LOCOEl Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.(LOCO)Stock Analysis

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13F Pro Quality Score

50.9/100

Rank #1,427 of 2,879 stocksTOP 50%

View Consumer Discretionary peers →

Rankings refresh quarterly once 80% of peers have filed (~45 days after quarter-end). Next update: ~Aug 14, 2026.

Revenue Growth

40.3/100

Profitability

55.2/100

Balance Sheet

68.4/100

Earnings Quality

41.5/100

Free Cash Flow

49.7/100

Institutional Flow

74.2/100

Revenue Scale

36.7/100

Dilution Risk

54.8/100

LOCO Stock Analysis & AI Quality Score

AI stock analysis and institutional research for El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO), a Consumer Discretionary sector company. 13F Pro's AI-powered ranking engine scores LOCO at 50.9/100 on a 32-signal composite quality model, placing it at rank #1,427 of 2,879 stocks — the top half of the AI-ranked universe. Areas of concern include revenue scale (36.7), which score below median versus the broader universe. Based on the latest XBRL financial filings (Q1 2026), El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. reports quarterly revenue of $126.2M, net income of $8.2M, an operating margin of 9.7%. Top institutional holders of LOCO by reported 13-F value include BIGLARI CAPITAL, BlackRock,, DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS, based on the most recent SEC filings. LOCO trades on the Nasdaq exchange and files with the SEC under CIK 1606366. 13F Pro's AI research platform runs 10 specialized AI analysts — value, growth, momentum, macro, and activist specialists — that debate LOCO daily and publish AI-generated analysis with cited SEC sources. The platform aggregates historical XBRL financial facts, 10-Q and 10-K filings, insider Form 4 transactions, and institutional 13-F holdings for El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. directly from SEC EDGAR. El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s 13F Pro composite quality score has ranged between 46 and 55 since 2021, currently 50.9 — a declining long-term trajectory across 12 quarterly and live scoring snapshots.

Fun facts about El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

Quirks, history, and lore behind LOCO — the kind of stuff that makes a stock memorable.

  • 1
    The Basics
    U.S. quick-service restaurant company · small-cap · listed on Nasdaq · headquartered in Southern California.
  • 2
    The Numbers
    Operates and franchises roughly 500 locations, nearly all in the western United States, with annual system sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
  • 3
    The History
    The chain was founded in 1980 in Los Angeles and went public in 2014, bringing a regional cult favorite to Wall Street for the first time.
  • 4
    The Secret
    It occupies a deliberate niche between fast food and fast casual — sometimes called 'Mexified chicken' — leaning hard on citrus-marinated proteins to stand out.
  • 5
    The Lore
    The brand built its identity around flame-grilled chicken long before 'grilled' was a health buzzword, and its loyal fanbase in California and Texas treats it more like a local institution than a chain.
  • 6
    The Giveaway
    The name literally means 'The Crazy Chicken' in Spanish — and yes, that's also the Nasdaq ticker: pure poultry, proudly unhinged.
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Revenue

Q1 2026

$126.2M

Net Income

Q1 2026

$8.2M

Free Cash Flow

Q1 2026

$2.8M

Operating Margin

Q1 2026

9.7%

ROIC

Q1 2026

3.5%

D/E Ratio

Q1 2026

0.15

Revenue & Net Income

Earnings Per Share

Key Financials Over Time

Export Financial Table · Pro+

Revenue

+3.6% YoY
$490.0MFY 2025
FY22 $470.0MFY23 $468.7MFY24 $473.0MFY25 $490.0M

Net Income

+3.1% YoY
$26.5MFY 2025
FY22 $20.8MFY23 $25.6MFY24 $25.7MFY25 $26.5M

Operating Income

+2.1% YoY
$42.0MFY 2025
FY22 $30.1MFY23 $39.8MFY24 $41.2MFY25 $42.0M

EPS (Diluted)

+4.7% YoY
$0.90FY 2025
FY22 $0.57FY23 $0.74FY24 $0.86FY25 $0.90

Total Assets

+2.5% YoY
$606.6MFY 2025
FY22 $597.2MFY23 $592.3MFY24 $592.0MFY25 $606.6M

Total Debt

-28.2% YoY
$51.0MFY 2025
FY22 $66.0MFY23 $84.0MFY24 $71.0MFY25 $51.0M

Op. Cash Flow

+2.8% YoY
$48.1MFY 2025
FY22 $38.5MFY23 $40.7MFY24 $46.8MFY25 $48.1M

AI Insight: LOCO Ratio Trends

LOCO operating margins recovered to 9.7% in Q2 2026 after dipping to 7.5% in Q1 2025, while leverage steadily declined from 0.35x to 0.15x.

Operating margin improved from 7.5% in Q1 2025 to 9.7% in Q2 2026, recovering most ground lost.

Debt-to-equity ratio declined consistently from 0.35x in Q2 2024 to 0.15x in Q2 2026.

ROIC fluctuated between 10.6% and 14.7% but recovered to 14.1% in latest quarter.

Net profit margin reached 6.5% in Q2 2026, the highest level across the data period.

Operating margin volatility with 190bp swing from Q1 2025 trough to Q2 2026 peak.

Sequential margin decline in Q4 2025 to 8.3% suggests potential seasonal headwinds.

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Available Research

13F Pro tracks comprehensive data for El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. including:

SEC EDGAR filings (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K)
XBRL financial facts (revenue, EPS, margins)
Insider transactions (Form 4)
Institutional 13F holdings
Quality rankings (32 signals)
AI analyst debates & daily meetings
Historical financial trends
Peer comparison & sector analysis

Top Institutional Holders of LOCO

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Is LOCO a good stock to buy?

13F Pro's AI-powered analysis of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) draws on SEC EDGAR-sourced fundamentals, institutional 13F holdings, and insider Form 4 transactions in the Consumer Discretionary sector (listed on Nasdaq). The 32-signal AI Quality Score, current rank, and full bull/bear verdict for LOCO are available on the LOCO stock profile dashboard — with the same data, AI insights, ratios, and institutional activity refreshed after every 10-K, 10-Q, 13F, and Form 4 filing.

Which hedge funds own LOCO?

Institutional investors are required to disclose their holdings quarterly via SEC Form 13F. 13F Pro aggregates these filings to show which hedge funds, mutual funds, and asset managers are buying or selling LOCO. Combined with insider transaction data from Form 4 filings and AI-powered analysis from 10 specialized research agents, 13F Pro provides a comprehensive view of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s investment landscape.