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EX-99.1

2 loco-20260507xex99d1.htm

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

​

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Raises 2026 Full-Year Outlook

​

COSTA MESA, CA – May 7, 2026 – El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LOCO) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for the 13-week period ended April 1, 2026.

Highlights for the first quarter ended April 1, 2026 compared to the first quarter ended March 26, 2025 were as follows:

●Total revenue was $126.2 million compared to $119.2 million.

●System-wide comparable restaurant sales(1) increased by 5.8%.

●Income from operations was $12.2 million compared to $9.0 million.

●Restaurant contribution(1) was $20.4 million, or 19.2% of company-operated restaurant revenue, compared to $15.8 million, or 16.0% of company-operated restaurant revenue.

●Net income was $8.2 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to net income of $5.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share.

●Adjusted net income(1) was $8.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share.

●Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $18.2 million, compared to $13.9 million.

(1)System-wide comparable restaurant sales, restaurant contribution, adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA are not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and are defined under “Definitions of Non-GAAP and other Key Financial Measures” below. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is included in the accompanying financial data. See also “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

“We are proud of our first quarter results, including systemwide same-store sales growth of 5.8% and restaurant-level margin expansion of 320 basis points year-over-year. This performance reflects strength across multiple fronts, from our innovation pipeline - highlighted by the success of our Baja Double Tostadas - to the operational progress we are seeing across every key metric - including customer service, accuracy, and speed of service. It is this broad-based strength that  gives us the confidence to raise our comparable restaurant sales and Adjusted EBITDA guidance expectations for the full year,” said Liz Williams, Chief Executive Officer of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. “As we enter the third year of our brand transformation journey, our goal is to drive sustainable traffic growth across our system while maintaining the margin discipline and unit economic improvements we’ve accomplished to date, and to thoughtfully grow El Pollo Loco across the country.”

First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Company-operated restaurant revenue in the first quarter of 2026 increased to $105.9 million, compared to $98.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to an increase in company-operated comparable restaurant revenue of $5.4 million, or 5.4%, as well as $0.7 million of additional sales from the opening of two restaurants since the first quarter of

2025. The comparable sales increase for company-operated restaurants consisted of a 5.7% increase in average check size, partially offset by a 0.3% decline in transactions.

Franchise revenue in the first quarter of 2026 decreased by 8.8% to $12.0 million from $13.2 million. The decrease was primarily due to $1.9 million in franchisee IT pass through revenue in the prior year related to the franchise rollout of the new Point of Sale (“POS”) system. This decrease was partially offset by the increase in franchise revenue related to 9 franchise-operated restaurant openings during or subsequent to the first quarter of 2025 and by a franchise comparable restaurant sales increase of 6.1%. The franchise comparable restaurant increase consisted of a 4.9% increase in average check size, combined with a 1.1% increase in transactions.

Income from operations in the first quarter of 2026 was $12.2 million, compared to $9.0 million in the first quarter of 2025. Restaurant contribution was $20.4 million, or 19.2% of company-operated restaurant revenue, compared to $15.8 million, or 16.0% of company-operated restaurant revenue in the first quarter of 2025. The increase in restaurant contribution margin was largely due to leverage on the 5.4% sales comparable store sales increase, improved operating efficiencies, and higher menu prices.

For the quarter ending April 1, 2026, general and administrative expenses increased $1.5 million, or 13.6%, from the comparable period in the prior year. The increase for the quarter was primarily due to a $0.6 million received from a legal settlement in the prior year, as well as increased legal fees, outside services, software maintenance and other general and administrative costs. These increases were partially offset by lower shareholder activism expenses.

​

Net income for the first quarter of 2026 was $8.2 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to net income of $5

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC._March 12, 2026 true0001606366false0001606366us-gaap:CommonStockMember2026-03-122026-03-120001606366loco:RightsToPurchaseSeriesPreferredStockParValue0.01PerShareMember2026-03-122026-03-1200016063662026-03-122026-03-12 ​ ​

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549 ​

FORM 8-K

​

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ​ Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 12, 2026 ​

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

​ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) ​ ​

​

​

​ ​ ​

Delaware 001-36556 20-3563182

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

​ ​ ​

​

575 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1100, Costa Mesa, California 92626

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

​ Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (714) 599-5000 N/A

​ (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) ​ Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: ​ ​

​

​

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

LOCO

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Rights to Purchase Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share ​ The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

​ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b- 2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☐ ​

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ ​ ​ ​ Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On March 12, 2026, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing certain financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing. ​ Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits. ​ Exhibit Number ​ ​ Description

99.1 ​ Earnings press release, dated March 12, 2026

104 ​ Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

​ ​ ​

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. ​ ​

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

(Registrant)

​

Date: March 12, 2026

​ ​ Interim Chief Executive Officer and

/s/ Ira Fils

Ira Fils

Chief Financial Officer

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​