Filing Flows › El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) › Q3 2026 › vs Q3 2025
El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) Q3 2026 vs Q3 2025 (year over year)
El Pollo Loco Holdings's revenue rose $4.8M (+4%) from $122M in Q3 2025 to $126M in Q3 2026. The biggest changes: Company-operated restaurant revenue +$4.7M (+5%); Franchise advertising fee revenue +$514K (+6%); Franchise revenue −$389K (-3%). Operating margin 8.1% against 9.4% (-1.4 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 Q3 2025, the increases inside each band.
Margins
| Q3 2026 | Q3 2025 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 8.1% | 9.4% | -1.4 pts |
| Net margin | 5.4% | 6.1% | -0.6 pts |
| Free cash flow margin | 0.4% | 8.2% | -7.8 pts |
Every line
| Line | Q3 2026 | Q3 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company-operated restaurant revenue | $105M | $101M | $4.7M | +5% |
| Franchise revenue | $12.5M | $12.9M | −$389K | -3% |
| Franchise advertising fee revenue | $8.4M | $7.9M | $514K | +6% |
| Revenue | $126M | $122M | $4.8M | +4% |
| Operating profit | $10.2M | $11.5M | −$1.3M | -11% |
| Costs & expenses | $116M | $110M | $6.1M | +6% |
| Pre-tax earnings | $9.6M | $10.3M | −$704K | -7% |
| Other expense, net | $537K | $1.1M | −$585K | -52% |
| General & admin | $14.0M | $12.3M | $1.6M | +13% |
| Other operating costs | $102M | $97.7M | $4.5M | +5% |
| Net earnings | $6.9M | $7.4M | −$481K | -7% |
| Income tax | $2.8M | $3.0M | −$223K | -7% |
| Depreciation & amortization | $4.6M | $4.0M | $659K | +17% |
| Share-based compensation | $1.6M | $1.4M | $250K | +18% |
| Working capital & other | $5.3M | −$2.6M | $7.9M | — |
| Operating cash flow | $7.9M | $15.3M | −$7.4M | -49% |
| Free cash flow (OCF − capex) | $506K | $9.9M | −$9.4M | -95% |
| Capital expenditures | $7.4M | $5.4M | $2.0M | +37% |
Questions
How much did El Pollo Loco Holdings's revenue grow year over year in Q3 2026?
El Pollo Loco Holdings's revenue rose $4.8M (+4%) from $122M in Q3 2025 to $126M in Q3 2026.
What drove El Pollo Loco Holdings's revenue change in Q3 2026?
Company-operated restaurant revenue +$4.7M (+5%); Franchise advertising fee revenue +$514K (+6%); Franchise revenue −$389K (-3%).