El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO) Downgraded by StockNews.com to Hold

StockNews.com cut shares of El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Tuesday.

Separately, Truist Financial increased their price target on El Pollo Loco from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd.

El Pollo Loco Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NASDAQ LOCO opened at $13.44 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market cap of $417.98 million, a PE ratio of 16.59 and a beta of 1.50. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $12.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.02. El Pollo Loco has a 52-week low of $8.11 and a 52-week high of $14.25.

El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The restaurant operator reported $0.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.05. El Pollo Loco had a net margin of 5.76% and a return on equity of 10.33%. The company had revenue of $122.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $120.39 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.23 EPS. El Pollo Loco’s revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that El Pollo Loco will post 0.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, major shareholder Sardar Biglari bought 43,161 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 21st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $13.59 per share, for a total transaction of $586,557.99. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 364,731 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,956,694.29. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In the last 90 days, insiders have acquired 189,177 shares of company stock worth $2,483,158. Company insiders own 1.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in El Pollo Loco during the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. CWM LLC raised its holdings in El Pollo Loco by 34.1% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,808 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 969 shares during the last quarter. Paloma Partners Management Co purchased a new position in shares of El Pollo Loco during the 1st quarter worth $106,000. Aigen Investment Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of El Pollo Loco during the fourth quarter worth $111,000. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its stake in El Pollo Loco by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 15,606 shares of the restaurant operator’s stock worth $172,000 after buying an additional 1,090 shares during the last quarter. 81.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About El Pollo Loco

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. It operates and franchises restaurants located in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, and Louisiana. It also licenses its brand to restaurants in the Philippines.