LOCO
NEUTRAL
$13.86
Live
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. · NASDAQ
Target $15.12
(+9.1%)
$8.29
52W Range
$14.5
At a glance
Key valuation, profitability, growth, and risk metrics.
Updated Apr 14, 2026
Market cap
$415.19M
P/E
15.4
ROE
9.6%
Profit margin
5.4%
Debt/Equity
0.83
Dividend yield
N/A
AI Analysis
AI-powered fundamental assessment
Confidence
85%
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.
Key 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)
Steady YoY revenue and earnings growth of 8.10%
Positive ROE (9.60%) and ROA (4.76%) compared to negative sector averages
Key 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
Low insider sentiment (40/100) and lack of recent insider buying
Low profit margins (5.41%) leaving little room for error in a cyclical environment
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$15.5
+11.8% above current price
Performance Snowflake
Multi-dimensional analysis across 5 key categories
Overall
54
Moderate
85
60
90
35
0
AI Verdict
Undervalued but Liquidity-Constrained
Key drivers: Low P/E relative to peers, Exceptional earnings beat history, Alarming short-term liquidity ratios
Confidence
80%
Value
85/100
Ref P/E 15.40, Graham Number $14.03, Intrinsic Value $17.23
Positives
- Price < Graham Number
- Price < Intrinsic Value
- P/S ratio of 0.85 is attractive
Watchpoints
- Low profit margins
Future
60/100
Ref Revenue Growth 8.10%, Forward P/E 12.55
Positives
- Consistent 8% growth
- Positive forward P/E compression (12.55)
Watchpoints
- Growth is modest, not aggressive
Past
90/100
Ref Quarterly Earnings Progression and 1Y Change
Positives
- 25-quarter track record of reliability
- Strong 1Y price performance (+40.4%)
Watchpoints
- 5Y change is slightly negative (-5.8%)
Health
35/100
Ref Piotroski F-Score 4/9, Current Ratio 0.32
Positives
- Manageable Debt/Equity (0.83)
Watchpoints
- Current Ratio 0.32 is dangerously low
- Piotroski F-Score 4/9 is only stable, not strong
Dividend
0/100
Ref Dividend Yield N/A
Positives
No standout positives identified.
Watchpoints
- No dividend paid
- 0% payout ratio
Stock Price & Analyst Targets
Real-time price movements and analyst price targets
Current Price
$13.86
Analyst Target
$15.12
Upside/Downside
+9.1%
Multi-Horizon Performance vs Peers
Price momentum across 5Y → 1W horizons for LOCO and closest competitors.
Updated 2026-04-13
| Company | 5Y | 3Y | 1Y | 6M | 1M | 1W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LOCO
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
Primary
|
-5.8% | +51.8% | +40.4% | +46.5% | +9.0% | -3.1% |
|
FWDI
Forward Industries, Inc.
Peer
|
-83.4% | -60.2% | -11.2% | -81.0% | -10.0% | +6.8% |
|
MCFT
MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc.
Peer
|
-21.5% | -25.1% | +43.6% | +9.3% | +11.4% | +7.8% |
|
LE
Lands' End, Inc.
Peer
|
-55.3% | +21.2% | +22.4% | -22.5% | -29.5% | -5.8% |
|
MBUU
Malibu Boats, Inc.
Peer
|
-69.2% | -53.6% | -4.5% | -11.8% | +0.3% | +6.4% |
LOC
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
Primary
5Y
-5.8%
3Y
+51.8%
1Y
+40.4%
6M
+46.5%
1M
+9.0%
1W
-3.1%
FWD
Forward Industries, Inc.
Peer
5Y
-83.4%
3Y
-60.2%
1Y
-11.2%
6M
-81.0%
1M
-10.0%
1W
+6.8%
MCF
MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc.
Peer
5Y
-21.5%
3Y
-25.1%
1Y
+43.6%
6M
+9.3%
1M
+11.4%
1W
+7.8%
LE
Lands' End, Inc.
Peer
5Y
-55.3%
3Y
+21.2%
1Y
+22.4%
6M
-22.5%
1M
-29.5%
1W
-5.8%
MBU
Malibu Boats, Inc.
Peer
5Y
-69.2%
3Y
-53.6%
1Y
-4.5%
6M
-11.8%
1M
+0.3%
1W
+6.4%
Positive values indicate cumulative gains over the specified period. Comparables pulled from the same sector to highlight whether momentum is stock-specific or industry-wide.
Historical Performance Trends
Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns
Revenue & Net Income
Profit & Operating Margins
Return on Equity (ROE)
Quarterly Revenue Growth
Historical data shows last 12 quarters (3 years)
Valuation Metrics
Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators
P/E Ratio
15.4
Forward P/E
12.55
PEG Ratio
N/A
P/B Ratio
1.43
P/S Ratio
0.85
EV/Revenue
1.33
EV/EBITDA
10.54
Market Cap
$415.19M
Profitability
Profit margins and return metrics
Profit Margin
5.41%
Operating Margin
8.71%
Gross Margin
22.15%
ROE
9.6%
ROA
4.76%
Growth
Revenue and earnings growth rates
Revenue Growth
+8.1%
Earnings Growth
+8.1%
Q/Q Revenue Growth
+8.08%
Q/Q Earnings Growth
+9.9%
Financial Health
Balance sheet strength and liquidity metrics
Debt/Equity
0.83
Moderate
Current Ratio
0.32
Weak
Quick Ratio
0.22
Poor
Cash/Share
$0.21
Financial Statement Flow
Interactive flow visualization showing how money moves through the company Q4 2025
Revenue
$0.1B
Gross Margin
22.5%
Op. Margin
8.5%
Net Margin
5.3%
Total Assets
$0.6B
Liabilities
$0.3B
Equity
$0.3B
Debt/Equity
1.08x
Operating CF
$0.0B
CapEx
$-0.0B
Free Cash Flow
$0.0B
FCF Yield
37%
Quarterly Earnings History
EPS performance vs analyst estimates
2026-05-07
$N/A
2026-03-12
$0.25
+25.0% surprise
2025-10-30
$0.27
+26.2% surprise
2025-07-31
$0.28
+16.7% surprise
Consumer Cyclical Sector Comparison
Comparing LOCO against 205 companies in the Consumer Cyclical sector
(12 bullish, 78 neutral, 115 bearish)
P/E Ratio
15.4
This Stock
vs
36.28
Sector Avg
-57.5%
(Discount)
Return on Equity (ROE)
9.6%
This Stock
vs
-8.76%
Sector Avg
-209.6%
(Below Avg)
Profit Margin
5.41%
This Stock
vs
-4.71%
Sector Avg
-214.7%
(Weaker)
Debt to Equity
0.83
This Stock
vs
1.37
Sector Avg
-39.4%
(Less Debt)
Revenue Growth
8.1%
This Stock
vs
4.71%
Sector Avg
+72.0%
(Fast Growth)
Current Ratio
0.32
This Stock
vs
2.41
Sector Avg
-86.6%
(Weaker)
Similar Companies
Peer comparison within the same industry
| Company | AI Rating | Market Cap | P/E | ROE | Profit Margin | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LOCO
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
|
NEUTRAL | $415.19M | 15.4 | 9.6% | 5.4% | $13.86 | |
|
FWDI
Forward Industries, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $380.79M | - | -170.7% | -% | $4.58 | Compare |
|
MCFT
MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc.
|
NEUTRAL | $356.15M | 23.27 | 8.4% | 5.3% | $21.87 | Compare |
|
LE
Lands' End, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $334.74M | 60.39 | 2.3% | 0.4% | $10.87 | Compare |
|
MBUU
Malibu Boats, Inc.
|
NEUTRAL | $496.62M | 34.44 | 2.9% | 1.8% | $25.83 | Compare |
LOCO
El Pollo Loco...
NEUTRAL
Mkt Cap
$415M
P/E
15.4
ROE
9.6%
Price
$13.86
Recent Insider Trading
Insider buy and sell transactions from the last 6 months
| Date | Insider | Position | Transaction | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-17 | BABB DOUGLAS J. | Director | Stock Award | 12,012 | - |
| 2026-03-17 | TAYLOR JOSEPH G | Director | Stock Award | 8,258 | - |
| 2026-03-17 | FILS IRA MARC | Chief Financial Officer | Stock Award | 15,015 | - |
| 2026-03-17 | WRIGHT ROBERT D | Director | Stock Award | 8,258 | - |
| 2026-03-17 | WILLIAMS ELIZABETH GOODMAN | Chief Executive Officer | Stock Award | 53,804 | - |
| 2026-03-17 | GARRIDO FRANK | Director | Stock Award | 8,258 | - |
| 2026-03-17 | GONZALEZ DEBORAH | Director | Stock Award | 8,258 | - |
| 2026-03-17 | FAGINAS CODY NANCY | Director | Stock Award | 8,258 | - |
| 2026-03-17 | DAVILA TANA | Director | Stock Award | 8,258 | - |
| 2025-12-31 | WILLIAMS ELIZABETH GOODMAN | Chief Executive Officer | Stock Award | 42,818 | - |
BABB DOUGLAS J.
Director
2026-03-17
12,012 shares
TAYLOR JOSEPH G
Director
2026-03-17
8,258 shares
FILS IRA MARC
Chief Financial Officer
2026-03-17
15,015 shares
WRIGHT ROBERT D
Director
2026-03-17
8,258 shares
WILLIAMS ELIZABETH GOODMAN
Chief Executive Officer
2026-03-17
53,804 shares
GARRIDO FRANK
Director
2026-03-17
8,258 shares
GONZALEZ DEBORAH
Director
2026-03-17
8,258 shares
FAGINAS CODY NANCY
Director
2026-03-17
8,258 shares
DAVILA TANA
Director
2026-03-17
8,258 shares
WILLIAMS ELIZABETH GOODMAN
Chief Executive Officer
2025-12-31
42,818 shares
Insider transactions can signal confidence or concerns about company prospects
Wall Street Analysts
Professional analyst ratings and price targets
Consensus
NONE
4 analysts
Truist Securities
2026-03-13
Hold
Hold
Benchmark
2026-03-13
Hold
Buy
DA Davidson
2026-03-06
Neutral
Truist Securities
2026-01-08
Hold
Hold
Jefferies
2025-12-15
Buy
Buy
Jefferies
2025-10-31
Buy
Buy
Past News Coverage
Recent headlines mentioning LOCO from our newsroom.
Newest → oldest
No matching news yet.