---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001606366-22-000063"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LOCO"
cik: "0001606366"
company_name: "El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-11-03T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-22T09:06:37.795293+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# El Pollo Loco Q3 net income down 51% to $5.0M; adjusted EBITDA falls 39%

## Summary
- Total revenue $119.9M (+3.6% YoY); system-wide comp sales up 3.8%.
- Income from operations $6.9M vs $14.2M; restaurant contribution margin 12.4% vs 20.4%.
- Net income $5.0M ($0.14 diluted EPS) vs $10.2M ($0.28); pro forma EPS $0.14.
- Adjusted EBITDA $11.6M vs $18.9M; prior year included $3.2M CARES credit.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001606366-22-000063
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LOCO
- cik: 0001606366
- company_name: El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-11-03T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636622000063/0001606366-22-000063-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636622000063/loco-20221103x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-22-000063
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-22-000063.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-22-000063.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. reported third quarter ended September 28, 2022 results: revenue $119.9 million, net income $5.0 million, EPS $0.14 per diluted share.
  - Period: third quarter ended September 28, 2022
  - Revenue: $119.9 million
  - Net income: $5.0 million
  - EPS: $0.14 per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: ended September 28, 2022 Highlights for the third quarter ended September 28, 2022 compared to the third quarter ended September 29, 2021 were as follows: ● Total revenue was $119.9 million compared to $115.7 million. ● System-wide comparable restaurant sales (1) increased 3.8%. ● Income from operations was $6.9 million compared to $14.2 million. ● Restaurant
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636622000063/0001606366-22-000063-index.htm

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