NASDAQ$LOCO
El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc · Q4 2025 earnings
Q4 2025 earnings · · After market close · Investor relations
Briefing
El Pollo Loco reported Q4 2025 total revenue of $123.5M with net income of $6.5M ($0.22 diluted EPS).
For the 14-week quarter ended December 31, 2025, El Pollo Loco posted total revenue of $123.5 million (+8.0% YoY) with system-wide comparable sales up 2.1%. Net income was $6.5 million ($0.22 per diluted share) versus $6.0 million a year ago; adjusted net income was $7.3 million ($0.25). Income from operations was $10.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA was $16.9 million.
- Total revenue of $123.5M included a $5.3M benefit from a 14-week quarter.
- System-wide comp sales increased 2.1%; restaurant contribution margin rose to 17.5%.
- Net income of $6.5M with adjusted EPS of $0.25.
- Paid down $20M on revolver during FY2025; $46M outstanding post-quarter.
- 2026 guidance: comp sales +1% to +3%, Adjusted EBITDA $66–68M.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
El Pollo Loco · Revenue · Quarterly
$124M
Revenue by segment
El Pollo Loco · $121M total across 3 segments · Q2 2023
- Company-operated restaurants$104M+55266389.4%85.5%
- Franchise revenue$10.1M+0.5%8.3%
- Franchise advertising fee revenue$7.47M-1.6%6.2%
Forward guidance
For 2026, management guided system-wide comp sales growth of 1.0–3.0%, 3–4 company and 15–16 franchised new units, capex of $37–40M, and Adjusted EBITDA of $66–68M.
Tailwinds
- Traffic and margin discipline priorities for 2026 with mid-single-digit unit growth targets in 2027–2028.
- Restaurant-level margins improved on operating efficiencies and menu pricing.
Headwinds
- Company-operated transactions declined 2.3% despite higher average check.
- G&A rose on labor, restructuring, and executive transition costs.
Historical earnings impact
How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.
Avg. return before/after earnings
Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2025
-0.2%
Avg return
Earnings day
+0.6%
Avg return
5 days after
+0.5%
Avg return
30 days after
48%
25 / 52 earnings
Positive
+27.8%
Q3 2019
Best reaction
-18.4%
Q3 2020
Worst reaction
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (Day 0) | +5 days | +30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | +3.7% | -2.7% | +2.3% | |
| Q4 2025 | +16.8% | +27.8% | +27.6% | |
| Q3 2025 | +13.6% | +17.4% | +20.4% | |
| Q1 2025 | -3.8% | -5.8% | +11.3% | |
| Q4 2024 | -0.1% | -1.1% | -12.5% | |
| Q3 2024 | -4.7% | -3.9% | +1.4% | |
| Q2 2024 | -0.8% | -2.2% | +14.9% | |
| Q1 2024 | +18.6% | +21.0% | +26.5% | |
| Q4 2023 | -3.3% | -4.2% | +1.4% | |
| Q3 2023 | +2.7% | -1.6% | +0.6% | |
| Q2 2023 | +2.4% | +5.9% | -5.5% | |
| Q1 2023 | -6.5% | -8.0% | -5.8% | |
| Q4 2022 | -10.3% | -6.8% | -26.0% | |
| Q3 2022 | +11.1% | +11.3% | +8.7% | |
| Q2 2022 | -7.4% | -7.3% | -11.5% | |
| Q1 2022 | +0.9% | -2.8% | -2.2% | |
| Q4 2021 | -11.3% | -14.7% | -12.1% | |
| Q3 2021 | +4.0% | +2.1% | -14.9% | |
| Q2 2021 | +1.8% | -1.0% | -1.5% | |
| Q1 2021 | +4.6% | +3.4% | +0.0% | |
| Q4 2020 | -2.6% | -4.2% | -15.4% | |
| Q3 2020 | -18.4% | -15.1% | -8.6% | |
| Q2 2020 | +16.0% | +1.2% | +7.3% | |
| Q1 2020 | +10.3% | +0.7% | +12.1% | |
| Q4 2019 | -12.4% | -21.2% | -41.5% | |
| Q3 2019 | +27.8% | +29.6% | +37.3% | |
| Q2 2019 | +12.8% | +11.8% | +3.8% | |
| Q1 2019 | -10.1% | -12.5% | -20.1% | |
| Q4 2018 | -16.2% | -13.8% | -15.2% | |
| Q3 2018 | +23.3% | +31.7% | +22.1% | |
| Q2 2018 | +0.0% | -0.4% | +4.4% | |
| Q1 2018 | +6.6% | +6.1% | +8.7% | |
| Q4 2017 | +7.3% | +10.9% | -0.5% | |
| Q3 2017 | -13.7% | -15.0% | -8.8% | |
| Q2 2017 | -8.7% | -9.1% | -13.2% | |
| Q1 2017 | +12.1% | +12.5% | +10.9% | |
| Q4 2016 | -6.4% | -7.6% | +4.2% | |
| Q3 2016 | -9.6% | -10.8% | +4.6% | |
| Q2 2016 | +2.7% | +3.2% | +4.3% | |
| Q1 2016 | -16.9% | — | — | |
| Q4 2015 | -6.8% | — | — | |
| Q3 2015 | -15.6% | — | — | |
| Q2 2015 | -18.4% | — | — | |
| Q1 2014 | -16.5% | — | — | |
| Q1 2015 | -12.5% | — | — | |
| Q4 2012 | -0.7% | — | — | |
| Q4 2014 | +15.5% | — | — | |
| Q3 2013 | -1.9% | — | — | |
| Q3 2014 | +0.7% | — | — | |
| Q2 2013 | +2.1% | — | — | |
| Q4 2013 | +2.1% | — | — | |
| Q2 2014 | +5.4% | — | — | |
| Q1 2013 | — | — | — |
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