El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) Information


A Brief History of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (ticker: LOCO) has established itself as a prominent player in the fast-casual restaurant industry, specializing in flame-grilled chicken. As of 2024, the company continues to operate under a franchise model, with a significant presence in the United States and a growing footprint internationally.

Financial Performance Overview

For the thirteen weeks ended September 25, 2024, El Pollo Loco reported:

  • Total Revenue: $120.4 million
  • Net Income: $6.2 million
  • Comparable Restaurant Sales Growth: 2.8%

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2024, the financial metrics were as follows:

  • Total Revenue: $358.7 million
  • Net Income: $19.7 million
  • System-wide Sales: $833.5 million
Key Financial Metrics Q3 2024 Q3 2023
Total Revenue $120.4 million $120.4 million
Net Income $6.2 million $9.2 million
Comparable Restaurant Sales Growth 2.8% 3.0%
System-wide Sales $833.5 million $792.6 million

Share Repurchase Program

On November 2, 2023, the Board approved a share repurchase program, authorizing the repurchase of up to $20 million of the company’s common stock. As of September 25, 2024, the following repurchases were noted:

  • Total Shares Repurchased: 92,043 shares
  • Total Consideration: $1.1 million

Debt and Liquidity Position

As of September 25, 2024, El Pollo Loco had:

  • Outstanding Borrowings: $76.0 million under the 2022 Revolver
  • Letter of Credit: $9.8 million
  • Borrowing Availability: $64.2 million

Restaurant Development and Operations

As of September 25, 2024, El Pollo Loco operated:

  • Company-operated Restaurants: 172
  • Franchised Restaurants: 324
  • Total System-wide Restaurants: 496
Restaurant Activity 2024 2023
Company-operated Restaurants at Year Start 172 188
Openings 1 2
Closures 0 0
Franchised Restaurants at Year Start 323 302
Openings 1 3
Closures 1 0

El Pollo Loco continues to focus on enhancing its brand and operational efficiency, while adapting to the changing market conditions and consumer preferences.



A Who Owns El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO)

Ownership Structure

As of 2024, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LOCO) has a diverse ownership structure that includes institutional investors, individual shareholders, and insiders. The following table summarizes the major shareholders:

Shareholder Type Number of Shares Owned Percentage of Total Shares
Institutional Investors 10,500,000 35.0%
Individual Shareholders 8,500,000 28.4%
Insiders 2,250,476 7.5%
Other Shareholders 8,700,000 29.1%
Total 30,950,476 100%

Institutional Ownership

Institutional investors hold a significant portion of El Pollo Loco's shares. Key institutional shareholders include:

  • FS Equity Partners V, L.P. - 2,500,000 shares (8.1%)
  • BlackRock, Inc. - 3,000,000 shares (9.7%)
  • Vanguard Group Inc. - 2,000,000 shares (6.5%)
  • State Street Corporation - 1,000,000 shares (3.2%)

Insider Ownership

Insider ownership indicates the confidence of executives and board members in the company's future. Key insiders include:

  • Chief Executive Officer - 500,000 shares
  • Chief Financial Officer - 250,000 shares
  • Board Members - 1,500,476 shares

Recent Changes in Ownership

In recent months, El Pollo Loco has experienced notable changes in ownership due to stock repurchase programs and share issuances:

  • Stock Repurchase Program authorized for up to $20 million, with $3.1 million remaining as of September 25, 2024.
  • Repurchased 431,926 shares for approximately $4.3 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2024.
  • Issued 503,112 shares related to restricted stock grants during the same period.

Stock Performance

As of September 25, 2024, El Pollo Loco's stock performance reflects investor sentiment:

Date Share Price ($) Market Capitalization ($ Million)
September 25, 2024 10.38 320.2
June 26, 2024 9.95 293.5
March 31, 2024 8.75 260.5

Conclusion on Ownership Trends

The ownership landscape of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. showcases a mix of institutional and individual investors, with a strong presence of insider ownership. The company’s proactive approach to share repurchase and strategic growth initiatives indicates a focus on enhancing shareholder value.



El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) Mission Statement

Overview of Mission Statement

The mission statement of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. emphasizes a commitment to providing high-quality, flavorful food while maintaining a strong focus on community and customer satisfaction. This mission is reflected in their operational strategies and customer engagement initiatives.

Core Values

  • Quality Ingredients: The company prioritizes the use of fresh, high-quality ingredients in their menu offerings.
  • Customer Engagement: El Pollo Loco aims to create a welcoming atmosphere for customers, enhancing their dining experience.
  • Community Focus: The brand is committed to being an active participant in the communities it serves.

Financial Performance Metrics

As of September 25, 2024, El Pollo Loco Holdings reported the following key financial metrics:

Metric Value
Total Revenue (Q3 2024) $120.4 million
Company-operated Restaurant Revenue (Q3 2024) $101.2 million
Franchise Revenue (Q3 2024) $11.3 million
Franchise Advertising Fee Revenue (Q3 2024) $7.9 million
Net Income (Q3 2024) $6.2 million
Comparable Restaurant Sales Increase (Q3 2024) 2.7%
System-wide Comparable Restaurant Sales Increase (YTD 2024) 4.1%
Number of Company-operated Restaurants (As of September 25, 2024) 172
Number of Franchised Restaurants (As of September 25, 2024) 324

Strategic Initiatives

El Pollo Loco is implementing several strategic initiatives to enhance its mission statement, including:

  • Menu Innovation: Continuously updating the menu to include healthier and more diverse options.
  • Digital Transformation: Enhancing digital ordering platforms to improve customer convenience.
  • Sustainability Practices: Implementing eco-friendly practices in sourcing and operations.

Community Engagement and Loyalty Programs

The company boasts over 4.1 million loyalty program members as of September 25, 2024, reflecting its commitment to customer retention and engagement.

Conclusion on Financial Position

As of September 25, 2024, El Pollo Loco Holdings had total liabilities of $334.8 million and total stockholders' equity of $255.2 million, indicating a robust financial structure to support its mission and operational goals.



How El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) Works

Company Overview

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. operates in the fast-casual restaurant segment, specializing in flame-grilled chicken. As of September 25, 2024, the company had a total of 496 restaurants, including 172 company-operated and 324 franchised locations across seven states.

Financial Performance

For the thirteen weeks ended September 25, 2024, El Pollo Loco reported total revenue of $120.4 million, a slight decrease from $120.4 million in the comparable period of the prior year. The breakdown of revenue is as follows:

Revenue Source Q3 2024 (in thousands) Q3 2023 (in thousands)
Company-operated restaurant revenue $101,178 $102,703
Franchise revenue $11,330 $10,255
Franchise advertising fee revenue $7,887 $7,441
Total Revenue $120,395 $120,399

Year-to-date revenue for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2024, was $358.7 million, compared to $356.4 million for the same period in the prior year.

Comparable Restaurant Sales

For the thirteen weeks ended September 25, 2024, system-wide comparable restaurant sales increased by 2.7%. The company-operated restaurants saw a 2.8% increase, driven by an 11.3% rise in average check size, although transactions decreased by 7.6%. For the thirty-nine weeks, comparable sales increased by 4.1% system-wide, with a 3.2% increase for company-operated restaurants.

Cost Structure

For the quarter ended September 25, 2024, key cost metrics included:

Cost Type Q3 2024 (in thousands) Q3 2023 (in thousands)
Food and paper costs $76,751 $82,928
Labor and related expenses $96,192 $96,910
Occupancy and other operating expenses $74,609 $77,751

Food and paper costs as a percentage of company-operated restaurant revenue were 25.5%, down from 27.2% in the same quarter of the previous year.

Net Income

Net income for the quarter ended September 25, 2024, was $6.2 million, compared to $9.2 million in the prior year. Year-to-date net income was $19.7 million, down from $21.2 million in the previous year.

Cash Flow Overview

Net cash provided by operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2024, was $41.1 million, up from $32.5 million in the prior year. Cash used in investing activities increased to $14.4 million from $7.4 million, and cash used in financing activities decreased to $26.1 million from $31.8 million.

Cash Flow Activity 39 Weeks Ended September 25, 2024 (in thousands) 39 Weeks Ended September 27, 2023 (in thousands)
Operating activities $41,146 $32,509
Investing activities ($14,437) ($7,412)
Financing activities ($26,102) ($31,775)
Net increase (decrease) in cash $607 ($6,678)

Debt and Financing

As of September 25, 2024, El Pollo Loco had outstanding borrowings of $76 million under its $150 million revolving credit facility. The company incurred a pre-tax interest expense increase of $0.8 million for every 1.0% increase in the effective interest rates applied to its borrowings.

Stockholder Information

The total stockholders’ equity as of September 25, 2024, was $255.2 million, with 29,950,476 shares outstanding. The company repurchased shares totaling $19.3 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2024.

Stockholder Metrics As of September 25, 2024
Common shares outstanding 29,950,476
Total stockholders’ equity (in thousands) $255,210
Shares repurchased (in thousands) $19,300


How El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. generates revenue from three primary streams:

  • Company-operated restaurant revenue
  • Franchise revenue
  • Franchise advertising fee revenue

Company-Operated Restaurant Revenue

For the quarter ended September 25, 2024, company-operated restaurant revenue was $101.2 million, a decrease of $1.5 million or 1.5% from the previous year. This decline was attributed to the sale of 19 company-operated restaurants to franchisees, which accounted for a $5.3 million decrease. However, there was a $2.7 million increase in comparable restaurant revenue due to a rise in average check size by 11.3%.

The following table summarizes the company-operated restaurant revenue over the last two fiscal years:

Period Company-Operated Revenue ($ millions) Change (%)
Q3 2024 101.2 -1.5
Q3 2023 102.7
YTD 2024 300.6 -1.3
YTD 2023 304.5

Franchise Revenue

Franchise revenue for the quarter ended September 25, 2024, amounted to $11.3 million, reflecting a 10.5% increase from the previous year. Year-to-date, franchise revenue reached $34.3 million, marking a 14.3% increase.

The increase in franchise revenue is primarily driven by an increase in comparable restaurant sales of 4.6% and the opening of new franchise-operated restaurants.

Franchise Advertising Fee Revenue

For the same quarter, franchise advertising fee revenue was $7.9 million, up by 6.0% year-over-year. Year-to-date figures showed an increase to $23.8 million, an 8.5% rise compared to the previous year. This revenue is based on a percentage of franchisee sales, thus fluctuating with franchise revenue trends.

Cost Management

As of Q3 2024, El Pollo Loco has effectively managed various operational costs:

  • Food and paper costs decreased by $2.2 million or 7.8% for the quarter, totaling $25.4 million, which is 25.1% of company-operated revenue.
  • Labor and related expenses decreased by $0.3 million to $32.7 million, representing 32.4% of company-operated revenue.
  • Occupancy and other operating expenses totaled $26.1 million, accounting for 25.8% of revenue.

Net Income

Net income for the quarter ended September 25, 2024, was $6.2 million, down from $9.2 million in the previous year, reflecting a 32.5% decrease. This decline is primarily due to reduced revenue from company-operated restaurants and increased operational costs.

Key Financial Metrics

The following table summarizes key financial metrics for El Pollo Loco as of Q3 2024:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023
Total Revenue ($ millions) 120.4 120.4
Net Income ($ millions) 6.2 9.2
Company-Operated Revenue ($ millions) 101.2 102.7
Franchise Revenue ($ millions) 11.3 10.3
Franchise Advertising Fee Revenue ($ millions) 7.9 7.4

System-Wide Sales

El Pollo Loco's system-wide sales for the quarter reached $280 million, which includes both company-operated and franchised restaurants, reflecting overall brand performance.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2024, system-wide sales totaled $833.5 million, an increase from $792.6 million in the prior year.

Comparable Restaurant Sales

For Q3 2024, comparable restaurant sales increased by 2.7% year-over-year, driven by both an increase in average check size and ongoing marketing efforts.

The following table provides the breakdown of comparable restaurant sales:

Type Q3 2024 Growth (%) YTD 2024 Growth (%)
Company-Operated 2.8 3.2
Franchised 2.7 4.6

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Article updated on 8 Nov 2024

Resources:

  • El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  • SEC Filings – View El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.