Logo image of LOCO

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO) Stock Fundamental Analysis

USA - Nasdaq - NASDAQ:LOCO - US2686031079 - Common Stock

10.63 USD
-0.3 (-2.74%)
Last: 1/23/2026, 8:12:46 PM
10.63 USD
0 (0%)
After Hours: 1/23/2026, 8:12:46 PM
Fundamental Rating

5

We assign a fundamental rating of 5 out of 10 to LOCO. LOCO was compared to 133 industry peers in the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry. LOCO has an average financial health and profitability rating. A decent growth rate in combination with a cheap valuation! Better keep an eye on LOCO.


Dividend Valuation Growth Profitability Health

6

1. Profitability

1.1 Basic Checks

  • In the past year LOCO was profitable.
  • LOCO had a positive operating cash flow in the past year.
  • In the past 5 years LOCO has always been profitable.
  • Each year in the past 5 years LOCO 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 0 20M 40M

1.2 Ratios

  • With a decent Return On Assets value of 4.30%, LOCO is doing good in the industry, outperforming 63.91% of the companies in the same industry.
  • LOCO has a better Return On Equity (9.15%) than 67.67% of its industry peers.
  • LOCO's Return On Invested Capital of 5.65% is in line compared to the rest of the industry. LOCO outperforms 54.89% of its industry peers.
  • The Average Return On Invested Capital over the past 3 years for LOCO is significantly below the industry average of 10.34%.
  • The 3 year average ROIC (5.08%) for LOCO is below the current ROIC(5.65%), indicating increased profibility in the last year.
Industry RankSector Rank
ROA 4.3%
ROE 9.15%
ROIC 5.65%
ROA(3y)4.05%
ROA(5y)4.18%
ROE(3y)9.15%
ROE(5y)9.13%
ROIC(3y)5.08%
ROIC(5y)5.31%
LOCO Yearly ROA, ROE, ROICLOCO Yearly ROA, ROE, ROICYearly ROA, ROE, ROIC 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 0 2 -2 4 6 8 10

1.3 Margins

  • With a decent Profit Margin value of 5.39%, LOCO is doing good in the industry, outperforming 60.15% of the companies in the same industry.
  • LOCO's Profit Margin has been stable in the last couple of years.
  • LOCO has a Operating Margin (8.58%) which is comparable to the rest of the industry.
  • In the last couple of years the Operating Margin of LOCO has remained more or less at the same level.
  • LOCO has a better Gross Margin (53.19%) than 62.41% of its industry peers.
  • 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 3Y-3.32%
OM growth 5Y0.33%
PM growth 3Y-5.35%
PM growth 5Y-0.72%
GM growth 3Y0.83%
GM growth 5Y1.16%
LOCO Yearly Profit, Operating, Gross MarginsLOCO Yearly Profit, Operating, Gross MarginsYearly Profit, Operating, Gross Margins 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 0 10 20 30 40 50

4

2. Health

2.1 Basic Checks

  • The Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is below the Cost of Capital (WACC), so LOCO is destroying value.
  • LOCO has less shares outstanding than it did 1 year ago.
  • LOCO has less shares outstanding than it did 5 years ago.
  • Compared to 1 year ago, LOCO has an improved debt to assets ratio.
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 1.64, we must say that LOCO is in the distress zone and has some risk of bankruptcy.
  • LOCO has a Altman-Z score of 1.64. This is comparable to the rest of the industry: LOCO outperforms 51.13% of its industry peers.
  • The Debt to FCF ratio of LOCO is 2.91, which is a good value as it means it would take LOCO, 2.91 years of fcf income to pay off all of its debts.
  • The Debt to FCF ratio of LOCO (2.91) is better than 83.46% of its industry peers.
  • A Debt/Equity ratio of 0.22 indicates that LOCO is not too dependend on debt financing.
  • LOCO's Debt to Equity ratio of 0.22 is fine compared to the rest of the industry. LOCO outperforms 77.44% of its industry peers.
Industry RankSector Rank
Debt/Equity 0.22
Debt/FCF 2.91
Altman-Z 1.64
ROIC/WACC0.69
WACC8.21%
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 has a worse Current ratio (0.41) than 79.70% of its industry peers.
  • LOCO has a Quick 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 has a worse Quick ratio (0.38) than 77.44% 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

5

3. Growth

3.1 Past

  • LOCO shows a strong growth in Earnings Per Share. In the last year, the EPS has been growing by 10.59%, which is quite good.
  • LOCO shows a small growth in Earnings Per Share. Measured over the last years, the EPS has been growing by 3.21% yearly.
  • LOCO shows a small growth in Revenue. In the last year, the Revenue has grown by 2.09%.
  • LOCO shows a small growth in Revenue. Measured over the last years, the Revenue has been growing by 1.35% yearly.
EPS 1Y (TTM)10.59%
EPS 3Y1.15%
EPS 5Y3.21%
EPS Q2Q%28.57%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)2.09%
Revenue growth 3Y1.35%
Revenue growth 5Y1.35%
Sales Q2Q%0.93%

3.2 Future

  • LOCO is expected to show a small growth in Earnings Per Share. In the coming years, the EPS will grow by 5.51% yearly.
  • Based on estimates for the next years, LOCO will show a small growth in Revenue. The Revenue will grow by 2.33% on average per year.
EPS Next Y7.44%
EPS Next 2Y3.24%
EPS Next 3Y5.51%
EPS Next 5YN/A
Revenue Next Year3.62%
Revenue Next 2Y2.62%
Revenue Next 3Y2.33%
Revenue Next 5YN/A

3.3 Evolution

  • The EPS growth rate is accelerating: in the next years the growth will be better than in the last years.
  • The Revenue growth rate is accelerating: in the next years the growth will be better 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

8

4. Valuation

4.1 Price/Earnings Ratio

  • LOCO is valuated reasonably with a Price/Earnings ratio of 11.31.
  • Based on the Price/Earnings ratio, LOCO is valued cheaper than 88.72% of the companies in the same industry.
  • Compared to an average S&P500 Price/Earnings ratio of 27.21, LOCO is valued rather cheaply.
  • LOCO is valuated reasonably with a Price/Forward Earnings ratio of 11.21.
  • Based on the Price/Forward Earnings ratio, LOCO is valued cheaply inside the industry as 84.96% of the companies are valued more expensively.
  • Compared to an average S&P500 Price/Forward Earnings ratio of 24.26, LOCO is valued rather cheaply.
Industry RankSector Rank
PE 11.31
Fwd PE 11.21
LOCO Price Earnings VS Forward Price EarningsLOCO Price Earnings VS Forward Price Earnings ChartPrice Earnings - Forward Price Earnings PE FPE 10 20 30 40

4.2 Price Multiples

  • 90.23% of the companies in the same industry are more expensive than LOCO, based on the Enterprise Value to EBITDA ratio.
  • Based on the Price/Free Cash Flow ratio, LOCO is valued cheaper than 84.21% of the companies in the same industry.
Industry RankSector Rank
P/FCF 14.82
EV/EBITDA 6.65
LOCO Per share dataLOCO EPS, Sales, OCF, FCF, BookValue per sharePer Share Data Per Share 0 5 10 15

4.3 Compensation for Growth

  • The PEG Ratio(NY), which compensates the Price/Earnings for growth, indicates a correct valuation of the company.
  • LOCO has a very decent profitability rating, which may justify a higher PE ratio.
PEG (NY)1.52
PEG (5Y)3.52
EPS Next 2Y3.24%
EPS Next 3Y5.51%

0

5. Dividend

5.1 Amount

  • No dividends for LOCO!.
Industry RankSector Rank
Dividend Yield 0%

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC / LOCO FAQ

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

ChartMill assigns a fundamental rating of 5 / 10 to LOCO.


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

ChartMill assigns a valuation rating of 8 / 10 to EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO). This can be considered as Undervalued.


What is the profitability of LOCO stock?

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS INC (LOCO) has a profitability rating of 6 / 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 11.31 and the Price/Book (PB) ratio is 1.13.


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%.