El Pollo Loco (LOCO) vs Nathan's Famous (NATH)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
El Pollo Loco (LOCO) has outperformed Nathan's Famous (NATH) over the past year, gaining 56.3% versus a loss of 3.7%. Over five years, NATH leads with a +63.8% price change compared with -2.9% for LOCO. El Pollo Loco is the larger company by market cap ($454.7 million vs $416.9 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, El Pollo Loco trades at a lower trailing P/E (12.8x vs 21.1x for Nathan's Famous). Nathan's Famous pays a dividend yielding 1.97%, 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 | LOCO | NATH |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $14.94 | $101.75 |
| Market cap | $454.67M | $416.94M |
| 1-day change | +2.12% | +0.03% |
| YTD return | +42.83% | +8.74% |
| 1-year return | +56.28% | -3.70% |
| 5-year return | -2.92% | +63.82% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.77 | 21.07 |
| Forward P/E | 13.50 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.17 | $4.83 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.97% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.00 |
| 52-week high | $17.40 | $111.39 |
| 52-week low | $8.99 | $88.67 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.14% | -8.65% |
| Analyst consensus | none | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +35.88% | — |
| Average volume | 230.59K | 27.42K |
| Shares outstanding | 30.43M | 4.10M |
| Employees | 4,000 | 129 |
| 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 NATH by 60.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Nathan's Famous trades at a higher earnings multiple (21.1x vs 12.8x trailing P/E).
- Nathan's Famous offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.97% vs 0.00%).
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
About Nathan's Famous
NATH stock →Nathan's Famous, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, operates in the foodservice industry both in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Branded Product Program; Product licensing; and Restaurant operations.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 129 employees
LOCO vs NATH FAQ
Which is bigger, El Pollo Loco or Nathan's Famous?
El Pollo Loco (LOCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $454.67M compared with $416.94M for Nathan's Famous (NATH).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LOCO or NATH?
LOCO returned +56.28% over the past 12 months, compared with -3.70% for NATH (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LOCO or NATH?
LOCO has the lower trailing P/E at 12.8, versus 21.1 for NATH. 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, El Pollo Loco or Nathan's Famous?
Nathan's Famous pays a dividend yielding 1.97%, while El Pollo Loco does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are El Pollo Loco and Nathan's Famous in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.