El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO - Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday.
Separately, Truist Financial upped their price target on El Pollo Loco from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco Trading Down 0.9 %
LOCO traded down $0.12 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $13.66. 160,857 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 287,433. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $12.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.95. El Pollo Loco has a one year low of $8.11 and a one year high of $14.25. The company has a current ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $424.83 million, a PE ratio of 16.86 and a beta of 1.50.
El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The restaurant operator reported $0.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.05. El Pollo Loco had a net margin of 5.76% and a return on equity of 10.33%. The company had revenue of $122.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $120.39 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.23 EPS. El Pollo Loco's quarterly revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that El Pollo Loco will post 0.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Buying and Selling at El Pollo Loco
In related news, major shareholder Sardar Biglari purchased 43,161 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $13.59 per share, for a total transaction of $586,557.99. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 364,731 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,956,694.29. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In the last quarter, insiders purchased 189,177 shares of company stock worth $2,483,158. Insiders own 1.90% of the company's stock.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On El Pollo Loco
Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of El Pollo Loco by 321.8% during the first quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 145,498 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $1,417,000 after purchasing an additional 111,000 shares in the last quarter. Fund 1 Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of El Pollo Loco in the 4th quarter worth approximately $7,746,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of El Pollo Loco by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,323,373 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $12,890,000 after buying an additional 67,368 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of El Pollo Loco by 797.2% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 102,257 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $996,000 after acquiring an additional 90,860 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jump Financial LLC increased its position in shares of El Pollo Loco by 30.9% during the fourth quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 26,059 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $230,000 after acquiring an additional 6,159 shares during the last quarter. 81.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
El Pollo Loco Company Profile
(
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El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiary, El Pollo Loco, Inc, develops, franchises, licenses, and operates quick-service restaurants under the El Pollo Loco name. It operates and franchises restaurants located in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, and Louisiana. It also licenses its brand to restaurants in the Philippines.
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