First Watch Restaurant Group (FWRG) vs El Pollo Loco (LOCO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
El Pollo Loco (LOCO) has outperformed First Watch Restaurant Group (FWRG) over the past year, gaining 60.7% versus a loss of 30.6%. Over five years, LOCO leads with a -1.1% price change compared with -49.1% for FWRG. First Watch Restaurant Group is the larger company by market cap ($677.6 million vs $463.2 million), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, El Pollo Loco trades at a lower forward P/E (13.8x vs 44.7x for First Watch Restaurant Group).
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 | FWRG | LOCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $10.98 | $15.22 |
| Market cap | $677.60M | $463.19M |
| 1-day change | +0.18% | +1.87% |
| YTD return | -27.19% | +45.51% |
| 1-year return | -30.64% | +60.72% |
| 5-year return | -49.14% | -1.10% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 39.21 | 12.79 |
| Forward P/E | 44.67 | 13.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.28 | $1.19 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $18.82 | $17.40 |
| 52-week low | $9.88 | $8.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -41.67% | -12.53% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +75.77% | +33.38% |
| Average volume | 1.20M | 232.21K |
| Shares outstanding | 61.71M | 30.43M |
| Employees | 18,000 | 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 FWRG by 91.4 percentage points over the past year.
- First Watch Restaurant Group trades at a higher earnings multiple (39.2x vs 12.8x trailing P/E).
About First Watch Restaurant Group
FWRG stock →First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates and franchises restaurants under the First Watch trade name in the United States. The company was formerly known as AI Fresh Super Holdco, Inc.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 18,000 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
FWRG vs LOCO FAQ
Which is bigger, First Watch Restaurant Group or El Pollo Loco?
First Watch Restaurant Group (FWRG) is larger, with a market capitalization of $677.60M compared with $463.19M for El Pollo Loco (LOCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FWRG or LOCO?
LOCO returned +60.72% over the past 12 months, compared with -30.64% for FWRG (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FWRG or LOCO?
LOCO has the lower trailing P/E at 12.8, versus 39.2 for FWRG. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are First Watch Restaurant Group and El Pollo Loco in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.