El Pollo Loco Valuation Multiples

McDonald’s is the world’s largest restaurant brand, with nearly $131 billion in systemwide sales across more than 44,000 restaurants and over 100 markets. The quick-service chain built its early reputation on speed, consistency, and affordable hamburgers, and today its global menu spans burgers, chicken, breakfast, and beverages that have helped popularize American fast-food cuisine worldwide. The firm derives the bulk of its revenue from franchise royalties and rent (about 61%), with the remainder stemming from company-operated restaurants across three segments: the United States (41% of systemwide sales), international operated markets (34%), and international developmental/licensed markets (25%).

Starbucks stands out as the world's biggest and most recognizable coffee brand, powered by ultracustomizable beverages in-store and a sweeping footprint of nearly 41,000 cafes in over 80 countries. About 52% are company-operated, with the balance run by licensees. The company operates roasteries and sells across its North America (74% of revenue as of the end of fiscal 2025), international (21%), and channel development (5%) segments. The brand collects revenue from company-operated stores, licensee royalties, equipment and product sales, retail ready-to-drink beverages, and packaged coffee.

Compass Group is the largest foodservice company globally, operating in 30 countries and generating annual sales exceeding $30 billion. Compass' model is to operate on-premises catering facilities, rather than centralized industrial kitchens. Foodservice is Compass' focus and contributes more than 85% of revenue. Compass also has its own group purchasing organization, Foodbuy, which is responsible for over $30 billion in annual spending in the US. The company also provides premium support services to clients.

As of the end of 2024, Yum Brands generated over $65 billion in systemwide sales from more than 61,000 restaurants across 155 markets, making it the world’s second-largest restaurant firm by dollar sales. Its portfolio includes KFC (31,981 stores), Pizza Hut (20,225), Taco Bell (8,757), and Habit Burger (383), with 70% of locations in international markets. As 98% of its portfolio is franchised, Yum’s business model is tilted toward recurring franchise royalties and marketing contributions (66% of revenue), with the balance derived from sales at company-owned locations. The company traces its roots to a 1997 spinoff of PepsiCo’s restaurant assets.

Chipotle is a leading fast-casual, Mexican-inspired restaurant chain, generating $11.3 billion in sales across 3,644 company-operated US locations, 82 international units primarily in Canada and Europe, and three licensed stores operated with Alshaya Group in the Middle East at the end of 2024. The firm’s revenue is primarily driven by food and beverage sales at its company-owned restaurants, supplemented by delivery fees generated through its first-party digital channels. Chipotle emphasizes ingredients with no artificial flavors and utilizes an efficient, assembly-line service model to serve mainly customizable burritos, bowls, salads, quesadillas, and tacos.

Restaurant Brands generates about $44 billion in system sales across more than 32,000 restaurants in over 120 markets, making it one of the largest restaurant companies globally. Its banners include Burger King (7,082 stores), Tim Hortons (4,539), Popeyes (3,520), and Firehouse Subs (1,345), concentrated in the US and Canada, with these brands also comprising 15,639 franchised international locations as of year-end 2024. The firm primarily earns revenue from franchise and property fees, supply chain sales within the Tim Hortons segment, company-operated restaurants, and advertising royalties.

Restaurant Brands International LP is a Canada-based firm. It owns, operates and franchises quick-service restaurants and possesses market recognition. The company has five segments Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), Firehouse Subs( FHS), Restaurant Holdings (RH) and International (INTL). It derives maximum profit from the Tim Hortons segment.

Darden Restaurants is the largest restaurant operator in the US full-service space, with consolidated revenue of $12.1 billion in fiscal 2025. The company maintains a portfolio of 11 restaurant brands: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Burger, and Chuy's. Darden generates revenue almost exclusively from company-owned restaurants, though a small network of franchised restaurants and consumer-packaged goods sales through the traditional grocery channel contribute modestly. At the end of fiscal 2025, the company operated 2,159 restaurants in the US.

Yum China is the largest restaurant operator in China, with over 18,000 locations and USD 12 billion in systemwide sales as of 2025. It generates revenue primarily from its own restaurants and franchise fees. While KFC and Pizza Hut are its flagship brands, Yum China's portfolio also includes Little Sheep, Taco Bell, Huang Ji Huang, and Lavazza. As a trademark licensee of Yum Brands, Yum China pays 3% of KFC and Pizza Hut's systemwide sales to its former parent, from which it spun off in 2016. However, even before the separation, Yum China was granted substantial autonomy, giving its Chinese leadership decision-making authority over menu, supply chain, and marketing—an unusual practice for Western chains at the time.

Texas Roadhouse Inc is a restaurant company operating predominantly in the casual dining segment. The company manages its restaurant and franchising operations by concept and, as a result, has identified Texas Roadhouse, Bubba’s 33, Jaggers, and retail initiatives as separate operating segments. In addition, it has identified Texas Roadhouse and Bubba's 33 as reportable segments. Maximum revenue for the company is generated from the Texas Roadhouse segment, which is a moderately priced, full-service, casual dining restaurant concept offering steaks, a selection of ribs, seafood, chicken, pork chops, pulled pork, vegetable plates, and an assortment of hamburgers, salads, and sandwiches.

Domino's is the world's largest pizza chain, surpassing $19 billion in system sales with over 21,300 stores across more than 90 markets at the end of 2024. Around 33% of its units are in the US. The business is 99% franchised. Domino's operates through three segments: supply chain (60% of revenue), US stores (33%), and international franchises (7%). The firm generates the bulk of its revenue by supplying food to stores in the US and Canada through a vertically integrated network of 25 manufacturing and supply chain facilities, which primarily produce and distribute dough, and collecting brand royalties and marketing fees from franchisees. Domino's also generates revenue from sales at company-owned stores.

Indian Hotels Co Ltd is an owner and operator of hotels and resorts, domiciled in India. The company operates its hotels and resorts under the Taj, Vivanta, Ginger, Seleqtions, and other brands. Indian Hotels reports revenue across the following business lines: room income; food, restaurants, and banquet income; membership fees; management and operating fees; and others. Room income contributes a majority to the company's revenue, followed by food, restaurants, and banquet income. Indian Hotels derives the majority of its revenue domestically.

Luckin Coffee Inc is a China based company engaged in operation of coffee stores. It sources its Arabica coffee beans from various suppliers and engage World Barista Champion teams to design its coffee recipes. The company also has partnered with suppliers for other products such as juices and light meals.

Cava Group Inc owns and operates a chain of restaurants. It operates a Mediterranean-inspired fast-casual restaurant brand offering menu items. The company's dips, spreads, and dressings are centrally produced and sold in grocery stores. The company's operations are conducted as two reportable segments: i) CAVA: It includes the operations of all company-owned CAVA restaurants, and ii) CAVA Foods: It includes the production of dips, spreads, and certain dressing bases used in CAVA restaurants as well as sales from the Company's consumer packaged goods business. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the CAVA segment.

Haidilao, founded in Sichuan in 1998, is a prominent Chinese hot pot restaurant operator. Following the spinoff of its international unit Super Hi, Haidilao now focuses solely on managing restaurants in Greater China.By the end of 2024, the chain operated over 1,300 stores in Greater China, generating more than CNY 40 billion in systemwide sales, making it one of the largest restaurant operators in China. The majority of its restaurants are company-owned, with only a small fraction franchised.

Zensho Holdings Co Ltd is a Japan-based company engaged management of food service chain restaurants and the development of sales systems and food processing systems. It operates a wide range of food-related businesses through segments including Global Sukiya, Global Hama Sushi, Global Fast Food, Restaurant, and Retail. The group manages the domestic and international expansion of the beef bowl chain Sukiya and the sushi chain Hamazushi, develops various fast-food businesses, operates restaurants in Japan and overseas, and manages supermarkets and related retail operations.

Food & Life Companies Ltd owns and operates a revolving sushi-style restaurant chain. The company operates under the Sushiro brand. It has operations in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand.

Dutch Bros Inc is an operator and franchisor of drive-thru coffee shops that are focused on serving hand-crafted beverages. The company's hand-crafted beverage-focused lineup features hot and cold espresso-based beverages, cold brew coffee products, proprietary energy drinks, tea, lemonade, smoothies, and other beverages. The company has two reportable operating segments Company-operated shops and Franchising. It derives maximum revenue from Company-operated shops.

Guming Holdings Ltd is a company in China. It operates under a franchise model under the Good Me brand. The Good Me stores offer three categories of beverages: Fruit tea beverages, Milk tea beverages, Coffee beverages, and others. It is principally engaged in the operation of a franchised retail network and the trading of ingredients and other related products of freshly-made beverages and equipment.

McDonald's Holdings Co (Japan) Ltd has a license to operate McDonald’s fast-food restaurants in Japan. It is engaged in the operation and management of hamburger restaurant chains under the McDonald’s brand. The company pays royalties for licensed rights and, in Japan, provides sub-licenses for its know-how and trademarks to franchisees operating its franchise restaurants, from whom it earns royalty income.

Brinker International Inc operates casual dining restaurants under the brand's Chili Grill and Bar (Chili's) and Maggiano's Little Italy (Maggiano's). Chili's falls in the Bar and Grill category of casual dining. Its menu features Fresh Mex and Fresh Tex favorites including signature items such as slow-smoked baby back ribs, craft burgers, fajitas, and bottomless chips and salsa paired with tableside guacamole. Maggiano's is an Italian restaurant brand with a full lunch and dinner menu offering chef-prepared, such as appetizers, chicken, seafood, veal and prime steaks, and desserts. The company generates maximum revenue from Chili's segment.

Americana Restaurants International PLC is a diversified, pan-regional restaurant platform operator. It operates iconic brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Hardee's, Krispy Kreme, and TGI Fridays, along with proprietary brands such as Wimpy and Chicken Tikka. The company operates restaurants under a portfolio of different brands across key consumer verticals and occasions, including key Quick Service Restaurant categories (chicken, burger, and pizza), fast casual, casual dining, indulgence, and coffee concepts. Its reportable business segments are: the main Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which include KSA, Kuwait, and UAE, Lower Gulf countries (comprising Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain), North Africa (Egypt and Morocco), and Others (Kazakhstan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan).

Skylark Holdings Co Ltd is engaged in the restaurant business through its group of brands, including Gusto, Bamiyan, Shabu-Yo, Jonathan’s, Yumean, Steak Gusto, and Sukesan. The company operates a single reportable segment, the Restaurant Business, which provides table service to general consumers through various restaurant formats. The business involves sourcing, cooking, and delivering ingredients to stores, maintaining similar economic characteristics across its operations.

An investment in wide-moat-rated Endeavour Group provides investors with exposure to one of the most well entrenched dividend-paying businesses in the Australian retail landscape. Following decades of enduring organic growth through store rollouts, Endeavour's off-premises retail segment—with more than 1,700 retail outlets mainly across its Dan Murphy's and BWS brands—accounts for approximately half of all off-premises retail liquor sales within Australia. Endeavour's immense scale in the off-premises retail segment is unrivalled within Australia. Indeed, Endeavour's sales are almost three times larger than its nearest retail competitor, Coles.

Wingstop is a fast casual restaurant concept built around a simple chicken-centric menu. The firm primarily offers bone-in and boneless wings, tenders, and a chicken sandwich, customizable across 12 flavors. The banner generated $4.8 billion in system sales in 2024 across 2,563 units, with 86% located in the US. Wingstop largely operates as a franchisor, with 98% of units franchised, and earns revenue largely from collecting royalties and advertising fees paid by franchisees, with a smaller contribution from company-owned restaurant sales.

The Cheesecake Factory Inc is a restaurant company that owns and operates multiple casual dining brands across the United States and Canada under brands that include The Cheesecake Factory, North Italia, Flower Child, and additional brands within its Fox Restaurant Concepts portfolio. The company's international presence, in the Middle East and Mexico, is through licensing agreements with third parties. The company also has a bakery division that produces cheesecakes and other baked products for sale in its restaurants, international licensees, and third-party bakery customers. The company has four operating business segments: The Cheesecake Factory restaurants, North Italia, Other FRC, and Other. The majority of the company's revenue comes from the Cheesecake Factory restaurants segment.

Jubilant Foodworks Ltd with its subsidiaries, operates as a food service company. It develops and operates quick services restaurants under the Domino’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hong’s Kitchen, Popeyes, and COFFY brand names in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Shake Shack Inc is a roadside burger stand. It serves a classic American menu of premium burgers, hot dogs, crispy chicken, frozen custard, crinkle-cut fries, shakes, beer, wine and more. The company's burgers are made with a whole-muscle blend of all-natural, hormone and antibiotic-free Angus beef, ground fresh daily, cooked to order, and served on a non-genetically modified organism (GMO) potato bun. Its menu focuses on food and beverages, crafted from a range of classic American foods. The company serves draft Root Beer, seasonal freshly-squeezed lemonade, organic fresh brewed iced tea, cold brew coffee, organic apple juice, and Shack20 bottled water.

Jollibee Foods Corp is engaged in operating and franchising quick-service restaurants. The company has three business segments; The food service segment is involved in the operations of QSRs and the manufacture of food, products to be sold to JFC Group-owned and franchised QSR outlets, The franchising segment is involved in the franchising of the JFC Group’s QSR store concepts, and The support services segment is involved in providing various services mainly to the Jollibee Group’s independent franchisees. The group’s geographical segments are based on the location of the assets producing revenues in the Philippines and in other locations which include PRC, USA, Canada, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, UK, UAE, Hongkong, Macau, Brunei, Taiwan, and Australia.

Alsea SAB de CV operates and franchises thousands of restaurants in Mexico, South America, and Spain. The majority of its restaurants are international brands that the company operates under license or as a franchisee. Its brands are Starbucks, Burger King, and Domino's Pizza, which collectively provide nearly 60% of the company's total revenue and total number of stores. The company's proprietary brands include Vips, El Porton, and Foster's Hollywood. Alsea generates more than half of its revenue in Mexico, while the remaining revenue is split roughly evenly between South America and Spain.

Greggs PLC is a U.K.-based company that is principally engaged in manufacturing, distributing, and retailing bakery goods, sandwiches, and drinks under the Greggs brand. The company focuses on the food-on-the-go market. It has a vertically integrated supply network, with its bakeries & delivery network. Greggs operates in two segments: Company-managed retail activities which generates key revenue, and B2B channels. Its shops are located in retail & industrial parks, motorway service stations, and travel hubs, to meet the demands of busy customers.

Toridoll Holdings Corp owns and operates more than 1,000 restaurants Japan. Toridoll has several different restaurant brands, but most are similar in serving Japanese or other Asian cuisine and using an open-kitchen concept where customers can see the food as it is prepared. Toridoll’s primary brand is Marugame Seimen, which specializes in Sanuki udon and accounts for more than 85% of the company’s total sales. Marugame Seimen has nearly 800 locations in Japan and more than 100 locations in a dozen other countries. Other significant brands in Japan include Toridoll, Nagata Honjo-ken, and Marusho-ya. Significant brands outside Japan include Wok to Walk, Tokyo Table, and Boat Noodle.

Create Restaurants Holdings Inc develops, manages, and franchises a variety of food-service brands and formats that fall into categories ranging from casual food courts and ramen to Japanese-style bars and dinnertime restaurants. The company has nearly 800 restaurants operating under nearly 200 different brands that typically offer Japanese, Western, or Chinese cuisines. The vast majority of the company's revenue is generated in Japan. Some of the company's notable brands are Isomaru-Suisan, Kissho, Tanto Tanto, Tsukemen Tetsu, and Hina Sushi.

Mitchells & Butlers PLC operates and manages pubs and pub restaurants in the United Kingdom and Germany. The group's properties operate under the brands Vintage Inns, Stonehouse, Toby Carvery, Harvester, Sizzling Pub Co., All Bar One, Ember Inns, and others. Its geographic segments include the UK and Germany of which it generates the majority of its revenue from the UK.

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc operates McDonald's branded restaurants in various countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Company manages its business as distinct geographic segments and its operations are divided into three geographic divisions, as follows: Brazil, the North Latin American division, or NOLAD, which is comprised of Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas and the South Latin American division, or SLAD, which is comprised of Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba and Curacao. Their menu includes hamburgers, McNuggets, salad, sandwiches, French fries, and others.

SSP Group PLC operates food and beverage units in travel locations such as airports and railway stations. Units range from coffee shops and sandwich bars to casual and fine-dining restaurants. Its units operate under more than 300 different brand names, including both proprietary brands and franchised brands, such as Starbucks and Burger King. Its segments include the UK and Ireland, Continental Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe & Middle East (APAC & EEME).

Ziyan Foods Group Co Ltd is engaged in the research and development, production and sales of braised food.

Saizeriya Co Ltd operates more than 1,000 casual Italian-style restaurants in Japan and close to another 300 of those restaurants in other Southeast Asian countries, particularly China. Saizeriya has a vertically integrated manufacturing and sales system that covers all stages from raw material purchasing and processing to restaurant service. Its business includes farms and factories in Japan, Australia, and Italy to grow vegetables and process meat and dairy. More than three fourths of the company's sales come from restaurants in Japan.

Travel Food Services Ltd is a player in the fast-growing Indian airport travel quick service restaurant (Travel QSR) and lounge sector. Its Travel QSR business comprises a range of curated food and beverage (F&B) concepts across cuisines, brands and formats, which have been adapted to cater to customers’ demands for speed and convenience within travel environments. Its Lounge business comprises designated areas within airport terminals, accessible by first and business class passengers, members of airline loyalty programmes, select credit card and debit card holders and members of other loyalty programmes. The company had approximately had 37 Lounges across India, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

TAB Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret AS operates a chain of retail stores offering food and drinks for on-premise immediate consumption. The firm offers a range of brands of fast food including Burger King, Popeyes, Arby, Sbarro, Usta Donerci, Doner Stop, Usta Pideci, and Subway.

Devyani International Ltd is a franchisee of Yum Brands in India and is among the largest operators of a quick-service restaurant chain (QSR chain), operating around 1,243 stores across 155 cities in India. Companies products includes PizzaHut, KFC, Costa Coffee, Vaang.o, The Food Street, and more. Geographically, operates domestically and internationally, with the majority of revenue from India.

The Wendy's Co is engaged in operating, developing, and franchising a system of distinctive quick-service restaurants serving high-quality food. The company operates through Wendy's U.S., Wendy's International, and Global Real Estate & Development. Wendy's U.S. and Wendy's International include the operation and franchising of restaurants and derive revenues from sales at company-operated restaurants, as well as royalties, franchise fees, and advertising fund collections from franchised restaurants. Global Real Estate & Development includes real estate activities for owned and leased sites that are leased or subleased to franchisees and includes the company's share of income from its Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture.

Guzman y Gomez is a Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant operator and franchisor. Most stores are in Australia. Underpinning the company’s growth outlook is an ambitious plan to reach a network of more than 1000 Australian stores over the next 20-plus years. At the end of fiscal 2025, its footprint stood at a around 200. Guzman also has a nascent presence in Singapore and Japan through master franchise agreements and runs a handful of corporate-owned restaurants in the US.

Yoshinoya Holdings Co Ltd owns, operates, and franchises thousands of restaurants primarily in Japan. The company has five business segments: Yoshinoya, a restaurant brand that serves gyudon and other fast food and accounts for roughly half of the company's sales; Hanamaru, a self-service sanuki udon restaurant brand; Arcmeal, which operates Steak-no-Don, Shabu Shabu Don-tei, Steak House Volks, and Don Italiano restaurants; Kyotaru, which operates takeout sushi and rotary sushi restaurants called Sushi Misaki Maru, Kaisen Misakiko, and Kyotaru; and Overseas, which operates primarily Yoshinoya restaurants in China, the United States, Thailand, and Malaysia. The company has roughly 2,000 stores in Japan and nearly 700 outside Japan.

Colowide Co Ltd is a Japan-based company which primarily operates restaurant chains. The company is involved in the management and operation of taverns and karaoke pubs, and Japanese and Italian cuisines. The company is mainly engaged in the management of restaurants, stocking and processing sales of various foodstuffs, sales of cigarettes and liquors, management of Karaoke rooms, among others.

Guangzhou Restaurant Group Co Ltd is a catering service and food production company. Its catering brands include Guangzhou Restaurant, Tianji and Westernland, Good and tangible, food brand Likoufu and Autumn Wind, with Guangzhou restaurant and food restaurants, Western-style Western-style light meals, good and tangible fusion restaurant, large food processing base and more than 160 Home food chain cake house.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises operates fast-food pizza outlets and franchise service. The company holds the exclusive master franchise rights for the Domino's brand and network in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Cambodia, and the Netherlands. The Domino's brand is owned by NYSE-listed Domino's Pizza Inc.

Sweetgreen Inc is a mission-driven, next-generation restaurant and lifestyle brand that serves healthy food at scale. Its bold vision is to be as ubiquitous as traditional fast food, but with the transparency and quality that consumers increasingly expect. It is creating plant-forward, seasonal, and earth-friendly meals from fresh ingredients and produce that prioritizes organic, regenerative, and local sourcing.