Strong Traffic Trends at El Pollo Loco: A Signal for More Upside?

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) delivered encouraging signs in second-quarter 2025 as traffic trends turned positive, indicating its strategic initiatives may be gaining traction. Revenues were $125.8 million, up 3% year over year, while adjusted earnings per share of 28 cents exceeded estimates. Notably, system-wide traffic rose 0.8%, reflecting sequential improvement after a sluggish start to the year.The turnaround is being fueled by a balanced mix of innovation and value. New menu items like Fresca Salads and premium quesadillas resonated with guests, boosting frequency among existing customers and drawing new ones. Targeted discounting, through Taco Tuesday, app-only promotions and delivery offers, helped drive visits without eroding core pricing power. Management emphasized that these measures reflect a disciplined approach to value rather than broad-based discounting, protecting margins in the process.Operational execution also contributed to profitability. Restaurant-level operating margins improved to 19.1% from 18.6% a year ago, aided by efficiency gains in labor deployment and modest commodity relief. Franchise traffic growth of 1.5% further underscored the brand’s resilience, even as average checks softened slightly.Looking forward, momentum may hinge on sustaining traffic growth amid a challenging macro backdrop. July trends were choppy, but management remains optimistic, citing the brand relaunch, new product pipeline and remodeling efforts as catalysts. With shares already up sharply in recent months, the question for investors is whether these traffic gains can translate into durable comp growth and sustained earnings upside.Competitor Landscape: WING and CMGWhile El Pollo Loco is benefiting from stronger traffic trends, it operates in a competitive quick-service and fast-casual chicken segment where peers are also showing resilience. Wingstop Inc. (WING) has been a standout performer, with robust same-store sales growth driven by digital engagement and international expansion. Its focus on delivery and off-premise channels has kept traffic consistently strong, setting a high bar for value-driven operators like LOCO.Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) offers another relevant comparison. It continues to leverage menu innovation and loyalty-driven promotions to boost frequency. Chipotle’s premium positioning and scale give it greater pricing flexibility.For LOCO, the challenge is to sustain its traffic momentum without sacrificing value in an inflation-sensitive environment. Competing against Wingstop’s digital dominance and Chipotle’s strong brand equity, LOCO’s ability to balance innovation, affordability and authentic positioning will be critical in maintaining upside potential.LOCO’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesLOCO’s shares have lost 2.8% in the past six months compared with the industry’s decrease of 8.9%.Price PerformanceImage Source: Zacks Investment ResearchLOCO is priced at a discount relative to its industry. It has a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 10.9, which is well below the industry average.P/E (F12M)Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 and 2026 earnings per share has increased in the past 60 days.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchLOCO’s Zacks RankThe company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.5 Stocks Set to DoubleEach was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the months ahead. They includeStock #1: A Disruptive Force with Notable Growth and ResilienceStock #2: Bullish Signs Signaling to Buy the DipStock #3: One of the Most Compelling Investments in the MarketStock #4: Leader In a Red-Hot Industry Poised for GrowthStock #5: Modern Omni-Channel Platform Coiled to SpringMost of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +171%, +209% and +232%.Download Atomic Opportunity: Nuclear Energy's Comeback free today.Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG): Free Stock Analysis Report El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO): Free Stock Analysis Report Wingstop Inc. (WING): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks