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

Last close, 17 Aug 2026
$15
−0.51% on the day

The 6 Wall Street analysts covering El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. hold a median 12-month price target of $21 — +35.8% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 100 of 100 as at 15 Aug 2026 — among the strongest tenth. Here, the model and the Street point the same way.

Market cap
$473.3M
Ticker Nerd rank
100 / 100
Median analyst target
$21
Analysts covering
6
Total return, dividends reinvested
1W
+1.7%
1M
−6.8%
YTD
+47.8%
1Y
+48.4%
From 52W high
−10.1%
From 52W low
+70.6%
$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 15 Aug 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
93
Growth
88
Value
85
Volatility
85
Revisions
79
Accruals
78
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.

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

The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +35.8% 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.

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
0
Analysts cutting
1
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
13.3×

Cheaper than 51% of US stocks

Price / sales
0.9×

Cheaper than 71% of US stocks

Price / book
1.5×

Cheaper than 57% of US stocks

EV / EBITDA
10.3×

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 82% of US stocks

Gross margin
23.3%

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.

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.$473.3M
100
DINDine Brands Global, Inc.$460.7M
80
BRCBBlack Rock Coffee Bar, Inc.$410.1M
2
NATHNathan's Famous, Inc.$396.6M
76
PTLOPortillo's, Inc.$391.9M
17
KRUSKura Sushi USA, Inc.$641.4M
26
CNNECannae Holdings, Inc.$642.8M
76

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

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.

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Seeking Alpha · 7 Aug 2026neutral

Seeking Alpha published the transcript of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s Q2 2026 earnings call. The transcript covers the company's second-quarter 2026 earnings discussion.

Why it matters — LOCO watchers can review the management commentary and details from the Q2 2026 earnings call to follow the company's latest performance and outlook.

El Pollo Loco Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

MarketBeat · 7 Aug 2026positive

El Pollo Loco reported second-quarter results featuring higher same-store sales, improved restaurant-level margins, and continued expansion outside California, while raising its full-year sales and adjusted EBITDA outlook.

Why it matters — The raised full-year guidance and improved operating metrics signal strengthening performance for LOCO watchers.

El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) Tops Q2 Earnings Estimates

Zacks Investment Research · 7 Aug 2026positive

El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) reported quarterly earnings of $0.30 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.29 per share and up from $0.28 per share in the same quarter last year.

Why it matters — The earnings beat shows the company outperformed analyst expectations and improved year-over-year, which investors tracking LOCO's financial performance would note.

El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) Earnings Expected to Grow: Should You Buy?

Zacks Investment Research · 30 July 2026positive

Zacks Investment Research reported that El Pollo Loco (LOCO) has the right combination of two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report, and encouraged investors to prepare with the key expectations.

Why it matters — LOCO watchers would care because the report signals that the company may deliver better-than-expected earnings in its upcoming quarterly release.

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 15 Aug 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.

How does Ticker Nerd's model rank LOCO?

As at 15 Aug 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 +35.8% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. 100 out of 100 as at 15 Aug 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 +48.4% over the 12 months to 17 Aug 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 holding company that, through its subsidiary El Pollo Loco, Inc., develops, franchises, licenses, and operates quick-service restaurants under the El Pollo Loco name.

What is the latest news on LOCO?

The most recent item we track (Zacks Investment Research, 11 Aug 2026): "Are Investors Undervaluing El Pollo Loco (LOCO) Right Now?". 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.

Company

About El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. is a holding company that, through its subsidiary El Pollo Loco, Inc., develops, franchises, licenses, and operates quick-service restaurants under the El Pollo Loco name. The chain specializes in fire-grilled, citrus-marinated chicken prepared fresh daily, paired with a variety of menu items including burritos, tostada salads, Pollo Bowls, and Pollo Fit entrees designed for health-conscious diners. Restaurants feature drive-thru services and are primarily free-standing locations, emphasizing convenience and value in the fast-casual dining segment. El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. operates company-owned units and franchises the majority of its locations across key states such as California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, and Louisiana. It also licenses its brand internationally to restaurants in the Philippines. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, the company plays a notable role in the competitive quick-service restaurant industry by focusing on flame-grilled poultry specialties and operational efficiencies to serve everyday consumers seeking flavorful, affordable meals.

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