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LOCO Stock Forecast: El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Price Predictions for 2026-2027

Last close, 4 Sept 2026
$15
+2.47% on the day

The 6 Wall Street analysts covering El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. hold a median 12-month price target of $21 — +36.6% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 100 of 100 as at 5 Sept 2026 — among the strongest tenth. Here, the model and the Street point the same way.

Market cap
$468.1M
Ticker Nerd rank
100 / 100
Median analyst target
$21
Analysts covering
6
Revenue$129.6M+3.0% y/y
Operating income$19.4M
Net income$12.8M
Free cash flow$23.3M
Quarterly, 8 quarters to 30 June 2026 · latest quarter's figure shown
Total return, dividends reinvested
1W
+0.4%
1M
−7.0%
YTD
+46.9%
1Y
+47.9%
From 52W high
−10.6%
From 52W low
+69.6%
$9
$17
52-week range, adjusted closes · the dot is the last close
Ticker Nerd rank

LOCO stock analysis: one number for the whole business

Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.

Where the model ranks itAs at 5 Sept 2026
100 / 100

Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested

Issuance
95
Momentum
90
Growth
88
Value
83
Volatility
83
Accruals
78
Revisions
74
Quality
74
Size
55

Issuance (95): The share count has been shrinking and the company is not leaning on new borrowing.

Quality (74): Profits are thin or unreliable for the size of the business, or they are not turning into cash.

Size (55): Larger than most of the companies we track — more scrutinised, less often mispriced.

Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.

Wall Street

LOCO stock forecast 2026-2027: analyst price targets & predictions

The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on LOCO, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.

Share price and the analyst range, 12 monthsAdjusted close, US dollars
$10$15$20Oct 25Jan 26Apr 26Jul 26LOCOHigh $23Median $21Low $17

Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Data provided by Twelve Data

What Wall Street says6 analysts
4 Buy2 Hold0 Sell
Low $17Median $21High $23

The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +36.6% from it.

Recent analyst actionsNewest first
DateFirmActionRatingTarget
10 Aug 2026DA DavidsonMaintainsNeutral$15 → $17
7 Aug 2026BenchmarkMaintainsBuy$18 → $21
1 July 2026Freedom Capital MarketsInitiatesBuy—
1 July 2026Freedom Capital MarketsInitiatesBuy$22
11 May 2026DA DavidsonMaintainsNeutral—
8 May 2026BenchmarkMaintainsBuy—
20 Apr 2026BenchmarkMaintainsBuy—
13 Mar 2026BenchmarkUpgradeBuy—
13 Mar 2026Truist SecuritiesMaintainsHold—
6 Mar 2026DA DavidsonInitiatesNeutral—
8 Jan 2026Truist SecuritiesMaintainsHold—
15 Dec 2025JefferiesMaintainsBuy—
31 Oct 2025JefferiesMaintainsBuy—
11 Mar 2025Craig-HallumInitiatesBuy—
10 Mar 2025BenchmarkReiteratesHold—
2 Aug 2024Truist SecuritiesMaintainsHold—
23 May 2024BenchmarkReiteratesHold—
3 May 2024Truist SecuritiesMaintainsHold—
12 Nov 2021BenchmarkInitiatesHold—
8 Feb 2021Truist SecuritiesDowngradeHold—

Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Market Radar

This page is one stock. Monday covers all of them.

Computed off the Friday close and sent before the US open.

Market Radar reports the week’s largest rank changes across roughly 4,600 US stocks, the factor behind each one, and where the market went. LOCO appears on the weeks it earns a place.

Free, every Monday. Unsubscribe any time.

Performance

LOCO vs the S&P 500

Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.

Over the twelve months to 4 Sept 2026, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. returned +47.9% against +20.0% for the S&P 500, dividends included.

LOCO vs S&P 500, last 12 monthsTotal return, rebased to 100
80100120140160Oct 25Jan 26Apr 26Jul 26LOCOS&P 500

Download this chart as an image — free to reuse; link this page as the source.

Data provided by Twelve Data

Estimates

LOCO analyst estimate revisions

Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.

Which way the estimates are movingNext fiscal year
EPS revision, 90 days
+5.6%
Analysts raising
4
Analysts cutting
0
Fundamentals

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) financial data

A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.

Valuation
Trailing P/E
13.1×

Cheaper than 52% of US stocks

Price / sales
0.9×

Cheaper than 72% of US stocks

Price / book
1.5×

Cheaper than 58% of US stocks

EV / EBITDA
10.2×

Cheaper than 38% of US stocks

Growth & margins
Revenue growth (YoY)
3.0%

Higher than 34% of US stocks

Earnings growth (YoY)
80.2%

Higher than 81% of US stocks

Gross margin
23.6%

Higher than 26% of US stocks

Operating margin
9.9%

Higher than 64% of US stocks

Net margin
7.0%

Higher than 64% of US stocks

Returns & dividend
Return on equity
11.8%

Higher than 68% of US stocks

Return on assets
5.1%

Higher than 77% of US stocks

Dividend yield
—

Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.

Key statistics

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) statistics: revenue, profit & scale

The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.

  • El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. has a market value of $468.1M and an enterprise value of $673.9M.

  • Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $500.8M. The latest quarter grew 3.0% year on year.

  • Net income over the same four quarters: $34.9M, a 7.0% net margin.

  • Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $1.17.

  • Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $41.0M.

  • El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. spent $1K on share buybacks in the twelve months to 30 June 2026.

  • Shares outstanding: 30.5M.

  • Trailing P/E: 13.1×; forward P/E: 13.9× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.

  • El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. employs 4,000 people — $125K of revenue per employee.

Statement figures: company filings via Twelve Data, four quarters to 30 June 2026 · market figures as at 6 Sept 2026

Data provided by Twelve Data

Peers

LOCO vs competitors

The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.

Its peer group, ranked by the same modelRestaurants
CompanyMarket capTKN rank
LOCOEl Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.$468.1M
100
BRCBBlack Rock Coffee Bar, Inc.$479.7M
3
DINDine Brands Global, Inc.$413.3M
78
NATHNathan's Famous, Inc.$403.5M
76
KRUSKura Sushi USA, Inc.$535.4M
27
PTLOPortillo's, Inc.$335.7M
19
JACKJack in the Box, Inc.$305.0M
43

Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.

The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →

News

Latest LOCO news & analysis

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. to Participate in Two Investor Conferences in September

GlobeNewsWire · 4 Sept 2026neutral

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. announced on September 4, 2026 that it will participate in two investor conferences during the month of September. The company made the announcement through GlobeNewsWire from Costa Mesa, California.

Why it matters — LOCO watchers would care because the company's participation in investor conferences may increase its visibility with the investment community.

Should Value Investors Buy El Pollo Loco (LOCO) Stock?

Zacks Investment Research · 27 Aug 2026neutral

Zacks Investment Research published an article examining whether value investors should consider buying El Pollo Loco (LOCO) stock. The piece focuses on the Zacks Rank system, which relies on earnings estimates and revisions, while also reviewing value, growth, and momentum trends.

Why it matters — LOCO watchers would care because the article assesses how the stock fares under popular value, growth, and momentum frameworks used by investors screening for opportunities.

El Pollo Loco® Declares September 9 National Grilled Chicken Day

GlobeNewsWire · 26 Aug 2026positive

El Pollo Loco announced it is declaring September 9 as National Grilled Chicken Day, championing the new holiday with a month-long celebration of grilled chicken. The company, described as the fire-grilled chicken authority, is promoting the much-loved protein during this period.

Why it matters — A month-long promotional campaign tied to a new National Grilled Chicken Day could drive customer traffic and brand awareness for El Pollo Loco during the celebration period.

Wall Street Analysts Believe El Pollo Loco (LOCO) Could Rally 26.64%: Here's is How to Trade

Zacks Investment Research · 24 Aug 2026positive

Zacks Investment Research reports that the mean of analysts' price targets for El Pollo Loco (LOCO) points to roughly 26.6% upside in the stock. It notes that strong agreement among analysts in raising earnings estimates indicates potential upside, though the price-target metric has not proven highly reliable on its own.

Why it matters — A LOCO watcher would care because analyst price targets and earnings-estimate revisions are commonly watched signals for the stock's potential direction.

Are Investors Undervaluing El Pollo Loco (LOCO) Right Now?

Zacks Investment Research · 11 Aug 2026neutral

Zacks Research discusses whether investors may be undervaluing El Pollo Loco (LOCO). The article describes the Zacks Rank system's emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while also noting attention to value, growth, and momentum trends in identifying strong stock picks.

Why it matters — LOCO watchers would care because the piece signals that analysts are evaluating the stock through value and earnings-revision lenses, potentially drawing attention to the company's valuation.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about LOCO stock

What is the LOCO stock price forecast for 2026-2027?

The 6 Wall Street analysts covering El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. have a median 12-month price target of $21, with estimates ranging from $17 to $23. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Is LOCO stock a buy right now?

Of the 6 analysts covering El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., 4 rate it a Buy, 2 a Hold and 0 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. 100 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 5 Sept 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.

How does Ticker Nerd's model rank LOCO?

As at 5 Sept 2026, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. ranks 100 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Issuance (95 of 100).

Will LOCO stock go up?

No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 6 analysts implies +36.6% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. 100 out of 100 as at 5 Sept 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.

What is the LOCO stock forecast for 2030?

No analyst covering El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for LOCO are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $17 to $23 over the next 12 months.

How has LOCO stock performed over the past year?

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. returned +47.9% over the 12 months to 4 Sept 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.

What does El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. do?

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. is a quick-service restaurant company that develops, franchises, licenses, and operates restaurants under the El Pollo Loco brand.

What is the latest news on LOCO?

The most recent item we track (GlobeNewsWire, 4 Sept 2026): "El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. to Participate in Two Investor Conferences in September". El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. announced on September 4, 2026 that it will participate in two investor conferences during the month of September. The company made the announcement through GlobeNewsWire from Costa Mesa, California.

Company

About El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. is a quick-service restaurant company that develops, franchises, licenses, and operates restaurants under the El Pollo Loco brand. The company specializes in fire-grilled, citrus-marinated chicken and offers a menu built around burritos, tostadas, salads, bowls, chicken meals, and other Mexican-inspired entrées. Its restaurants serve both individual diners and families through company-operated and franchised locations, with a business model centered on convenient, made-to-order meals and a distinctive flame-grilled preparation style. El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. plays a notable role in the limited-service restaurant market by combining a focused chicken concept with a broader menu of complementary sides, beverages, and protein-based dishes. The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California.

CEO Ms. Elizabeth Goodwin Williams · 4,000 employees · United States · https://www.elpolloloco.com