The company gave its outlook for the 2015 full year. It expects net income per share, on a pro forma basis, to be in the range of $0.67 to $0.71, as well as growth in comparable restaurant sales in the range of 3% to 5%. There are consensus estimates of $0.68 in EPS and $369.30 million in revenue.
In terms of its segments, both company-owned and franchise restaurants had strong increases in their comparable sales for the fourth quarter. Comparable company-operated restaurant sales increased 6.4%, driven by a 3.3% increase in average check and a 3.1% increase in traffic. Franchise revenue in the fourth quarter increased 18.5% to $5.9 million, from $5.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Franchised comparable restaurant sales increased 8.6% during the quarter.
Steve Sather, president and CEO of El Pollo Loco, said:
Our system-wide comparable restaurant sales growth of 7.6% marked our 14th consecutive quarter of positive comparable restaurant sales growth, as our unique ‘QSR-plus’ positioning, compelling value proposition, and broad menu offerings anchored by our signature fire-grilled chicken, continue to resonate with customers.
Looking ahead El Pollo Loco plans to open 16 new company-owned restaurants and 11 new franchised restaurants in 2015. Sather also commented on the company’s current expansion plans:
Our initial expansion into Texas has gone extremely well and we expect to open 27 new El Pollo Loco restaurants in 2015, including an additional six to eight restaurants in the Houston area.
The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $29.33, which implies upside of 22.2% from Thursday’s close. The highest analyst price target is $34, predicting an upside of 41.7%.
Looking back, the stock initially entered the market at $19, last summer. Shares reached as high as the low-$40s just after the IPO but receded in the following months.
With the gain in the after hours, investors are most likely saying to themselves, “Winner. Winner. Chicken dinner!”
Shares of the crazy chicken closed Thursday up 2.3% at $24.00. Following the release of the earnings report, shares were up 5.8% at $25.39 in after-hours trading. The stock has a post-IPO trading range of $18.48 to $41.70.
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