LOCO (El Pollo Loco Holdings) Moat Score: 5/10 (As of Jul. 02, 2026)


LOCO El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc LOCO
68 GF Score
Price $17.20
GF Value $11.65
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 8 Warning Signs
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What is El Pollo Loco Holdings Moat Score?

El Pollo Loco Holdings LOCO +1.42% 68 Moat Score is 5 as of Jul. 02, 2026. GuruFocus rates LOCO with a GF Score™ of 68/100 and a GF Value™ of $11.65 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 8 warning signs investors should review. Among 368 Restaurants companies, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks better than 93.48% on this metric.

El Pollo Loco Holdings has the Moat Score of 5, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat.

El Pollo Loco Holdings has Narrow Moat: El Pollo Loco has a solid narrow moat with strong brand recognition and customer loyalty in the fast-food sector. However, intense competition and limited pricing power prevent it from achieving a wider moat.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes El Pollo Loco Holdings might have Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat.

El Pollo Loco Holdings  (NAS:LOCO) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

El Pollo Loco Holdings Moat Score Related Terms

LOCO vs DIN, NATH, CNNE: Moat Score Comparison

For the Restaurants subindustry, El Pollo Loco Holdings's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score 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 Moat Score vs Restaurants Industry

For the Restaurants industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, El Pollo Loco Holdings's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where El Pollo Loco Holdings's Moat Score falls into.


LOCO
68GF Score
El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc LOCO
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 5 mean?
El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) has a Moat Score of 5 as of Jul. 02, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #24 out of 368 companies in the Restaurants industry, placing it in the top 6.5%.
Is El Pollo Loco Holdings' Moat Score too high?
El Pollo Loco Holdings' current Moat Score is 5. Based on the distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #24 out of 368 companies in the Restaurants industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, El Pollo Loco Holdings has a GF Score™ of 68/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does El Pollo Loco Holdings' Moat Score compare to DIN and NATH?
According to the Restaurants industry distribution chart, El Pollo Loco Holdings ranks #24 out of 368 companies for Moat Score. This places El Pollo Loco Holdings in the top 7% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Restaurants company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Restaurants industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. El Pollo Loco Holdings's current Moat Score is 5. 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 $17.20 — trading 47.6% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 5. El Pollo Loco Holdings' overall GF Score™ is 68/100 with 8 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO), the current Moat Score is 5 as of Jul. 02, 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 $17.20 is trading 47.6% above its estimated GF Value™ of $11.65. GuruFocus considers El Pollo Loco Holdings to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for LOCO:

  • Moat Score: 5
  • GF Value™: $11.65 vs. price of $17.20 (47.6% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 68/100 with 8 warning signs

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 Business Description

Other Exchanges EP6:Germany
Address 575 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1100, Costa Mesa, CA, USA, 92626
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.
68GF Score

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$17.20
Price
$11.65
GF Value