El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ: LOCO) CFO receives stock and option awards

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. reported that Chief Financial Officer Ira Fils received new equity compensation on a recent Form 4 filing. He was granted a non-qualified stock option covering 32,626 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $13.32 per share, expiring on March 17, 2036. These options vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date.

Fils also received 15,015 shares of common stock as a restricted stock award that vests in three equal annual installments starting on the first anniversary of the grant. Following this award, his directly owned common stock holdings increased to 127,433 shares.

Insider Trade Summary

2 transactions reported

Mixed 2 txns

Insider Fils Ira

Role CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Non-Qualified Stock Option	32,626	$0.00	--
Grant/Award	COMMON STOCK	15,015	$0.00	--

Holdings After Transaction: Non-Qualified Stock Option — 32,626 shares (Direct); COMMON STOCK — 127,433 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

1. Represents shares of common stock underlying a restricted stock award granted under the Equity Incentive Plan, vesting in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. Granted by a nonqualified stock option agreement under the Equity Incentive Plan, vesting and becoming exercisable in three equal installments on each of the three anniversaries of the date of grant.

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
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hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Fils Ira

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

575 ANTON BLVD., SUITE 1100

(Street)

COSTA MESA CALIFORNIA 92626

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. [ LOCO ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/17/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
COMMON STOCK	03/17/2026		A		15,015(1)	A	$0	127,433	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option	$13.32	03/17/2026		A		32,626		(2)	03/17/2036	Common Stock	32,626	$0	32,626	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents shares of common stock underlying a restricted stock award granted under the Equity Incentive Plan, vesting in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant.

2. Granted by a nonqualified stock option agreement under the Equity Incentive Plan, vesting and becoming exercisable in three equal installments on each of the three anniversaries of the date of grant.

	/s/ Jason Weintraub, Attorney-in-Fact	03/19/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What did El Pollo Loco (LOCO) CFO Ira Fils report on this Form 4?

The Form 4 shows CFO Ira Fils receiving new equity awards. He was granted 32,626 non-qualified stock options and 15,015 restricted shares as compensation, both vesting over three years under the company’s equity incentive plan.

How many El Pollo Loco stock options were granted to the CFO?

Ira Fils was granted 32,626 non-qualified stock options. These options have an exercise price of $13.32 per share, vest in three equal annual installments, and expire on March 17, 2036 if not exercised earlier.

What restricted stock did El Pollo Loco CFO Ira Fils receive?

He received 15,015 shares of common stock as a restricted stock award. These shares vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant, providing time-based incentives tied to continued service.

How did this Form 4 change the CFO’s El Pollo Loco share holdings?

After the restricted stock award, Ira Fils directly holds 127,433 common shares. This reflects the addition of 15,015 newly granted restricted shares, which will vest over three years, increasing his long-term equity exposure to the company.

Are the El Pollo Loco equity awards to the CFO tied to an incentive plan?

Yes. Both the 32,626 stock options and 15,015 restricted shares were granted under the company’s Equity Incentive Plan. Their three-year vesting schedules are designed to align executive compensation with multi-year company performance and retention.