Core Viewpoint - El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][4]. Earnings Estimates and Revisions - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for El Pollo Loco is projected at $0.81 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 14.1% [9]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for El Pollo Loco has risen by 0.8%, indicating a trend of increasing earnings estimates [9]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are crucial for predicting near-term stock price movements [2][3]. - The system classifies stocks into five groups, with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [8]. - El Pollo Loco's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [11].
What Makes El Pollo Loco (LOCO) a New Buy Stock