Bloomin' Brands (BLMN) vs El Pollo Loco (LOCO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
El Pollo Loco (LOCO) has outperformed Bloomin' Brands (BLMN) over the past year, gaining 56.3% versus a gain of 12.5%. Over five years, LOCO leads with a -2.9% price change compared with -63.9% for BLMN. Bloomin' Brands is the larger company by market cap ($726.1 million vs $454.7 million), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Bloomin' Brands trades at a lower forward P/E (7.8x vs 13.5x for El Pollo Loco). Bloomin' Brands pays a dividend yielding 1.77%, while El Pollo Loco does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BLMN | LOCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $8.48 | $14.94 |
| Market cap | $726.07M | $454.67M |
| 1-day change | +3.79% | +2.12% |
| YTD return | +37.44% | +42.83% |
| 1-year return | +12.47% | +56.28% |
| 5-year return | -63.85% | -2.92% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 25.70 | 12.77 |
| Forward P/E | 7.78 | 13.50 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.33 | $1.17 |
| Dividend yield | 1.77% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.15 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $12.63 | $17.40 |
| 52-week low | $5.19 | $8.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -32.86% | -14.14% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +39.86% | +35.88% |
| Average volume | 2.16M | 230.88K |
| Shares outstanding | 85.62M | 30.43M |
| Employees | 64,000 | 4,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Restaurants | Restaurants |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- LOCO has outperformed BLMN by 43.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Bloomin' Brands trades at a higher earnings multiple (25.7x vs 12.8x trailing P/E).
- Bloomin' Brands offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.77% vs 0.00%).
About Bloomin' Brands
BLMN stock →Bloomin' Brands, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates casual, polished casual, and fine dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. The company operates through U.S.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 64,000 employees
About El Pollo Loco
LOCO stock →El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, El Pollo Loco, Inc., develops, franchises, licenses, and operates quick-service restaurants under the El Pollo Loco name. The company operates and franchises restaurants located in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Washington.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 4,000 employees
BLMN vs LOCO FAQ
Which is bigger, Bloomin' Brands or El Pollo Loco?
Bloomin' Brands (BLMN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $726.07M compared with $454.67M for El Pollo Loco (LOCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BLMN or LOCO?
LOCO returned +56.28% over the past 12 months, compared with +12.47% for BLMN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BLMN or LOCO?
LOCO has the lower trailing P/E at 12.8, versus 25.7 for BLMN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Bloomin' Brands or El Pollo Loco?
Bloomin' Brands pays a dividend yielding 1.77%, while El Pollo Loco does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Bloomin' Brands and El Pollo Loco in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.