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LOCO vs PTLO

LOCO
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$13.86
Market Cap
$415.2M
Sector
Consumer Cyclical
AI Confidence
85%
PTLO
Portillo's Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$5.91
Market Cap
$425.9M
Sector
Consumer Cyclical
AI Confidence
85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
LOCO
15.4
PTLO
21.89
Forward P/E
LOCO
12.55
PTLO
24.42
P/B Ratio
LOCO
1.43
PTLO
0.91
P/S Ratio
LOCO
0.85
PTLO
0.58
EV/EBITDA
LOCO
10.54
PTLO
13.71

Profitability

Gross Margin
LOCO
22.15%
PTLO
21.64%
Operating Margin
LOCO
8.71%
PTLO
7.22%
Profit Margin
LOCO
5.41%
PTLO
2.64%
ROE
LOCO
9.6%
PTLO
4.27%
ROA
LOCO
4.76%
PTLO
2.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth
LOCO
8.1%
PTLO
0.6%
Earnings Growth
LOCO
8.1%
PTLO
-51.9%

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
LOCO
0.83
PTLO
1.35
Current Ratio
LOCO
0.32
PTLO
0.27
Quick Ratio
LOCO
0.22
PTLO
0.19

Dividends

Dividend Yield
LOCO
--
PTLO
--
Payout Ratio
LOCO
0.0%
PTLO
0.0%

AI Verdict

LOCO NEUTRAL

LOCO presents a classic value opportunity with a Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 (Stable) and a current price ($13.86) trading slightly below its Graham Number ($14.03) and well below its intrinsic value ($17.23). While the company demonstrates an exceptional track record of earnings beats and attractive valuation multiples relative to the Consumer Cyclical sector, severe liquidity constraints are evident. The current ratio of 0.32 and quick ratio of 0.22 indicate significant short-term solvency risks that offset the positive valuation and growth metrics.

Strengths
Strong valuation with P/E (15.40) significantly lower than sector average (36.65)
Consistent earnings outperformance with 3/4 recent beats and high average surprise (22.61%)
Trading below both Graham Number ($14.03) and Intrinsic Value ($17.23)
Risks
Critical liquidity risk indicated by a very low Current Ratio (0.32) and Quick Ratio (0.22)
Bearish technical trend (10/100) suggesting a potential short-term price reversal
Mediocre Piotroski F-Score (4/9) indicating stagnant financial health improvement
PTLO NEUTRAL

PTLO presents a contradictory profile with a stable Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 but critical liquidity concerns. While the stock is attractively valued relative to its Graham Number ($6.28) and Book Value (P/B 0.91), it is suffering from a severe earnings collapse (-51.9% YoY) and stagnant revenue growth (0.60%). The most alarming metric is the Current Ratio of 0.27, indicating a significant risk in meeting short-term obligations. Despite consistent earnings beats, the fundamental growth trajectory is currently broken, leaving the stock reliant on asset value rather than operational expansion.

Strengths
Trading below Graham Number ($6.28) and Book Value (P/B 0.91)
Strong track record of beating quarterly earnings estimates (3/4 last 4 quarters)
Low Price-to-Sales ratio (0.58) relative to sector
Risks
Critical liquidity risk with a Current Ratio of 0.27 and Quick Ratio of 0.19
Severe YoY earnings contraction of -51.90%
Stagnant revenue growth (0.60% YoY) suggesting market saturation or demand issues

Compare Another Pair

LOCO vs PTLO: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) and Portillo's Inc. (PTLO) across key fundamental metrics including valuation ratios, profitability margins, growth rates, financial health indicators, and dividend metrics. Each metric highlights the better-performing stock so you can quickly identify relative strengths and weaknesses.

Our AI engine independently analyzes each company's financials, competitive position, and market conditions to produce a verdict (Bullish, Neutral, or Bearish) along with key strengths and risks. Use this comparison alongside your own research to make informed investment decisions.

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