Filing Flows › El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) › Q3 2026 › vs Q2 2026
El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) Q3 2026 vs Q2 2026 (quarter over quarter)
El Pollo Loco Holdings's revenue fell $3.3M (-3%) from $130M in Q2 2026 to $126M in Q3 2026. The biggest changes: Company-operated restaurant revenue −$2.8M (-3%); Franchise revenue −$387K (-3%); Franchise advertising fee revenue −$125K (-1%). Operating margin 8.1% against 14.4% (-6.4 pts).
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 draws each line against Q2 2026, the increases inside each band.
Margins
| Q3 2026 | Q2 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 8.1% | 14.4% | -6.4 pts |
| Net margin | 5.4% | 9.9% | -4.4 pts |
| Free cash flow margin | 0.4% | 17.9% | -17.5 pts |
Every line
| Line | Q3 2026 | Q2 2026 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company-operated restaurant revenue | $105M | $108M | −$2.8M | -3% |
| Franchise revenue | $12.5M | $12.9M | −$387K | -3% |
| Franchise advertising fee revenue | $8.4M | $8.6M | −$125K | -1% |
| Revenue | $126M | $130M | −$3.3M | -3% |
| Operating profit | $10.2M | $18.7M | −$8.5M | -46% |
| Costs & expenses | $116M | $111M | $5.2M | +5% |
| Pre-tax earnings | $9.6M | $18.0M | −$8.3M | -46% |
| Other expense, net | $537K | $706K | −$169K | -24% |
| General & admin | $14.0M | $7.1M | $6.9M | +98% |
| Other operating costs | $102M | $104M | −$1.7M | -2% |
| Net earnings | $6.9M | $12.8M | −$5.9M | -46% |
| Income tax | $2.8M | $5.2M | −$2.4M | -47% |
| Depreciation & amortization | $4.6M | $4.2M | $466K | +11% |
| Share-based compensation | $1.6M | $1.6M | $72K | +5% |
| Working capital & other | $5.3M | −$13.2M | $18.5M | — |
| Operating cash flow | $7.9M | $31.7M | −$23.9M | -75% |
| Free cash flow (OCF − capex) | $506K | $23.3M | −$22.7M | -98% |
| Capital expenditures | $7.4M | $8.5M | −$1.1M | -13% |
Questions
How much did El Pollo Loco Holdings's revenue grow quarter over quarter in Q3 2026?
El Pollo Loco Holdings's revenue fell $3.3M (-3%) from $130M in Q2 2026 to $126M in Q3 2026.
What drove El Pollo Loco Holdings's revenue change in Q3 2026?
Company-operated restaurant revenue −$2.8M (-3%); Franchise revenue −$387K (-3%); Franchise advertising fee revenue −$125K (-1%).