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El Pollo Loco HoldingsLOCO -7.45%70 EV-to-EBITDA is 9.97 as of Aug. 08, 2026, which is 13% below its 10-year median of 11.50. GuruFocus rates LOCO with a GF Score™ of 70/100 and a GF Value™ of $11.66 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 310 Restaurants companies, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks worse than 59.35% on this metric.
EV-to-EBITDA is calculated as enterprise value divided by its EBITDA. As of today, El Pollo Loco Holdings's enterprise value is $690.8 Mil.
El Pollo Loco Holdings's EBITDA for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was $69.3 Mil. Therefore, El Pollo Loco Holdings's EV-to-EBITDA for today is 9.97.
The historical rank and industry rank for El Pollo Loco Holdings's EV-to-EBITDA or its related term are showing as below:
LOCO'
s EV-to-EBITDA Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 7.72 Med: 11.5 Max: 19.93
Current: 11.2
During the past 13 years, the highest EV-to-EBITDA of El Pollo Loco Holdings was 19.93. The lowest was 7.72. And the median was 11.50.
LOCO's EV-to-EBITDA is ranked worse than 59.35% of 310
companies
in the Restaurants industry
Industry Median: 9.71
vs LOCO: 11.20
EV-to-EBITDA is a valuation multiple used in finance and investment to measure the value of a company. This important multiple is often used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, the PE Ratio to determine the fair market value of a company.
El Pollo Loco Holdings (NAS:LOCO) EV-to-EBITDA Explanation
EV-to-EBITDA is a valuation multiple used in finance and investment to measure the value of a company. This important multiple is often used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, the PE Ratio (TTM) to determine the fair market value of a company.
El Pollo Loco Holdings's PE Ratio (TTM) for today is calculated as:
El Pollo Loco Holdings's share price for today is $15.13.
El Pollo Loco Holdings's Earnings per Share (Diluted) for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $1.170.
* 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.
Study has found that the companies with the lowest EV-to-EBITDA outperforms companies measured as cheap by other ratios such as PE Ratio (TTM).
* 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.
For the Restaurants subindustry, El Pollo Loco Holdings's EV-to-EBITDA, along with its competitors' market caps and EV-to-EBITDA 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 EV-to-EBITDA vs Restaurants Industry
For the Restaurants industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, El Pollo Loco Holdings's EV-to-EBITDA distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where El Pollo Loco Holdings's EV-to-EBITDA falls into.
El Pollo Loco Holdings's current Enterprise Value is $690.8 Mil.
El Pollo Loco Holdings's EBITDA for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $69.3 Mil.
* 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 EV-to-EBITDA of 9.97 as of Aug. 08, 2026. EV to EBITDA ratio is the company's enterprise value divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. View historical data on El Pollo Loco Holdings. This is 13% below median its historical median of 11.50. Over the past decade, El Pollo Loco Holdings' EV-to-EBITDA has ranged from 7.72 to 19.93. According to the industry distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #184 out of 310 companies in the Restaurants industry, placing it in the top 59.4%.
Is El Pollo Loco Holdings' EV-to-EBITDA too high?
El Pollo Loco Holdings' current EV-to-EBITDA of 9.97 is 13% below median its 10-year median of 11.50. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 7.72 to a high of 19.93. The Restaurants industry median EV-to-EBITDA is 9.71. El Pollo Loco Holdings' value of 9.97 is 2.7% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #184 out of 310 companies in the Restaurants industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, El Pollo Loco Holdings has a GF Score™ of 70/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does El Pollo Loco Holdings' EV-to-EBITDA compare to KRUS and DIN?
According to the Restaurants industry distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #184 out of 310 companies for EV-to-EBITDA. This places El Pollo Loco Holdings in the lower half of its industry. The industry median EV-to-EBITDA is 9.71. El Pollo Loco Holdings' value of 9.97 is 2.7% above this benchmark. Historically, El Pollo Loco Holdings' own EV-to-EBITDA has ranged from 7.72 to 19.93 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 11.50 vs. the industry median of 9.71, 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 EV-to-EBITDA for a Restaurants company?
The median EV-to-EBITDA among Restaurants companies is 9.71, based on 310 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a EV-to-EBITDA significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, EV-to-EBITDA should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. El Pollo Loco Holdings's current EV-to-EBITDA of 9.97 is 2.7% 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 EV-to-EBITDA mean?
A high EV-to-EBITDA can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. EV to EBITDA ratio is the company's enterprise value divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. View historical data on El Pollo Loco Holdings. For the Restaurants industry, the median EV-to-EBITDA is 9.71 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. El Pollo Loco Holdings's current EV-to-EBITDA is 9.97, which is 13% below median its own 10-year median of 11.50. 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 Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $11.66, compared to a current price of $15.13 — trading 29.8% above its estimated fair value. The current EV-to-EBITDA is 9.97, which is 13% below median its 10-year median of 11.50 and 2.7% above the Restaurants industry median of 9.71. El Pollo Loco Holdings' overall GF Score™ is 70/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is EV-to-EBITDA calculated?
EV-to-EBITDA is calculated from a company's financial statements. For El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO), the current EV-to-EBITDA is 9.97 as of Aug. 08, 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 $15.13 is trading 29.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of $11.66.
GuruFocus considers El Pollo Loco Holdings to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for LOCO:
EV-to-EBITDA: 9.97 (13% below median its 10-year median of 11.50)
GF Value™: $11.66 vs. price of $15.13 (29.8% above fair value)
Industry Position: 2.7% above the Restaurants median (#184 of 310)
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.
70GF Score
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