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Side-by-side financial comparison of NLIGHT, INC. (LASR) 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 $81.2M, roughly 1.5× NLIGHT, INC.). El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. runs the higher net margin — 5.3% vs -6.0%, a 11.3% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, NLIGHT, INC. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (71.3% vs 8.1%). NLIGHT, INC. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($15.9M vs $5.1M). Over the past eight quarters, NLIGHT, INC.'s revenue compounded faster (35.0% CAGR vs 3.1%).
nLight Inc. is a global developer and manufacturer of high-performance semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, and related optical components. Its products serve key segments including industrial precision manufacturing, aerospace and defense, medical equipment, and advanced research, with customers across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
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.
LASR vs LOCO — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q4 FY2025
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $81.2M | $123.5M |
| Net Profit | $-4.9M | $6.5M |
| Gross Margin | 30.7% | — |
| Operating Margin | -6.7% | 8.3% |
| Net Margin | -6.0% | 5.3% |
| Revenue YoY | 71.3% | 8.1% |
| Net Profit YoY | 80.3% | 9.9% |
| EPS (diluted) | $-0.10 | $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.
| Q4 25 | $81.2M | $123.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $66.7M | $121.5M | ||
| Q2 25 | $61.7M | $125.8M | ||
| Q1 25 | $51.7M | $119.2M | ||
| Q4 24 | $47.4M | $114.3M | ||
| Q3 24 | $56.1M | $120.4M | ||
| Q2 24 | $50.5M | $122.2M | ||
| Q1 24 | $44.5M | $116.2M |
| Q4 25 | $-4.9M | $6.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $-6.9M | $7.4M | ||
| Q2 25 | $-3.6M | $7.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-8.1M | $5.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-25.0M | $6.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-10.3M | $6.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-11.7M | $7.6M | ||
| Q1 24 | $-13.8M | $5.9M |
| Q4 25 | 30.7% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 31.1% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 29.9% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 26.7% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.4% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 22.4% | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 23.5% | — | ||
| Q1 24 | 16.8% | — |
| Q4 25 | -6.7% | 8.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | -10.9% | 9.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | -6.9% | 9.0% | ||
| Q1 25 | -18.6% | 7.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | -55.8% | 7.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | -21.0% | 8.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | -25.1% | 10.1% | ||
| Q1 24 | -33.1% | 8.3% |
| Q4 25 | -6.0% | 5.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | -10.3% | 6.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | -5.8% | 5.6% | ||
| Q1 25 | -15.7% | 4.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | -52.7% | 5.2% | ||
| Q3 24 | -18.4% | 5.1% | ||
| Q2 24 | -23.2% | 6.2% | ||
| Q1 24 | -30.9% | 5.1% |
| Q4 25 | $-0.10 | $0.22 | ||
| Q3 25 | $-0.14 | $0.25 | ||
| Q2 25 | $-0.07 | $0.24 | ||
| Q1 25 | $-0.16 | $0.19 | ||
| Q4 24 | $-0.52 | $0.21 | ||
| Q3 24 | $-0.21 | $0.21 | ||
| Q2 24 | $-0.25 | $0.25 | ||
| Q1 24 | $-0.29 | $0.19 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $98.7M | $6.2M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | $51.0M |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $226.7M | $291.1M |
| Total Assets | $315.2M | $606.6M |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | 0.18× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $98.7M | $6.2M | ||
| Q3 25 | $81.1M | $10.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $78.8M | $9.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $82.2M | $4.3M | ||
| Q4 24 | $65.8M | $2.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $41.5M | $7.9M | ||
| Q2 24 | $49.4M | $10.5M | ||
| Q1 24 | $61.3M | $9.1M |
| 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 24 | — | $80.0M |
| Q4 25 | $226.7M | $291.1M | ||
| Q3 25 | $218.5M | $282.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $216.0M | $274.2M | ||
| Q1 25 | $212.8M | $265.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $216.4M | $260.7M | ||
| Q3 24 | $235.3M | $255.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $239.5M | $248.6M | ||
| Q1 24 | $244.4M | $256.3M |
| Q4 25 | $315.2M | $606.6M | ||
| Q3 25 | $298.7M | $602.7M | ||
| Q2 25 | $295.3M | $596.8M | ||
| Q1 25 | $290.0M | $590.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $270.2M | $592.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $291.3M | $590.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $294.3M | $593.8M | ||
| Q1 24 | $302.8M | $598.0M |
| 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× | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 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 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $17.5M | $13.9M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $15.9M | $5.1M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 19.6% | 4.1% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 2.0% | 7.1% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | — | 2.13× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $12.3M | $25.4M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $17.5M | $13.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.2M | $15.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $-1.4M | $14.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-20.0K | $4.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-3.9M | $5.6M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-5.6M | $13.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-4.2M | $17.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $11.4M | $11.2M |
| Q4 25 | $15.9M | $5.1M | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.4M | $9.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $-3.8M | $9.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-2.3M | $1.3M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-6.5M | $1.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-7.2M | $9.1M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-6.4M | $10.4M | ||
| Q1 24 | $9.8M | $7.0M |
| Q4 25 | 19.6% | 4.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | 3.7% | 8.2% | ||
| Q2 25 | -6.1% | 7.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | -4.5% | 1.1% | ||
| Q4 24 | -13.7% | 1.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | -12.9% | 7.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | -12.6% | 8.5% | ||
| Q1 24 | 22.1% | 6.0% |
| Q4 25 | 2.0% | 7.1% | ||
| Q3 25 | 4.2% | 4.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 3.9% | 4.0% | ||
| Q1 25 | 4.4% | 2.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 5.5% | 3.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.9% | 3.2% | ||
| Q2 24 | 4.2% | 5.3% | ||
| Q1 24 | 3.5% | 3.6% |
| 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× | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 1.89× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
LASR
| Aerospaceand Defense | $56.3M | 69% |
| Microfabrication | $14.2M | 18% |
| Industrial | $10.7M | 13% |
LOCO
| Services | $102.4M | 83% |
| Franchise | $13.0M | 11% |
| Franchise Advertising Fee | $8.1M | 7% |
