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Side-by-side financial comparison of Certara, Inc. (CERT) 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 ($123.5M vs $103.6M, roughly 1.2× Certara, Inc.). El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. runs the higher net margin — 5.3% vs -5.7%, a 11.0% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (8.1% vs 3.3%). Certara, Inc. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($27.8M vs $5.1M). Over the past eight quarters, Certara, Inc.'s revenue compounded faster (3.6% CAGR vs 3.1%).

Certara is a global leader in biopharmaceutical software and consulting services, specializing in modeling, simulation, and regulatory science solutions. It serves pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms and healthcare stakeholders across all drug development stages, helping accelerate new therapy launches, lower R&D risks and cut overall development costs.

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.

CERT vs LOCO — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
LOCO
LOCO
1.2× larger
LOCO
$123.5M
$103.6M
CERT
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
LOCO
LOCO
+4.8% gap
LOCO
8.1%
3.3%
CERT
Higher net margin
LOCO
LOCO
11.0% more per $
LOCO
5.3%
-5.7%
CERT
More free cash flow
CERT
CERT
$22.7M more FCF
CERT
$27.8M
$5.1M
LOCO
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
CERT
CERT
Annualised
CERT
3.6%
3.1%
LOCO

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Revenue
$103.6M
$123.5M
Net Profit
$-5.9M
$6.5M
Gross Margin
Operating Margin
0.8%
8.3%
Net Margin
-5.7%
5.3%
Revenue YoY
3.3%
8.1%
Net Profit YoY
-189.6%
9.9%
EPS (diluted)
$-0.04
$0.22

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.

Revenue
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$103.6M
$123.5M
Q3 25
$104.6M
$121.5M
Q2 25
$104.6M
$125.8M
Q1 25
$106.0M
$119.2M
Q4 24
$100.4M
$114.3M
Q3 24
$94.8M
$120.4M
Q2 24
$93.3M
$122.2M
Q1 24
$96.7M
$116.2M
Net Profit
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$-5.9M
$6.5M
Q3 25
$1.5M
$7.4M
Q2 25
$-2.0M
$7.1M
Q1 25
$4.7M
$5.5M
Q4 24
$6.6M
$6.0M
Q3 24
$-1.4M
$6.2M
Q2 24
$-12.6M
$7.6M
Q1 24
$-4.7M
$5.9M
Operating Margin
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
0.8%
8.3%
Q3 25
2.9%
9.4%
Q2 25
9.1%
9.0%
Q1 25
7.2%
7.5%
Q4 24
6.0%
7.9%
Q3 24
2.7%
8.4%
Q2 24
-9.7%
10.1%
Q1 24
-1.3%
8.3%
Net Margin
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
-5.7%
5.3%
Q3 25
1.5%
6.1%
Q2 25
-1.9%
5.6%
Q1 25
4.5%
4.6%
Q4 24
6.6%
5.2%
Q3 24
-1.4%
5.1%
Q2 24
-13.5%
6.2%
Q1 24
-4.8%
5.1%
EPS (diluted)
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$-0.04
$0.22
Q3 25
$0.01
$0.25
Q2 25
$-0.01
$0.24
Q1 25
$0.03
$0.19
Q4 24
$0.04
$0.21
Q3 24
$-0.01
$0.21
Q2 24
$-0.08
$0.25
Q1 24
$-0.03
$0.19

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$189.4M
$6.2M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$293.1M
$51.0M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$1.1B
$291.1M
Total Assets
$1.6B
$606.6M
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.28×
0.18×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$189.4M
$6.2M
Q3 25
$172.7M
$10.9M
Q2 25
$162.3M
$9.0M
Q1 25
$179.1M
$4.3M
Q4 24
$179.2M
$2.5M
Q3 24
$233.0M
$7.9M
Q2 24
$224.6M
$10.5M
Q1 24
$224.8M
$9.1M
Total Debt
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$293.1M
$51.0M
Q3 25
$293.5M
$61.0M
Q2 25
$294.2M
$69.0M
Q1 25
$294.8M
$73.0M
Q4 24
$295.4M
$71.0M
Q3 24
$296.1M
$76.0M
Q2 24
$296.7M
$87.0M
Q1 24
$290.8M
$80.0M
Stockholders' Equity
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$1.1B
$291.1M
Q3 25
$1.1B
$282.9M
Q2 25
$1.1B
$274.2M
Q1 25
$1.1B
$265.7M
Q4 24
$1.1B
$260.7M
Q3 24
$1.1B
$255.2M
Q2 24
$1.0B
$248.6M
Q1 24
$1.1B
$256.3M
Total Assets
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$1.6B
$606.6M
Q3 25
$1.5B
$602.7M
Q2 25
$1.5B
$596.8M
Q1 25
$1.6B
$590.5M
Q4 24
$1.6B
$592.0M
Q3 24
$1.5B
$590.0M
Q2 24
$1.5B
$593.8M
Q1 24
$1.5B
$598.0M
Debt / Equity
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
0.28×
0.18×
Q3 25
0.28×
0.22×
Q2 25
0.27×
0.25×
Q1 25
0.27×
0.27×
Q4 24
0.28×
0.27×
Q3 24
0.28×
0.30×
Q2 24
0.28×
0.35×
Q1 24
0.28×
0.31×

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$28.8M
$13.9M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$27.8M
$5.1M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
26.8%
4.1%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
1.0%
7.1%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
2.13×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$94.4M
$25.4M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$28.8M
$13.9M
Q3 25
$32.3M
$15.3M
Q2 25
$17.8M
$14.1M
Q1 25
$17.4M
$4.7M
Q4 24
$49.4M
$5.6M
Q3 24
$17.0M
$13.0M
Q2 24
$9.8M
$17.0M
Q1 24
$4.3M
$11.2M
Free Cash Flow
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
$27.8M
$5.1M
Q3 25
$32.1M
$9.9M
Q2 25
$17.8M
$9.1M
Q1 25
$16.8M
$1.3M
Q4 24
$49.0M
$1.1M
Q3 24
$16.8M
$9.1M
Q2 24
$9.4M
$10.4M
Q1 24
$3.7M
$7.0M
FCF Margin
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
26.8%
4.1%
Q3 25
30.7%
8.2%
Q2 25
17.0%
7.2%
Q1 25
15.8%
1.1%
Q4 24
48.8%
1.0%
Q3 24
17.7%
7.6%
Q2 24
10.1%
8.5%
Q1 24
3.8%
6.0%
Capex Intensity
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
1.0%
7.1%
Q3 25
0.2%
4.4%
Q2 25
0.1%
4.0%
Q1 25
0.6%
2.8%
Q4 24
0.4%
3.9%
Q3 24
0.2%
3.2%
Q2 24
0.5%
5.3%
Q1 24
0.6%
3.6%
Cash Conversion
CERT
CERT
LOCO
LOCO
Q4 25
2.13×
Q3 25
21.19×
2.08×
Q2 25
1.99×
Q1 25
3.66×
0.86×
Q4 24
7.51×
0.95×
Q3 24
2.11×
Q2 24
2.22×
Q1 24
1.89×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

CERT
CERT

Segment breakdown not available.

LOCO
LOCO

Services$102.4M83%
Franchise$13.0M11%
Franchise Advertising Fee$8.1M7%

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