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Side-by-side financial comparison of C3.ai, Inc. (AI) and El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($126.2M vs $75.1M, roughly 1.7× C3.ai, Inc.). El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. runs the higher net margin — 6.5% vs -139.3%, a 145.7% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (5.9% vs -20.3%). Over the past eight quarters, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s revenue compounded faster (1.6% CAGR vs -2.1%).
C3.ai, Inc. is a leading enterprise artificial intelligence software provider that develops and delivers scalable AI applications, platform tools, and industry-specific solutions for clients across sectors including manufacturing, energy, financial services, healthcare and public sector. Its offerings help organizations optimize operations, reduce costs, mitigate risks, and realize data-driven decision making.
El Pollo Loco, Inc., is a restaurant chain based in the United States, specializing in Mexican-style grilled chicken. Restaurant service consists of dine-in and take-out, with some locations offering drive-through options. The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, and operates about 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants in the Southwestern United States.
AI vs LOCO — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q2 FY2026 vs Q1 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $75.1M | $126.2M |
| Net Profit | $-104.7M | $8.2M |
| Gross Margin | 40.4% | — |
| Operating Margin | -149.2% | 9.7% |
| Net Margin | -139.3% | 6.5% |
| Revenue YoY | -20.3% | 5.9% |
| Net Profit YoY | -58.7% | 48.8% |
| EPS (diluted) | $-0.75 | $0.27 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q1 26 | — | $126.2M | ||
| Q4 25 | $75.1M | $123.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $70.3M | $121.5M | ||
| Q2 25 | $108.7M | $125.8M | ||
| Q1 25 | $98.8M | $119.2M | ||
| Q4 24 | $94.3M | $114.3M | ||
| Q3 24 | $87.2M | $120.4M | ||
| Q2 24 | $86.6M | $122.2M |
| Q1 26 | — | $8.2M | ||
| Q4 25 | $-104.7M | $6.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $-116.8M | $7.4M | ||
| Q2 25 | $-79.7M | $7.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-80.2M | $5.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-66.0M | $6.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-62.8M | $6.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-72.9M | $7.6M |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 40.4% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 37.6% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 62.1% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 59.1% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 61.3% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 59.8% | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 59.6% | — |
| Q1 26 | — | 9.7% | ||
| Q4 25 | -149.2% | 8.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | -177.7% | 9.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | -81.8% | 9.0% | ||
| Q1 25 | -88.7% | 7.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | -79.8% | 7.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | -83.2% | 8.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | -95.1% | 10.1% |
| Q1 26 | — | 6.5% | ||
| Q4 25 | -139.3% | 5.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | -166.2% | 6.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | -73.3% | 5.6% | ||
| Q1 25 | -81.2% | 4.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | -69.9% | 5.2% | ||
| Q3 24 | -72.0% | 5.1% | ||
| Q2 24 | -84.2% | 6.2% |
| Q1 26 | — | $0.27 | ||
| Q4 25 | $-0.75 | $0.22 | ||
| Q3 25 | $-0.86 | $0.25 | ||
| Q2 25 | $-0.60 | $0.24 | ||
| Q1 25 | $-0.62 | $0.19 | ||
| Q4 24 | $-0.52 | $0.21 | ||
| Q3 24 | $-0.50 | $0.21 | ||
| Q2 24 | $-0.59 | $0.25 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $675.0M | $3.9M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | — |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $771.9M | $302.5M |
| Total Assets | $961.3M | $609.1M |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | — | $3.9M | ||
| Q4 25 | $675.0M | $6.2M | ||
| Q3 25 | $711.9M | $10.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $742.7M | $9.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $724.3M | $4.3M | ||
| Q4 24 | $730.4M | $2.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $762.5M | $7.9M | ||
| Q2 24 | $750.4M | $10.5M |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $51.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $61.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | — | $69.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $73.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | — | $71.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | — | $76.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | — | $87.0M |
| Q1 26 | — | $302.5M | ||
| Q4 25 | $771.9M | $291.1M | ||
| Q3 25 | $798.8M | $282.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $838.3M | $274.2M | ||
| Q1 25 | $860.2M | $265.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $859.0M | $260.7M | ||
| Q3 24 | $874.9M | $255.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $873.4M | $248.6M |
| Q1 26 | — | $609.1M | ||
| Q4 25 | $961.3M | $606.6M | ||
| Q3 25 | $968.7M | $602.7M | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.0B | $596.8M | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.1B | $590.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.0B | $592.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.1B | $590.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.0B | $593.8M |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 0.18× | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 0.22× | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 0.25× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 0.27× | ||
| Q4 24 | — | 0.27× | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 0.30× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 0.35× |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $-46.5M | — |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $-46.9M | — |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | -62.4% | — |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 0.5% | — |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | — | — |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $-93.2M | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $-46.5M | $13.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $-33.5M | $15.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $11.3M | $14.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-22.0M | $4.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-38.7M | $5.6M | ||
| Q3 24 | $8.0M | $13.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $21.3M | $17.0M |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $-46.9M | $5.1M | ||
| Q3 25 | $-34.3M | $9.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $10.3M | $9.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-22.4M | $1.3M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-39.5M | $1.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $7.1M | $9.1M | ||
| Q2 24 | $18.8M | $10.4M |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | -62.4% | 4.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | -48.8% | 8.2% | ||
| Q2 25 | 9.5% | 7.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | -22.7% | 1.1% | ||
| Q4 24 | -41.9% | 1.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | 8.2% | 7.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 21.7% | 8.5% |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 0.5% | 7.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.1% | 4.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.9% | 4.0% | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.4% | 2.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.9% | 3.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.1% | 3.2% | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.9% | 5.3% |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 2.13× | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 2.08× | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 1.99× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 0.86× | ||
| Q4 24 | — | 0.95× | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 2.11× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 2.22× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
AI
| License And Service | $70.2M | 93% |
| Professional Services | $4.9M | 7% |
LOCO
Segment breakdown not available.
