---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001606366-21-000069"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LOCO"
cik: "0001606366"
company_name: "El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-11-04T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T13:01:14.252158+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# El Pollo Loco Q3 revenue up 4.2% to $115.7M; comp sales +9.3%; net income $0.28/sh

## Summary
- Total revenue $115.7M vs $111.0M a year ago; system-wide comparable restaurant sales up 9.3%.
- Net income $10.2M ($0.28 diluted) vs $9.9M ($0.28); pro forma net income $10.0M ($0.27).
- Income from operations $14.2M vs $12.2M; adjusted EBITDA $18.9M vs $19.3M.
- Restaurant contribution margin weakened to 20.4% from 22.4%; recognized $3.2M employee retention credit under CARES Act.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001606366-21-000069
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LOCO
- cik: 0001606366
- company_name: El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-11-04T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000069/0001606366-21-000069-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000069/loco-20211104x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-21-000069
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-21-000069.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-21-000069.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.