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El Pollo LoCo (EP6) AI Stock Analysis

DE:EP6

El Pollo LoCo

(Frankfurt:EP6)

Rating:―N/A
Action:N/A
Date:―

No summary available

Positive Factors
Operating Momentum and GuidanceRaised comparable-sales and EBITDA guidance, alongside planned unit openings, indicates management sees sustained operating momentum. Higher restaurant-level margins and lower planned CapEx could support earnings growth and expansion while preserving more cash over the next several quarters.
Negative Factors
Traffic DeclineFalling transactions indicate that recent sales growth depends substantially on higher average checks rather than broader customer traffic. If pricing or mix benefits moderate, weak frequency could constrain comparable-sales growth and make sustained revenue expansion more difficult.

El Pollo LoCo (EP6) vs. iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG)

-20%0%20%40%60%80%DE:EP6+53.41%EWG+4.43%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
Market Cap
EUR 465.62M
Dividend Yield
―
Average Volume (3M)
―
Price to Earnings (P/E)
13.0
Beta (1Y)
0.18
Revenue Growth
-2.63%
EPS Growth
30.38%
Country
Germany
Employees
4,034
Sector
Consumer Cyclical
Sector Strength
61
Industry
Restaurants

El Pollo LoCo Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., primarily operating through its El Pollo Loco, Inc. subsidiary, is engaged in the development, franchising, licensing, and direct management of quick-service restaurants under the El Pollo Loco brand. By May 4, 2022, its...

El Pollo LoCo Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2026(Q2-2026)|% Change Since:-7.53%|Next Earnings Date:Nov 04, 2026
Earnings Call SentimentPositive

The call conveyed clear operational momentum: positive same-store sales, margin improvement, digital and loyalty strength, successful menu innovation, and accelerated unit growth with raised EBITDA guidance and reduced capex. Headwinds remain around commodity inflation (notably produce), modest transaction declines, a quarter-over-quarter reliance on higher checks, a one-time legal settlement impacting G&A comparability, and a modest cash balance. Overall the positive drivers and upward guidance outweigh the challenges discussed.

Positive Updates

Same-Store Sales and Revenue Growth
Systemwide same store sales grew 3.9% in Q2 2026; total revenue increased to $129.6M from $125.8M a year ago. Company-operated restaurant revenue rose 3.7% to $108.1M driven by 3% company comparable restaurant sales and contributions from newly opened company restaurants.

Negative Updates

Commodity Inflation and COGS Pressure
Food & paper costs increased ~90 basis points to 25.4% of company restaurant sales in Q2, driven primarily by a 4.1% commodity inflation spike (largely produce). Company expects full-year commodity inflation of 2.5%-3.5%.

Company Guidance

Management raised 2026 guidance, increasing full‑year system‑wide comparable same‑store sales to 3.5%–4.5% (Q3 to date through 7/29 at +5.8% and Q3 guidance ~3.5%–4.5%), and upping adjusted EBITDA to $68–70 million while trimming CapEx to $33–37 million and projecting depreciation & amortization of $18–18.5 million. They reiterated new unit growth of roughly 18–20 openings (3–4 company and 15–16 franchise), maintained G&A of $52–54 million excluding one‑time items, and an estimated effective tax rate of ~29%–29.5% (pre‑discrete). Restaurant‑level margin is expected to improve to 18.25%–18.75% for the year (Q3 guide 18%–18.5%), with full‑year commodity inflation forecast at 2.5%–3.5% and wage inflation at 1.5%–2.5%. Liquidity as of 7/1/2026 included $30 million of debt, $13.3 million cash, a $150 million revolver extended to 8/4/2031, and a $21 million net revolver paydown year‑to‑date.

El Pollo LoCo Risk Analysis

El Pollo LoCo disclosed 35 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. El Pollo LoCo reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Latest Risks Added

0 New Risks

El Pollo LoCo Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)

Financial Indicators

DE:EP6 against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
CAKECAKE64Neutral$5.61B25.2543.03%1.04%7.87%30.46%
Sector *61Neutral$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
JACKJACK47Neutral$249.62M7.48-3.65%―-20.21%―
PZZAPZZA45Neutral$607.57M22.78-6.17%9.97%-5.65%-64.96%
WENWEN45Neutral$1.37B10.92109.00%6.80%-0.98%-31.26%

* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-50%0%50%100%150%DE:EP6JACKPZZACAKEWENDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
DE:EP6 and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
DE:EP6El Pollo LoCo Holdings13.504.7554.29%
JACKJack In The Box13.02-2.97-18.61%
PZZAPapa John's International18.45-28.04-60.30%
CAKECheesecake Factory112.6466.01141.57%
WENWendy's Company7.21-0.71-9.00%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.