CATALYSTYahoo • 2d ago
YUM Set to Report Q3 Earnings: KFC Growth & Taco Bell Trends in FocusYum! Brands heads into Q3 earnings with KFC expansion and international growth in focus, while Taco Bell U.S. faces sales and margin pressures.
Why LOCO Stock surged +2.40% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
$15.37 +2.40% NASDAQ • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot)
El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. (LOCO) carries a Roarable Rating of C+ (Hold) with 66/100 RQD Confidence. The composite score sits in the neutral Hold band (59–69), meaning current holders don’t need to panic-sell while prospective buyers can wait for a move into the 70+ Buy zone.
ROARABLE C+ • HOLD / WATCH
Cap $467.8M
INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:
RQD QUANT TACHOMETERHOLD / WATCH • C+
JEV AI Jury Split (Battleground)
Cash
SEC
Whale
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw C · Rk B-
Each axis scored 0–20
12M PRICE TARGET CONE+3.6% Base Target
WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for LOCO)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±6.5%
AUTOMATED RQD QUANT DESK MOVER BRIEFINGFull Market News Desk →
Why LOCO Stock surged +2.40% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. (LOCO) surged +2.40% to $15.37, trading at 73% of its 52-week range ($9.84 – $17.4). Solid steady margins (12% return on capital), mixed timing at 18x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.
- ▸Technical Tape: Trading at 73% of its 52-week range ($9.84 – $17.4) with RSI-14 at 53.4 (NEUTRAL RANGE).
- ▸Volatility Profile: Historical 20-day realized swing band of ±6.5% around $15.37 (no active unusual options sweep snapshot on file).
- ▸Fundamental Anchor: Roarable C+ (Hold) backed by 52% gross margin and $25.4M annual free cash flow.
Live LOCO Headlines & Catalysts
CATALYSTYahoo • 3d ago
El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) Expected to Beat Earnings Estimates: Should You Buy?El Pollo Loco (LOCO) possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
RISK WATCHYahoo • 6d ago
Builders FirstSource Gears Up for Q3 Earnings: What's in Store?BLDR heads into Q3 earnings with sales and EPS seen falling amid housing headwinds, as acquisitions and value-added products offer support.
CATALYSTYahoo • 10d ago
Will El Pollo Loco (LOCO) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?El Pollo Loco (LOCO) has an impressive earnings surprise history and currently possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely beat in its next quarterly report.
MARKET WIREYahoo • 10d ago
El Pollo Loco and Papa John's shares plummet, what you need to knowA number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after reports pointed to persistent traffic headwinds, sluggish sales growth, and mounting executive pessimism ahead of quarterly earnings. According to Morningstar, quick
CATALYSTYahoo • 11d ago
3 Profitable Stocks We Keep Off Our RadarEven if a company is profitable, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great investment. Some struggle to maintain growth, face looming threats, or fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their future potential.
ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher & Roarable Quantitative Research Desk
Scheduled RQD Strong Buys & Whale Accumulation Briefing (LOCO Tape Review)
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- ✓Forensic Red-Light accounting & dilution traps to review on your watchlist
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LOCO // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +13.68%▼ DESCENDING CHANNEL
2026-10-30O $15.50H $15.64L $15.25C $15.37VOL 178.9K
RES: $16.45SUP: $13.38SMA50: $15.00SMA200: $14.09
PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK
LOCO Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure
Share Count & Dilution Monitor (#25)
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle (#30)
10.8%/yr Implied 5Y Growth
vs. +6.0% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger (#33)
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on LOCO today. View full Setup Ledger →
🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections
Open Graph →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for LOCO. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video
🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for LOCO today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →
DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK
📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (LOCO)
Consumer Discretionary Rank #267 of 1011
⚔️ DIN vs LOCO Full Matrix →
1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (LOCO vs. DIN, KRUS, BRCB, PTLO)
Industry: Restaurants (51 Tracked Issuers)Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. (LOCO) ranks #267 by composite RQD confidence (66/100, grade C+) and #595 by equity capitalization ($467.8M). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, LOCO leads on earnings valuation at 17.7x trailing P/E, while LOCO leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 11.7% ROIC and — gross margin. LOCO currently leads its immediate peer cohort in composite quantitative strength at 66/100 (C+).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOCO
ACTIVE
El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. | C+ | 66/100 | 17.7x | — | 11.7% | +2.40% | $467.8M | Benchmark Subject |
| DIN Dine Brands Global Inc. | C- | 61/100 | 26.0x | 40.9% | — | +1.38% | $445.1M | /din-vs-loco → |
| KRUS Kura Sushi USA Inc. (Class A) | D- | 36/100 | — | — | -1.9% | +6.59% | $424.4M | /krus-vs-loco → |
| BRCB Black Rock Coffee Bar Inc. (Class A) | D | 44/100 | — | — | 1.6% | +3.82% | $530.3M | /brcb-vs-loco → |
| PTLO Portillo's Inc. (Class A) | D | 46/100 | 17.9x | — | 4.9% | +10.96% | $376.7M | /ptlo-vs-loco → |
2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)
SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0001606366In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. (LOCO) reported GAAP revenue of $0 (N/A vs. FY2024 revenue of $0 ) , GAAP net income of $26.5M, operating cash flow of $48.1M, and free cash flow of $25.4M (-8.2% YoY). On the balance sheet, LOCO closed FY2025 with $606.6M in total assets against $0 in total debt (Altman Z-Score: N/A, Piotroski F-Score: 5/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $0 | $26.5M | $48.1M | $25.4M | $606.6M | — |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-25 | $0 | $25.7M | $46.8M | $27.7M | $592.0M | — |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-27 | $0 | $25.6M | $40.7M | $40.7M | — | — |
3. LOCO Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)
✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLEDIs LOCO stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
As of 2026-11-01, El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LOCO) is rated C+ (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 66/100 at a spot price of $15.37 (+2.40% 1D, market cap $467.8M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 13/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 11/20, Executive Insider Alignment 13/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 15/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 14/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, LOCO ranks #267 in composite RQD confidence.
How does LOCO compare to DIN and KRUS in the Consumer Discretionary sector?
Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Restaurants), LOCO carries a Roarable C+ (66/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 17.7x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 11.7%. By comparison, DIN (Dine Brands Global Inc.) holds a C- grade (61/100 RQD, P/E 26.0x, ROIC —, cap $445.1M) and KRUS (Kura Sushi USA Inc. (Class A)) posts a D- grade (36/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC -1.9%, cap $424.4M). Among the 5-stock peer group, LOCO leads on earnings multiple (17.7x) while LOCO leads on capital efficiency (11.7% ROIC).
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for LOCO?
Per LOCO's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001606366), El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. generated $0 in revenue, $26.5M in net income, and $25.4M in free cash flow against $606.6M in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Where is LOCO trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?
LOCO last traded at $15.37 (+2.40% on volume of 174,069 shares), positioning the stock +2.47% above its 50-day simple moving average ($15.00) and +9.08% above its 200-day simple moving average ($14.09). Across its 52-week range of $9.84 to $17.40, LOCO sits at the 73.1% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 53.4 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±6.5% ($14.37 to $16.37).
LOCO Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index
100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FREDWhy is LOCO stock moving today?
Why LOCO Stock surged +2.40% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. Solid steady margins (12% return on capital), mixed timing at 18x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.