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Side-by-side financial comparison of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (LOCO) and Via Transportation, Inc. (VIA). 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 $118.9M, roughly 1.1× Via Transportation, Inc.). El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. runs the higher net margin — 6.5% vs -18.4%, a 24.9% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Via Transportation, Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (29.7% vs 5.9%).

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.

Via Transportation, Inc. is an American technology company that provides software as a service (SaaS) and operations to improve public transportation networks for cities, transit agencies, schools and universities, healthcare providers, and corporations around the world. Via offers fully managed transit services as well as transportation planning tools, consulting services, operational support, and navigation.

LOCO vs VIA — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
LOCO
LOCO
1.1× larger
LOCO
$126.2M
$118.9M
VIA
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
VIA
VIA
+23.8% gap
VIA
29.7%
5.9%
LOCO
Higher net margin
LOCO
LOCO
24.9% more per $
LOCO
6.5%
-18.4%
VIA

Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Revenue
$126.2M
$118.9M
Net Profit
$8.2M
$-21.9M
Gross Margin
39.5%
Operating Margin
9.7%
40.0%
Net Margin
6.5%
-18.4%
Revenue YoY
5.9%
29.7%
Net Profit YoY
48.8%
-16.1%
EPS (diluted)
$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.

Revenue
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
$126.2M
Q4 25
$123.5M
$118.9M
Q3 25
$121.5M
$109.7M
Q2 25
$125.8M
Q1 25
$119.2M
Q4 24
$114.3M
Q3 24
$120.4M
Q2 24
$122.2M
Net Profit
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
$8.2M
Q4 25
$6.5M
$-21.9M
Q3 25
$7.4M
$-36.9M
Q2 25
$7.1M
Q1 25
$5.5M
Q4 24
$6.0M
Q3 24
$6.2M
Q2 24
$7.6M
Gross Margin
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
Q4 25
39.5%
Q3 25
39.3%
Q2 25
Q1 25
Q4 24
Q3 24
Q2 24
Operating Margin
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
9.7%
Q4 25
8.3%
40.0%
Q3 25
9.4%
-17.2%
Q2 25
9.0%
Q1 25
7.5%
Q4 24
7.9%
Q3 24
8.4%
Q2 24
10.1%
Net Margin
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
6.5%
Q4 25
5.3%
-18.4%
Q3 25
6.1%
-33.6%
Q2 25
5.6%
Q1 25
4.6%
Q4 24
5.2%
Q3 24
5.1%
Q2 24
6.2%
EPS (diluted)
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
$0.27
Q4 25
$0.22
Q3 25
$0.25
$-1.49
Q2 25
$0.24
Q1 25
$0.19
Q4 24
$0.21
Q3 24
$0.21
Q2 24
$0.25

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

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

Metric
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$3.9M
$370.9M
Total DebtLower is stronger
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$302.5M
Total Assets
$609.1M
$733.1M
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
$3.9M
Q4 25
$6.2M
$370.9M
Q3 25
$10.9M
$378.2M
Q2 25
$9.0M
Q1 25
$4.3M
Q4 24
$2.5M
Q3 24
$7.9M
Q2 24
$10.5M
Total Debt
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
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
Stockholders' Equity
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
$302.5M
Q4 25
$291.1M
Q3 25
$282.9M
$574.6M
Q2 25
$274.2M
Q1 25
$265.7M
Q4 24
$260.7M
Q3 24
$255.2M
Q2 24
$248.6M
Total Assets
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
$609.1M
Q4 25
$606.6M
$733.1M
Q3 25
$602.7M
$702.1M
Q2 25
$596.8M
Q1 25
$590.5M
Q4 24
$592.0M
Q3 24
$590.0M
Q2 24
$593.8M
Debt / Equity
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
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
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$-455.0K
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
Q4 25
$13.9M
$-455.0K
Q3 25
$15.3M
$-30.4M
Q2 25
$14.1M
Q1 25
$4.7M
Q4 24
$5.6M
Q3 24
$13.0M
Q2 24
$17.0M
Free Cash Flow
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
Q4 25
$5.1M
Q3 25
$9.9M
$-31.8M
Q2 25
$9.1M
Q1 25
$1.3M
Q4 24
$1.1M
Q3 24
$9.1M
Q2 24
$10.4M
FCF Margin
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
Q4 25
4.1%
Q3 25
8.2%
-29.0%
Q2 25
7.2%
Q1 25
1.1%
Q4 24
1.0%
Q3 24
7.6%
Q2 24
8.5%
Capex Intensity
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
Q1 26
Q4 25
7.1%
Q3 25
4.4%
1.2%
Q2 25
4.0%
Q1 25
2.8%
Q4 24
3.9%
Q3 24
3.2%
Q2 24
5.3%
Cash Conversion
LOCO
LOCO
VIA
VIA
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.

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