El Pollo Loco (LOCO) vs Portillo's (PTLO)
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 Portillo's (PTLO) over the past year, gaining 60.7% versus a loss of 37.7%. El Pollo Loco is the larger company by market cap ($463.2 million vs $291.5 million), about 1.6 times the size. On valuation, El Pollo Loco trades at a lower forward P/E (13.8x vs 17.3x for Portillo's).
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 | PTLO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $15.22 | $4.02 |
| Market cap | $463.19M | $291.53M |
| 1-day change | +1.87% | +3.08% |
| YTD return | +45.51% | -14.10% |
| 1-year return | +60.72% | -37.70% |
| 5-year return | -1.10% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.01 | 21.16 |
| Forward P/E | 13.75 | 17.27 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.17 | $0.19 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $17.40 | $6.69 |
| 52-week low | $8.99 | $3.29 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.53% | -39.91% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.38% | +51.99% |
| Average volume | 230.88K | 1.37M |
| Shares outstanding | 30.43M | 72.52M |
| Employees | 4,000 | 7,890 |
| 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 PTLO by 98.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Portillo's trades at a higher earnings multiple (21.2x vs 13.0x trailing P/E).
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 Portillo's
PTLO stock →Portillo's Inc. owns and operates fast casual restaurants in the United States.
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants · 7,890 employees
LOCO vs PTLO FAQ
Which is bigger, El Pollo Loco or Portillo's?
El Pollo Loco (LOCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $463.19M compared with $291.53M for Portillo's (PTLO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LOCO or PTLO?
LOCO returned +60.72% over the past 12 months, compared with -37.70% for PTLO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LOCO or PTLO?
LOCO has the lower trailing P/E at 13.0, versus 21.2 for PTLO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are El Pollo Loco and Portillo's in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.