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El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) guidance and outlook
El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) lowered its guidance on Nov 5, 2026: Capital expenditures $33.0M–$35.0M for FY2026; EBITDA $68.0M–$70.0M for FY2026; Tax rate 29%–29.5% for FY2026. El Pollo Loco Holdings' 10-Q filed Nov 6, 2026 makes 11 forward-looking statements.
Guidance and outlook
Latest guidance
| Metric | Period | Range | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | FY2026 | +4.5% | new |
| Capital expenditures | FY2026 | $33.0M–$35.0M | lowered |
| EBITDA | FY2026 | $68.0M–$70.0M | reaffirmed |
| Tax rate | FY2026 | 29%–29.5% | reaffirmed |
From the earnings release filed Nov 5, 2026 (8-K on EDGAR).
Forward-looking statements, 10-Q filed Nov 6, 2026
- While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results.
- In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the ways that we expect.
- However, we expect these inflationary and other cost pressures to continue in 2026 and some into 2027, and we may not be able to offset cost increases in the future.
- We plan to continue to expand our business, drive restaurant sales growth, and enhance our competitive positioning by executing the following five key strategies:
- To increase comparable restaurant sales, we plan to increase customer frequency, attract new customers, and improve per-person spend.
- For the remainder of fiscal 2026, we plan to continue our standard practices for remodels, which includes a goal of completing a total of 28 to 32 company-operated restaurant remodels and 28 to 37 franchise-operated restaurant remodels.
- Like other expense items, we expect labor costs to grow proportionately as our restaurant revenue grows.
- When we close a restaurant, we will evaluate the ROU asset for impairment, based on anticipated sublease recoveries.
- In addition, in evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.
- Our presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items.
- Our material cash requirements relate mostly to future (i) debt payments, including expected interest expense, calculated based on current interest rates, (ii) restaurant operating lease payments, (iii) purchasing commitments for chicken, (iv) restaurant finance lease payments, and (v) capital expenditures.
El Pollo Loco Holdings' latest quarter
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Q3 2026: revenue $126M (+4% year over year), operating margin 8.1%, net earnings $6.9M, operating cash flow $7.9M. The chart follows the revenue to costs, profit and cash.
Questions
Did El Pollo Loco Holdings raise or lower its guidance?
El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) lowered its guidance on Nov 5, 2026: Capital expenditures $33.0M–$35.0M for FY2026; EBITDA $68.0M–$70.0M for FY2026; Tax rate 29%–29.5% for FY2026.
What does El Pollo Loco Holdings expect?
While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the ways that we expect. However, we expect these inflationary and other cost pressures to continue in 2026 and some into 2027, and we may not b
Updated Nov 8, 2026. Read automatically from SEC filings and public data; errors are possible. Not investment advice.