El Pollo Loco (LOCO) vs Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY)
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 Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY) over the past year, gaining 58.0% versus a loss of 62.9%. Over five years, LOCO leads with a -4.9% price change compared with -82.3% for PLAY. El Pollo Loco is the larger company by market cap ($454.7 million vs $242.8 million), about 1.9 times the size.
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 | PLAY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $14.94 | $6.97 |
| Market cap | $454.67M | $242.77M |
| 1-day change | +2.12% | +6.25% |
| YTD return | +39.87% | -59.53% |
| 1-year return | +57.99% | -62.92% |
| 5-year return | -4.94% | -82.28% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.77 | — |
| Forward P/E | 13.50 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.17 | $-2.56 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $17.40 | $22.10 |
| 52-week low | $8.99 | $6.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.14% | -68.46% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +35.88% | +86.51% |
| Average volume | 230.59K | 2.09M |
| Shares outstanding | 30.43M | 34.83M |
| Employees | 4,000 | 23,610 |
| 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 PLAY by 120.9 percentage points over the past year.
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 Dave & Buster's Entertainment
PLAY stock →Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates entertainment and dining venues for adults and families in North America.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 23,610 employees
LOCO vs PLAY FAQ
Which is bigger, El Pollo Loco or Dave & Buster's Entertainment?
El Pollo Loco (LOCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $454.67M compared with $242.77M for Dave & Buster's Entertainment (PLAY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LOCO or PLAY?
LOCO returned +57.99% over the past 12 months, compared with -62.92% for PLAY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are El Pollo Loco and Dave & Buster's Entertainment in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.