El Pollo Loco HoldingsLOCO +4.84%72 EBITDA Margin % is 13.10% as of Mar. 2026, which is 10% above its 10-year median of 11.94. GuruFocus rates LOCO with a GF Score™ of 72/100 and a GF Value™ of $11.65 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 365 Restaurants companies, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks better than 54.52% on this metric.
El Pollo Loco Holdings (NAS:LOCO) EBITDA Margin % Explanation
EBITDA Margin % is the ratio of EBITDA divided by net sales or Revenue. It is an performance metric measuring company's operating profitability. EBITDA Margin takes depreciation and amortization, interest expense and tax into account, which makes it easy to compare the relative profitability of companies of different sizes in the same industry.
El Pollo Loco Holdings EBITDA Margin % Related Terms
El Pollo Loco Holdings EBITDA Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for El Pollo Loco Holdings's EBITDA Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
LOCO vs NATH, DIN, PTLO: EBITDA Margin % Comparison
For the Restaurants subindustry, El Pollo Loco Holdings's EBITDA Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and EBITDA Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
El Pollo Loco Holdings EBITDA Margin % vs Restaurants Industry
For the Restaurants industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, El Pollo Loco Holdings's EBITDA Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where El Pollo Loco Holdings's EBITDA Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) has a EBITDA Margin % of 13.10% as of Mar. 2026. EBITDA Margin is the ratio of EBITDA divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent. View historical data on El Pollo Loco Holdings and its competitors. This is 10% above median its historical median of 11.94. Over the past decade, El Pollo Loco Holdings' EBITDA Margin % has ranged from 9.57 to 14.37. According to the industry distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #166 out of 365 companies in the Restaurants industry, placing it in the top 45.5%.
Is El Pollo Loco Holdings' EBITDA Margin % too high?
El Pollo Loco Holdings' current EBITDA Margin % of 13.10% is 10% above median its 10-year median of 11.94. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 9.57 to a high of 14.37. The Restaurants industry median EBITDA Margin % is 11.56. El Pollo Loco Holdings' value of 13.10% is 13.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #166 out of 365 companies in the Restaurants industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, El Pollo Loco Holdings has a GF Score™ of 72/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does El Pollo Loco Holdings' EBITDA Margin % compare to NATH and DIN?
According to the Restaurants industry distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #166 out of 365 companies for EBITDA Margin %. This puts El Pollo Loco Holdings in the upper half of its industry. The industry median EBITDA Margin % is 11.56. El Pollo Loco Holdings' value of 13.10% is 13.3% above this benchmark. Historically, El Pollo Loco Holdings' own EBITDA Margin % has ranged from 9.57 to 14.37 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 11.94 vs. the industry median of 11.56, El Pollo Loco Holdings has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good EBITDA Margin % for a Restaurants company?
The median EBITDA Margin % among Restaurants companies is 11.56, based on 365 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a EBITDA Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, EBITDA Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. El Pollo Loco Holdings's current EBITDA Margin % of 13.10% is 13.3% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high EBITDA Margin % mean?
A high EBITDA Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. EBITDA Margin is the ratio of EBITDA divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent. View historical data on El Pollo Loco Holdings and its competitors. For the Restaurants industry, the median EBITDA Margin % is 11.56 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. El Pollo Loco Holdings's current EBITDA Margin % is 13.10%, which is 10% above median its own 10-year median of 11.94. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is El Pollo Loco Holdings stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $11.65, compared to a current price of $16.22 — trading 39.2% above its estimated fair value. The current EBITDA Margin % is 13.10%, which is 10% above median its 10-year median of 11.94 and 13.3% above the Restaurants industry median of 11.56. El Pollo Loco Holdings' overall GF Score™ is 72/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is EBITDA Margin % calculated?
EBITDA Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO), the current EBITDA Margin % is 13.10% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, El Pollo Loco Holdings stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $16.22 is trading 39.2% above its estimated GF Value™ of $11.65.
GuruFocus considers El Pollo Loco Holdings to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for LOCO:
EBITDA Margin %: 13.10% (10% above median its 10-year median of 11.94)
GF Value™: $11.65 vs. price of $16.22 (39.2% above fair value)
Industry Position: 13.3% above the Restaurants median (#166 of 365)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LOCO stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc operates and franchises hundreds of fast-casual chicken restaurants in the United States. It specializes in fire-grilling citrus-marinated chicken and operates in the limited service restaurant market segment. Its offerings include Mexican-inspired menu items, including burritos, tostadas, bowls, salads, and bone-in chicken meals in various portion sizes. It also offers citrus-marinated fire-grilled chicken, along with a range of salsas and dressings that allow customers to customize their meals. The company operates in one operating segment. The majority of the company's revenue is derived from company-operated restaurant revenue.
72GF Score
Get the complete analysis for LOCO
EBITDA Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
LOCO has been successfully added to your 
