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Side-by-side financial comparison of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) and Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc (PAL). 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 $91.5M, roughly 1.3× Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc). El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. runs the higher net margin — 5.3% vs -1.5%, a 6.8% gap on every dollar of revenue.

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.

Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc. is a specialized automotive sector logistics provider. It offers tailored solutions including finished vehicle transport, auto parts storage and distribution, and supply chain support for automotive industry stakeholders, prioritizing reliable, efficient service delivery.

LOCO vs PAL — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
LOCO
LOCO
1.3× larger
LOCO
$123.5M
$91.5M
PAL
Higher net margin
LOCO
LOCO
6.8% more per $
LOCO
5.3%
-1.5%
PAL

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q3 FY2024

Metric
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Revenue
$123.5M
$91.5M
Net Profit
$6.5M
$-1.4M
Gross Margin
Operating Margin
8.3%
-2.4%
Net Margin
5.3%
-1.5%
Revenue YoY
8.1%
Net Profit YoY
9.9%
EPS (diluted)
$0.22
$-0.05

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
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$123.5M
Q3 25
$121.5M
Q2 25
$125.8M
Q1 25
$119.2M
Q4 24
$114.3M
Q3 24
$120.4M
$91.5M
Q2 24
$122.2M
Q1 24
$116.2M
Net Profit
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$6.5M
Q3 25
$7.4M
Q2 25
$7.1M
Q1 25
$5.5M
Q4 24
$6.0M
Q3 24
$6.2M
$-1.4M
Q2 24
$7.6M
Q1 24
$5.9M
Operating Margin
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
8.3%
Q3 25
9.4%
Q2 25
9.0%
Q1 25
7.5%
Q4 24
7.9%
Q3 24
8.4%
-2.4%
Q2 24
10.1%
Q1 24
8.3%
Net Margin
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
5.3%
Q3 25
6.1%
Q2 25
5.6%
Q1 25
4.6%
Q4 24
5.2%
Q3 24
5.1%
-1.5%
Q2 24
6.2%
Q1 24
5.1%
EPS (diluted)
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$0.22
Q3 25
$0.25
Q2 25
$0.24
Q1 25
$0.19
Q4 24
$0.21
Q3 24
$0.21
$-0.05
Q2 24
$0.25
Q1 24
$0.19

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

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

Metric
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$6.2M
$16.8M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$51.0M
$64.0M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$291.1M
$338.5M
Total Assets
$606.6M
$498.2M
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.18×
0.19×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$6.2M
Q3 25
$10.9M
Q2 25
$9.0M
Q1 25
$4.3M
Q4 24
$2.5M
Q3 24
$7.9M
$16.8M
Q2 24
$10.5M
Q1 24
$9.1M
Total Debt
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$51.0M
Q3 25
$61.0M
Q2 25
$69.0M
Q1 25
$73.0M
Q4 24
$71.0M
Q3 24
$76.0M
$64.0M
Q2 24
$87.0M
Q1 24
$80.0M
Stockholders' Equity
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$291.1M
Q3 25
$282.9M
Q2 25
$274.2M
Q1 25
$265.7M
Q4 24
$260.7M
Q3 24
$255.2M
$338.5M
Q2 24
$248.6M
Q1 24
$256.3M
Total Assets
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$606.6M
Q3 25
$602.7M
Q2 25
$596.8M
Q1 25
$590.5M
Q4 24
$592.0M
Q3 24
$590.0M
$498.2M
Q2 24
$593.8M
Q1 24
$598.0M
Debt / Equity
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
0.18×
Q3 25
0.22×
Q2 25
0.25×
Q1 25
0.27×
Q4 24
0.27×
Q3 24
0.30×
0.19×
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
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$13.9M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$5.1M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
4.1%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
7.1%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
2.13×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$25.4M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$13.9M
Q3 25
$15.3M
Q2 25
$14.1M
Q1 25
$4.7M
Q4 24
$5.6M
Q3 24
$13.0M
Q2 24
$17.0M
Q1 24
$11.2M
Free Cash Flow
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
$5.1M
Q3 25
$9.9M
Q2 25
$9.1M
Q1 25
$1.3M
Q4 24
$1.1M
Q3 24
$9.1M
Q2 24
$10.4M
Q1 24
$7.0M
FCF Margin
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
4.1%
Q3 25
8.2%
Q2 25
7.2%
Q1 25
1.1%
Q4 24
1.0%
Q3 24
7.6%
Q2 24
8.5%
Q1 24
6.0%
Capex Intensity
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
Q4 25
7.1%
Q3 25
4.4%
Q2 25
4.0%
Q1 25
2.8%
Q4 24
3.9%
Q3 24
3.2%
Q2 24
5.3%
Q1 24
3.6%
Cash Conversion
LOCO
LOCO
PAL
PAL
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

LOCO
LOCO

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

PAL
PAL

Segment breakdown not available.

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