Here's What Key Metrics Tell Us About El Pollo Loco (LOCO) Q4 Earnings

El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO) reported $114.28 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.8%. EPS of $0.20 for the same period compares to $0.16 a year ago.The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.00% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $113.15 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.13, the EPS surprise was +53.85%.While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.Here is how El Pollo Loco performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Revenue- Franchise advertising fee revenue: $7.43 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $7.36 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +1.4%. Revenue- Franchise revenue: $11.23 million versus $11.17 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +2.5% change. Revenue- Company-operated restaurant revenue: $95.62 million compared to the $94.62 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1.8% year over year. View all Key Company Metrics for El Pollo Loco here>>>Shares of El Pollo Loco have returned -14.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -3.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and SellsWe're not kidding.Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent.Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators,and more, that closed 256 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2024 alone.See Stocks Now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks