LOCO

Over the past six months (April 2026 - October 2026), El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. experienced several stock-impacting events. On May 7, 2026, the company announced strong first-quarter 2026 financial results, including increased revenue and comparable restaurant sales, and raised its fiscal year 2026 outlook. An equity buyback plan was announced on May 28, 2026, with an update on August 7, 2026. The company announced its expansion into Idaho on June 30, 2026, and celebrated "Loco Days" in July 2026. El Pollo Loco declared September 9 as National Grilled Chicken Day on August 26, 2026, and introduced new limited-time menu items on September 17, 2026. A former Shake Shack executive joined as operations chief on September 25, 2026, and the company announced expansion into New York and strengthened its leadership team on September 29, 2026. The stock surged 53% in the year leading up to October 5, 2026, driven by improved operating execution and profitability, with digital sales increasing 13% year-over-year. On October 9, 2026, Roth Capital initiated coverage with a "Buy" rating and a $22 price target. For Q2 2026, the company reported revenue of $129.6 million, slightly below analyst estimates, but adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA exceeded expectations, and same-store sales rose 3.9% year-on-year, alongside reported insider selling activity in July 2026.