Freedom Capital Markets Reiterates Buy Rating for El Pollo Loco
Freedom Capital Markets keeps its 'buy' rating on El Pollo Loco with a $22 price target, a 29.72% upside from the current price.
Key Points
- Freedom Capital Markets reiterated its 'buy' rating for El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (NasdaqGS: LOCO) on July 1, 2026, with a price target of $22.
- Freedom Capital Markets's $22 price target implies 29.72% upside from El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s ($LOCO) current $16.96 share price.
- On Wednesday, El Pollo Loco shares traded at $16.96. The company has a market cap of about $516.5 million, a P/E ratio of 17.3, and a 52-week range between $8.99 and $17.00.
- Insider Sardar Biglari sold shares multiple times in late June 2026, while Vanguard Capital Management opened a new position in El Pollo Loco, holding 1,090,194 shares valued at about $15.1 million.
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Freedom Capital Markets reaffirmed its 'buy' rating for El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (NasdaqGS: LOCO) on July 1, 2026. The firm set a price target of $22. This reflects continued confidence in the restaurant chain's potential growth.
Other Institutional Activity in El Pollo Loco
Biglari Capital Corp. maintained its position with 4 million shares valued at $55.44 million. BlackRock, Inc. increased its stake by 84,209 shares to a total of 2,284,225 shares worth about $31.66 million, marking a 3.8% increase. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP also grew its holdings by 12,072 shares, ending with 2,013,373 shares valued at approximately $27.91 million, a rise of 0.6%. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake by 53,826 shares to 1,091,119 shares valued at $15.12 million, reflecting a 5.2% increase. Vanguard Capital Management initiated a new position with 1,090,194 shares, valued at about $15.1 million.
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Stock Up 10.8%
Shares of El Pollo Loco traded near $16.96 on Wednesday. The company, which operates in the consumer cyclical sector, has a market cap of about $516.5 million. Its P/E ratio stands at 17.3, with a forward P/E of 15.6, and the stock has a beta of 0.71, indicating lower volatility compared to the market. Over the past year, the stock has traded between $8.99 and $17.00, with a 50-day moving average of $14.34 and a 200-day moving average of $11.86.
$LOCO price target
Past daily closes and this analyst's 12-month price target. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
El Pollo Loco reported revenue of $497.05 million, reflecting a growth rate of 5.9%. The company achieved an EPS of $0.98, with a net margin of 5.87% and a return on equity of 10.27%. The next earnings report is expected on August 6, 2026.
Insider Buying and Selling at El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
Sardar Biglari sold 22,600 shares on June 30, 2026, at an average price of $16.91, following earlier sales of 100,000 shares on both June 29 and June 26, at prices of $16.58 and $16.75 respectively. El Pollo Loco's CEO, Elizabeth Goodman Williams, sold 10,523 shares at $13.95 on May 29, 2026.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
On July 1, 2026, Freedom Capital Markets initiated coverage with a 'buy' rating and a $22 price target. Previously, on May 11, 2026, DA Davidson maintained a 'hold' rating with a $15 target. Benchmark also maintained its 'buy' rating with an $18 target on May 8, 2026. The consensus among analysts is a 'buy', with an average price target of $17.88 based on four opinions.
About El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. operates a chain of quick-service restaurants specializing in flame-grilled chicken. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, the company runs and franchises locations primarily in the western United States, with additional licensed restaurants in the Philippines. Founded in 1975, El Pollo Loco is led by CEO Elizabeth Goodwin Williams and employs over 4,000 people.
Bottom Line
El Pollo Loco remains under analyst scrutiny with Freedom Capital Markets reiterating a 'buy' rating. The company's solid earnings growth and expanding institutional interest reflect its potential in the competitive restaurant sector. Investors should note that these ratings are based on past data and may not indicate future performance.
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