El Pollo Loco Q3 revenue rises to $126.3 million; net income falls to $6.9 million
El Pollo Loco reported third quarter 2026 results, with total revenue up to $126.3 million from $121.5 million and comparable restaurant sales up 5.0% system-wide. Net income fell to $6.9 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, from $7.4 million, or $0.25 a year earlier, as income from operations declined to $10.2 million from $11.5 million. The company updated its 2026 comparable restaurant sales growth expectation to approximately 4.5% and reiterated its adjusted EBITDA range of $68 million to $70 million.
Key points
- Total revenue $126.3 million vs. $121.5 million; net income $6.9 million vs. $7.4 million
- Adjusted net income $7.3 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, vs. $7.8 million, or $0.27 a year earlier
- Adjusted EBITDA $17.1 million vs. $17.4 million; restaurant contribution margin 18.4% vs. 18.3%
- 2026 outlook: comparable restaurant sales growth of about 4.5%; adjusted EBITDA $68 million to $70 million reiterated
The filing
Written by AI on Nov 9, 2026, 8:38 AM ET, from this filing only. Written later: this filing was briefed after the fact, when past filings were added to the site, so the brief may be read with hindsight; the filing itself is the record of what was known on November 05, 2026.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the AI's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.