Here's What Key Metrics Tell Us About El Pollo Loco (LOCO) Q4 Earnings

Core Insights - El Pollo Loco Holdings reported revenue of $114.28 million for the quarter ended December 2024, marking a year-over-year increase of 1.8% and a surprise of +1.00% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $113.15 million [1] - The company achieved an EPS of $0.20, which is an increase from $0.16 a year ago, resulting in an EPS surprise of +53.85% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.13 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Franchise advertising fee revenue was reported at $7.43 million, exceeding the three-analyst average estimate of $7.36 million, with a year-over-year change of +1.4% [4] - Franchise revenue reached $11.23 million, slightly above the estimated $11.17 million, representing a +2.5% change compared to the same quarter last year [4] - Company-operated restaurant revenue was $95.62 million, surpassing the average estimate of $94.62 million, reflecting a +1.8% year-over-year change [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of El Pollo Loco have returned -14.9%, in contrast to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -3.5% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting potential for outperformance against the broader market in the near term [3]