---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001606366-26-000032"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LOCO"
cik: "0001606366"
company_name: "El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-05-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-14T21:46:55.862528+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.9
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.9
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# El Pollo Loco Q1 revenue $126.2M, net income $8.2M, raises 2026 outlook

## Summary
- Total revenue $126.2M vs $119.2M in Q1 2025, a 5.9% increase.
- System-wide comparable restaurant sales rose 5.8% year-over-year.
- Net income $8.2M ($0.27/diluted share) vs $5.5M ($0.19/diluted share).
- Adjusted EBITDA $18.2M compared to $13.9M in the prior-year quarter.
- Company raises full-year 2026 outlook based on strong first-quarter results.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001606366-26-000032
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LOCO
- cik: 0001606366
- company_name: El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-05-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.9
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.9
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636626000032/0001606366-26-000032-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636626000032/loco-20260507x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-26-000032
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-26-000032.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-26-000032.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: a15f2df69636bedc85a4834c62c54c83992802a9
  claim: El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. reported first quarter ended April 1, 2026 results: revenue $126.2 million, net income $8.2 million, EPS $0.27 per diluted share. Guidance raised.
  evidence_excerpt: 13-week period ended April 1, 2026. Highlights for the first quarter ended April 1, 2026 compared to the first quarter ended March 26, 2025 were as follows: ● Total revenue was $126.2 million compared to $119.2 million. ● System-wide comparable restaurant sales (1) increased by 5.8%. ● Income from operations was $12.2 million compared to $9.0 million. ● Restaurant
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636626000032/0001606366-26-000032-index.htm

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