El Pollo Loco (LOCO) vs Papa John's International (PZZA)
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 Papa John's International (PZZA) over the past year, gaining 58.0% versus a loss of 56.5%. Over five years, LOCO leads with a -4.9% price change compared with -84.2% for PZZA. Papa John's International is the larger company by market cap ($637.4 million vs $445.2 million), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, El Pollo Loco trades at a lower forward P/E (13.2x vs 14.5x for Papa John's International). Papa John's International pays a dividend yielding 9.50%, 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 | PZZA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $14.63 | $19.36 |
| Market cap | $445.23M | $637.36M |
| 1-day change | +1.67% | -1.12% |
| YTD return | +39.87% | -49.70% |
| 1-year return | +57.99% | -56.53% |
| 5-year return | -4.94% | -84.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.50 | 24.51 |
| Forward P/E | 13.22 | 14.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.17 | $0.79 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 9.50% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.84 |
| 52-week high | $17.40 | $55.74 |
| 52-week low | $8.99 | $18.92 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.92% | -65.27% |
| Average volume | 231.18K | 1.42M |
| Shares outstanding | 30.43M | 32.92M |
| 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 PZZA by 114.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Papa John's International trades at a higher earnings multiple (24.5x vs 12.5x trailing P/E).
- Papa John's International offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (9.50% vs 0.00%).
LOCO vs PZZA FAQ
Which is bigger, El Pollo Loco or Papa John's International?
Papa John's International (PZZA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $637.36M compared with $445.23M for El Pollo Loco (LOCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LOCO or PZZA?
LOCO returned +57.99% over the past 12 months, compared with -56.53% for PZZA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LOCO or PZZA?
LOCO has the lower trailing P/E at 12.5, versus 24.5 for PZZA. 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 Papa John's International?
Papa John's International pays a dividend yielding 9.50%, while El Pollo Loco does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are El Pollo Loco and Papa John's International in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Restaurants industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.