Kura Sushi USA (KRUS) 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 Kura Sushi USA (KRUS) over the past year, gaining 56.3% versus a loss of 31.1%. Over five years, LOCO leads with a -2.9% price change compared with -12.7% for KRUS. Kura Sushi USA is the larger company by market cap ($485.1 million vs $454.7 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, El Pollo Loco trades at a lower forward P/E (13.5x vs 142.9x for Kura Sushi USA).
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 | KRUS | LOCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $39.93 | $14.94 |
| Market cap | $485.14M | $454.67M |
| 1-day change | -0.05% | +2.12% |
| YTD return | -23.70% | +42.83% |
| 1-year return | -31.06% | +56.28% |
| 5-year return | -12.72% | -2.92% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 12.77 |
| Forward P/E | 142.91 | 13.50 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.17 | $1.17 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $80.84 | $17.40 |
| 52-week low | $33.97 | $8.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -50.61% | -14.14% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +67.79% | +35.88% |
| Average volume | 226.13K | 230.88K |
| Shares outstanding | 11.15M | 30.43M |
| Employees | 3,900 | 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 KRUS by 87.3 percentage points over the past year.
About Kura Sushi USA
KRUS stock →Kura Sushi USA, Inc. operates technology-enabled Japanese restaurants in the United States.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 3,900 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
KRUS vs LOCO FAQ
Which is bigger, Kura Sushi USA or El Pollo Loco?
Kura Sushi USA (KRUS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $485.14M compared with $454.67M for El Pollo Loco (LOCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KRUS or LOCO?
LOCO returned +56.28% over the past 12 months, compared with -31.06% for KRUS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Kura Sushi USA and El Pollo Loco in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.