LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco, the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, proudly marks its 50th anniversary. From humble beginnings in Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1975 and eventual move to Los Angeles in 1980, El Pollo Loco has always been committed to flavor, quality, and community. To celebrate the milestone, the brand will kick off a year-long celebration, starting with Loco Friday Drops, consisting of various deals and giveaways announced exclusively on Fridays t ...

COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco, Inc. ("El Pollo Loco" or "the Company") (NASDAQ:LOCO), the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, announced today it appointed Joe Taylor as an independent director who will also serve on the Audit Committee, effective January 13, 2025. The election of Mr. Taylor fills the vacancy on the Company's Board of Directors that was created as a result of an increase in the size of the Board from seven (7) to eight (8) directors. ...

COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco”) (NASDAQ: LOCO) today announced that it will host a fireside chat discussion as part of the 27th Annual ICR Conference in Orlando, Florida on January 14, 2025. The Company will also be meeting with institutional investors during the conference. El Pollo Loco’s discussion will begin at 9:30 AM ET and will be webcast live from the corporate website at www.elpolloloco.com under the “Investors” tab. About El Poll ...

It seems I was right when I said El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ: LOCO ) would be sideways, at least for now. The priceI'm an Equity Analyst and Accountant specializing in restaurant stocks, with a strong foundation in Business Administration and Accounting, complemented by an MBA in Forensic Accounting and Controllership. As the founder of Goulart's Restaurant Stocks, I lead a company focused on analyzing restaurant stocks in the U.S. market. Our coverage spans multiple segments, including QSR, fast casual, casual d ...

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being un ...

Group 1 - The restaurant sector has experienced significant rallies in the stock market this year, comparable to the tech sector [1] - CAVA, a Mediterranean fast-casual chain, has seen its stock price nearly triple since its IPO earlier this year [1]

El Pollo Loco (LOCO) is in the right segment of the restaurant industry: healthy eating. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) is expected to grow earnings by the double digits this year and next.El Pollo Loco is a leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant known for its healthy food. It’s menu features meals with Mexican flavors made daily.It operates 495 company-owned and franchised restaurants across 7 U.S. states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana. El Pollo Loco also has ...

Core Insights - El Pollo Loco is reintroducing its popular Double Pollo Fit Bowls across all locations for a limited time, featuring high protein content and quality ingredients [1][4] - The Double Pollo Fit Bowls are designed to cater to health-conscious consumers looking for flavorful meal options [4] Product Details - The Double Pollo Fit Bowls come in two flavors: Classic and Street Corn, both featuring a Super Greens blend and a double portion of fire-grilled chicken [2][3] - The Classic Double Pollo Fit Bowl includes ingredients like hand-sliced avocados, queso fresco, and creamy cilantro dressing [2] - The Street Corn Double Pollo Fit Bowl features roasted corn, red peppers, and chili lime seasoning [3] Pricing and Promotions - The Double Pollo Fit Bowls are available until February 19, 2025, with prices starting at $10.99 [4] - On December 12, Loco Rewards members can purchase the Classic Double Pollo Fit Bowl for a promotional price of $7 [4] Company Overview - El Pollo Loco is recognized as the leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant in the U.S., known for its healthy and flavorful offerings [5] - The company operates over 495 locations across seven U.S. states and has ten licensed locations in the Philippines [5] - El Pollo Loco has been awarded as the 1 "Best Restaurant for Quick, Healthy Food" in USA TODAY's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards [5]

Core Viewpoint - El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. has experienced stock underperformance, losing 11.2% over the past three months, compared to the S&P 500's growth of 4.5% and the industry’s 5.2% growth [1][2] Price Performance - As of Thursday, the stock closed at $12.09, below its 52-week high of $14.25 and above its 52-week low of $8.17 [2] - The company has underperformed compared to competitors, with Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. rising by 11.5%, Restaurant Brands International Inc. dipping by 0.8%, and Brinker International, Inc. surging by 73.9% in the same period [2] Factors Affecting Performance - The decline in stock price is attributed to poor customer traffic, economic challenges in California and Las Vegas, and increased price sensitivity among consumers [5] - Intense competition from QSR, which is offering aggressive value deals, has pressured El Pollo Loco to introduce lower price points, such as $5 promotions, potentially impacting profit margins [5] Positive Factors for Growth - The company reported a 2.7% increase in system-wide comparable restaurant sales in the fiscal third quarter, driven by new menu offerings and targeted promotions [6] - Strategic cost-saving measures are being implemented to enhance food quality and customer experience, including hiring a new chief development officer to streamline operations [7] - A new restaurant prototype design is expected to reduce unit build costs to $1.8 million, supporting franchise growth in 2025 [7] Future Outlook - El Pollo Loco aims to achieve 18% restaurant contribution margins by 2025, with a focus on sustainable growth and operational efficiency [8] - The introduction of new menu items and promotions is expected to attract customers and improve sales mix [9] - Plans to open at least 10 new locations by 2025, utilizing adaptable restaurant formats to drive unit growth [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has been revised upward by 3.8% to 83 cents for the current fiscal year and by 4.5% to 93 cents for the next fiscal year [11] Valuation - El Pollo Loco is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 13.11, significantly lower than the industry average of 25.83 and the S&P 500's ratio of 22.28, indicating a valuation discount [12] Conclusion - Despite short-term challenges, El Pollo Loco's initiatives for long-term growth, including menu innovation and operational efficiency, present an attractive entry point for value-focused investors [15]

Group 1: Price Trend and Technical Analysis - El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) has experienced a bearish trend, losing 7% over the past week, but a hammer chart pattern suggests a potential trend reversal as buying interest may be increasing [1] - The hammer pattern indicates a possible bottom formation with reduced selling pressure, signaling that bulls might be gaining control [2] Group 2: Fundamental Indicators - There has been a 3.3% increase in the consensus EPS estimate for LOCO over the last 30 days, indicating that analysts expect better earnings than previously predicted [3] - LOCO holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks, which typically outperform the market [3] - The Zacks Rank serves as a strong timing indicator for potential trend reversals, suggesting improving prospects for the company [3]