El Pollo Loco

LOCO

Market cap $505M

COSTA MESA, Calif., July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco”) (NASDAQ: LOCO) today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Hosting the call will be Liz Williams, Chief Executive Officer, and Ira Fils, Chief Financial Officer. A press release with second quarter 2026 financial results will be issued that same day, shortly after the market close.

El Pollo Loco has surged 60%+ YTD, dramatically outperforming the S&P 500, yet fundamentals and valuation still support further upside. LOCO's defensible niche in flame-grilled Mexican chicken and strong same-restaurant sales growth set it apart amid sector-wide comp declines. Operating margins are rising toward 20%, with higher average checks offsetting labor and food cost pressures.

COSTA MESA, Calif., July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco, Inc. , the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, is making this summer even hotter with Loco Days, a month-long celebration exclusively for Loco Rewards members.

Development pipeline accelerates and restaurant margins continue to climb Development pipeline accelerates and restaurant margins continue to climb

COSTA MESA, Calif., June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco, Inc., the nation's leading fire–grilled chicken restaurant chain, is turning it up for summer with new menu items – Loaded Quesadillas and Chatacoffee™ available for a limited time at participating locations starting June 25.

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. is upgraded from Hold to a soft Buy as fundamentals and comparable sales have improved markedly. LOCO's system-wide comparable sales surged 5.8% in Q1 2026, outpacing inflationary headwinds and demonstrating successful menu innovation and digital growth. Management targets 19–20 new locations and 2–4% system-wide comparable sales growth in 2026, supported by robust digital and loyalty channel expansion.

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOCO) has authorized a $40 million share repurchase program, the Costa Mesa, California-based restaurant chain said Thursday evening. The board of directors approved the repurchase of up to $40 million of its common stock, representing approximately 9% of the company's current market capitalization.

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LOCO), the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase up to $40 million of its common stock, representing ~9% of the Company's current market capitalization.

El Pollo Loco is executing a successful 'Taco Bell-ification' strategy, driving higher average checks and resilient traffic. LOCO's menu innovation—especially bowls, salads, and Baja Tostadas—has boosted same-store sales and restaurant-level margins above long-term targets. Systemwide traffic grew 0.6%, the average check rose 5.2%, and the restaurant-level margin reached 19.2%, supporting robust EBITDA and cash generation.

El Pollo Loco NASDAQ: LOCO reported first-quarter 2026 results that management said reflected continued momentum from its ongoing brand transformation, highlighted by same-store sales growth and margin expansion alongside increased marketing and operational initiatives. Get El Pollo Loco alerts:Sign UpFirst-quarter sales and margin performance Chief Executive Officer Liz Williams said the company was “proud of our first quarter results,” citing system-wide same-store sales growth of 5.8% and restaurant-level margin expansion of 320 basis points year-over-year.