCO is valued cheaper than 80.95% of the companies in the same industry.
  • Compared to the rest of the industry, the Price/Free Cash Flow ratio of LOCO indicates a somewhat cheap valuation: LOCO is cheaper than 76.19% of the companies listed in the same industry.
Industry RankSector Rank
P/FCF 17.73
EV/EBITDA 7.59
LOCO Per share dataLOCO EPS, Sales, OCF, FCF, BookValue per sharePer Share Data Per Share 0 5 10 15

4.3 Compensation for Growth

PEG (NY)N/A
PEG (5Y)2.95
EPS Next 2Y3.51%
EPS Next 3YN/A

More info and screens

Price/EarningsPrice/FCFFCF per shareEV/EBITDAPEG RATIOShow best valued peers

0

5. LOCO Dividend Analysis

5.1 Amount

  • LOCO does not give a dividend.
Industry RankSector Rank
Dividend Yield 0%

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LOCO Fundamentals: All Metrics, Ratios and Statistics

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC

NASDAQ:LOCO (3/13/2026, 8:00:00 PM)

Premarket: 12.61 -0.11 (-0.86%)

12.72

+1.84 (+16.91%)

Chartmill FA Rating
GICS IndustryGroupConsumer Services
GICS IndustryHotels, Restaurants & Leisure
Earnings (Last)03-12
Earnings (Next)04-29
Inst Owners92.39%
Inst Owner Change1.17%
Ins Owners1.97%
Ins Owner Change0.18%
Market Cap380.96M
Revenue(TTM)490.05M
Net Income(TTM)25.90M
Analysts78.18
Price Target15.43 (21.31%)
Short Float %5.99%
Short Ratio7.2
Dividend
Industry RankSector Rank
Dividend Yield 0%
Yearly DividendN/A
Dividend Growth(5Y)N/A
DP0%
Div Incr Years0
Div Non Decr Years0
Ex-DateN/A
Surprises & Revisions
EPS beat(2)2
Avg EPS beat(2)18.45%
Min EPS beat(2)13.2%
Max EPS beat(2)23.69%
EPS beat(4)3
Avg EPS beat(4)18.25%
Min EPS beat(4)-9.13%
Max EPS beat(4)45.24%
EPS beat(8)6
Avg EPS beat(8)21.17%
EPS beat(12)10
Avg EPS beat(12)18.49%
EPS beat(16)13
Avg EPS beat(16)17.2%
Revenue beat(2)0
Avg Revenue beat(2)-2.08%
Min Revenue beat(2)-3.46%
Max Revenue beat(2)-0.7%
Revenue beat(4)0
Avg Revenue beat(4)-1.58%
Min Revenue beat(4)-3.46%
Max Revenue beat(4)-0.7%
Revenue beat(8)2
Avg Revenue beat(8)-0.73%
Revenue beat(12)2
Avg Revenue beat(12)-1.27%
Revenue beat(16)3
Avg Revenue beat(16)-1.1%
PT rev (1m)0%
PT rev (3m)4.31%
EPS NQ rev (1m)0.51%
EPS NQ rev (3m)-4.39%
EPS NY rev (1m)0%
EPS NY rev (3m)-1.59%
Revenue NQ rev (1m)0.3%
Revenue NQ rev (3m)-0.66%
Revenue NY rev (1m)0%
Revenue NY rev (3m)-0.24%
Valuation
Industry RankSector Rank
PE 12.85
Fwd PE 13.13
P/S 0.79
P/FCF 17.73
P/OCF 9.57
P/B 1.35
P/tB N/A
EV/EBITDA 7.59
EPS(TTM)0.99
EY7.78%
EPS(NY)0.97
Fwd EY7.62%
FCF(TTM)0.72
FCFY5.64%
OCF(TTM)1.33
OCFY10.45%
SpS16.05
BVpS9.45
TBVpS-0.92
PEG (NY)N/A
PEG (5Y)2.95
Graham Number14.51
Profitability
Industry RankSector Rank
ROA 4.3%
ROE 9.15%
ROCE 7.74%
ROIC 5.54%
ROICexc 5.66%
ROICexgc 13.97%
OM 8.58%
PM (TTM) 5.39%
GM 53.19%
FCFM 4.47%
ROA(3y)N/A
ROA(5y)N/A
ROE(3y)N/A
ROE(5y)N/A
ROIC(3y)N/A
ROIC(5y)N/A
ROICexc(3y)N/A
ROICexc(5y)N/A
ROICexgc(3y)N/A
ROICexgc(5y)N/A
ROCE(3y)N/A
ROCE(5y)N/A
ROICexgc growth 3YN/A
ROICexgc growth 5YN/A
ROICexc growth 3YN/A
ROICexc growth 5YN/A
OM growth 3Y10.11%
OM growth 5Y-1.14%
PM growth 3Y6.89%
PM growth 5Y-1.23%
GM growth 3Y4.4%
GM growth 5Y1.42%
F-Score9
Asset Turnover0.8
Health
Industry RankSector Rank
Debt/Equity 0.22
Debt/FCF 2.91
Debt/EBITDA 1.1
Cap/Depr 116.27%
Cap/Sales 3.81%
Interest Coverage 9.06
Cash Conversion 69.85%
Profit Quality 82.96%
Current Ratio 0.41
Quick Ratio 0.38
Altman-Z 1.74
F-Score9
WACC8.32%
ROIC/WACC0.67
Cap/Depr(3y)N/A
Cap/Depr(5y)N/A
Cap/Sales(3y)N/A
Cap/Sales(5y)N/A
Profit Quality(3y)N/A
Profit Quality(5y)N/A
High Growth Momentum
Growth
EPS 1Y (TTM)11.24%
EPS 3Y19.51%
EPS 5Y4.35%
EPS Q2Q%25%
EPS Next Y-2.12%
EPS Next 2Y3.51%
EPS Next 3YN/A
EPS Next 5YN/A
Revenue 1Y (TTM)3.6%
Revenue growth 3Y1.4%
Revenue growth 5Y2.84%
Sales Q2Q%8.08%
Revenue Next Year1.67%
Revenue Next 2Y1.88%
Revenue Next 3YN/A
Revenue Next 5YN/A
EBIT growth 1Y1.36%
EBIT growth 3Y11.66%
EBIT growth 5Y1.66%
EBIT Next Year50.76%
EBIT Next 3YN/A
EBIT Next 5YN/A
FCF growth 1Y-25.17%
FCF growth 3YN/A
FCF growth 5YN/A
OCF growth 1Y-19.31%
OCF growth 3YN/A
OCF growth 5YN/A

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC / LOCO Fundamental Analysis FAQ

What is the ChartMill fundamental rating of EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO) stock?

ChartMill assigns a fundamental rating of 4 / 10 to LOCO.


What is the valuation status of EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO) stock?

ChartMill assigns a valuation rating of 5 / 10 to EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO). This can be considered as Fairly Valued.


What is the profitability of LOCO stock?

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO) has a profitability rating of 5 / 10.


Can you provide the PE and PB ratios for LOCO stock?

The Price/Earnings (PE) ratio for EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO) is 12.85 and the Price/Book (PB) ratio is 1.35.


Can you provide the dividend sustainability for LOCO stock?

The dividend rating of EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO) is 0 / 10 and the dividend payout ratio is 0%.