LOCO on Nasdaq
El Pollo Loco
American and Mexican fast food restaurant chains
El Pollo Loco (Spanish for "The Crazy Chicken") is the name of three independent restaurant chains that specialize in Mexican-style grilled chicken. The Mexican and American companies were founded by Juan Francisco Ochoa while the Filipino company began as a franchisee of the American company in 1991 that later broke free of its contract and was allowed to retain its trademarks within the Philippines in 2016.3 From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Last updated Oct 19, 2026.
Overview
1975Founded1
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- TickerLOCO on Nasdaq1
- Industrycasual dining, fast food1
- HeadquartersIrvine1
- Founded inLos Angeles1
- Websitewww.elpolloloco.com
- Legal formDelaware corporation1
- LEI549300EZCBNF4G707K904
- StatusActive4
- LEI statusLapsed (not renewed)4
- Registered addressC/O THE CORPORATION TRUST COMPANY, 19801 Wilmington, United States4
- Registered withDivision of Corporations, Department of State, 40290284
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El Pollo Loco (Spanish for "The Crazy Chicken") is the name of three independent restaurant chains that specialize in Mexican-style grilled chicken. The Mexican and American companies were founded by Juan Francisco Ochoa while the Filipino company began as a franchisee of the American company in 1991 that later broke free of its contract and was allowed to retain its trademarks within the Philippines in 2016.3
Financials
From the company’s reports to the SEC. Every number links to the filing it came from.
Key numbers, fiscal 2025
8.6%Operating margin6
5.4%Net margin6
3.6%Revenue growth, 20256
9.1%Return on equity6
0.18×Debt to equity6
$25.4MFree cash flow6
What sells
Revenue by product, business segment and region, as the company reports it to the SEC.
Products and services
Service brought in 83% of the revenue El Pollo Loco broke down this way in fiscal 2025.
Products and services by year
| Products and services | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service | $398.4M | $396.3M | $405.8M |
| Franchise | $41.0M | $45.6M | $52.4M |
| Franchise Advertising Fee | $29.2M | $31.2M | $31.8M |
Where the money goes
Where each dollar of revenue went, fiscal 2025
- Other costs92¢$452.5M
- Income tax2¢$11.1M
- Profit5¢$26.5M
Out of $490.0M in revenue.6
Where each dollar of operating cash went, fiscal 2025
- Capital spending47¢$22.6M
- Share buybacks4¢$1.8M
- Kept or used elsewhere49¢$23.6M
Out of $48.1M of cash from operations.6
Financial statements
Every line of the income statement as filed: the last 3 fiscal years, latest first.6
| Period ending | 2025-12-31 | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue | $490.0M | $473.0M | $468.7M |
| Food and paper cost | $100.1M | $100.7M | $108.2M |
| Labor and related expenses | $127.3M | $127.2M | $127.2M |
| Occupancy and other operating expenses | $106.4M | $99.3M | $101.4M |
| Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, lost profits, net | -$300.0K | -$327.0K | |
| Company restaurant expenses | $333.7M | $327.2M | $336.6M |
| General and administrative expenses | $50.3M | $46.3M | $42.0M |
| Franchise expenses | $47.8M | $42.3M | $38.4M |
| Depreciation and amortization | $16.0M | $15.7M | $15.2M |
| Loss on disposal of assets | $277.0K | $221.0K | $192.0K |
| Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, property, equipment and expenses | -$41.0K | -$247.0K | |
| Loss (gain) on disposition of restaurants | $7.0K | -$5.0M | |
| Impairment and closed-store reserves | $11.0K | $175.0K | $1.7M |
| Total expenses | $448.0M | $431.8M | $428.9M |
| Income from operations | $42.0M | $41.2M | $39.8M |
| Interest expense, net | $4.5M | $5.9M | $4.8M |
| Income tax receivable agreement (income) expense | -$20.0K | $103.0K | |
| Income before provision for income taxes | $37.6M | $35.3M | $34.9M |
| Provision for income taxes | $11.1M | $9.6M | $9.3M |
| Net income | $26.5M | $25.7M | $25.6M |
| Basic (usd per share) | $0.91 | $0.86 | $0.75 |
| Diluted (usd per share) | $0.90 | $0.86 | $0.74 |
| Basic (shares) | 29.2M shares | 29.9M shares | 34.3M shares |
| Diluted (shares) | 29.4M shares | 30.0M shares | 34.4M shares |
No quarter-by-quarter statement was filed.
Every line of the balance sheet as filed: the last 4 fiscal years (annual) or 4 quarters (quarterly), latest first.6
| Period ending | 2025-12-31 | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 | 2022-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $6.2M | $2.5M | ||
| Accounts and other receivables, net | $11.2M | $9.5M | ||
| Inventories | $1.8M | $1.9M | ||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $6.4M | $5.5M | ||
| Income tax receivable | $493.0K | |||
| Total current assets | $25.6M | $19.9M | ||
| Property and equipment, net | $97.0M | $86.1M | ||
| Property and equipment held under finance lease, net | $1.3M | $1.5M | ||
| "Property and equipment held under operating leases, net (""ROU asset"")" | $168.0M | $170.5M | ||
| Goodwill | $248.7M | $248.7M | ||
| Trademarks | $61.9M | $61.9M | ||
| Deferred tax assets | $187.0K | $336.0K | ||
| Other assets | $4.0M | $3.1M | ||
| Total assets | $606.6M | $592.0M | ||
| Current portion of obligations under finance leases | $142.0K | $170.0K | ||
| Current portion of obligations under operating leases | $17.6M | $19.7M | ||
| Accounts payable | $15.7M | $12.1M | ||
| Accrued salaries and vacation | $11.1M | $13.9M | ||
| Accrued insurance | $12.0M | $11.4M | ||
| Accrued income taxes payable | $1.6M | $2.1M | ||
| Accrued interest | $44.0K | $319.0K | ||
| Current portion of income tax receivable agreement payable | $0 | |||
| Other accrued expenses and current liabilities | $21.0M | $15.9M | ||
| Total current liabilities | $79.1M | $75.7M | ||
| Revolver loan | $51.0M | $71.0M | ||
| Obligations under finance leases, net of current portion | $1.4M | $1.6M | ||
| Obligations under operating leases, net of current portion | $170.8M | $170.5M | ||
| Deferred tax liabilities, net | $7.6M | $6.4M | ||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | $5.6M | $6.2M | ||
| Total liabilities | $315.6M | $331.3M | ||
| Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 29,957,385 and 29,839,721 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and December 25, 2024, respectively | $299.0K | $298.0K | ||
| Additional paid-in-capital | $247.2M | $241.5M | ||
| Retained earnings | $43.6M | $18.9M | ||
| Total stockholders' equity | $291.1M | $260.7M | $250.7M | $281.1M |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $606.6M | $592.0M | ||
| Preferred stock, par value (usd per share) | $0.01 | $0.01 | ||
| Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares) | 100.0M shares | 100.0M shares | ||
| Shares designated as Series A Preferred Stock | 100.0K shares | 100.0K shares | ||
| Preferred stock, shares issued (shares) | 0 shares | 0 shares | ||
| Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares) | 0 shares | 0 shares | ||
| Common stock, par value (usd per share) | $0.01 | $0.01 | ||
| Common stock, shares authorized (shares) | 200.0M shares | 200.0M shares | ||
| Common stock, shares issued (shares) | 30.0M shares | 29.8M shares | ||
| Common stock, shares outstanding (shares) | 30.0M shares | 29.8M shares |
| Period ending | 2025-12-31 | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 | 2022-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $6.2M | $2.5M | ||
| Accounts and other receivables, net | $11.2M | $9.5M | ||
| Inventories | $1.8M | $1.9M | ||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $6.4M | $5.5M | ||
| Income tax receivable | $493.0K | |||
| Total current assets | $25.6M | $19.9M | ||
| Property and equipment, net | $97.0M | $86.1M | ||
| Property and equipment held under finance lease, net | $1.3M | $1.5M | ||
| "Property and equipment held under operating leases, net (""ROU asset"")" | $168.0M | $170.5M | ||
| Goodwill | $248.7M | $248.7M | ||
| Trademarks | $61.9M | $61.9M | ||
| Deferred tax assets | $187.0K | $336.0K | ||
| Other assets | $4.0M | $3.1M | ||
| Total assets | $606.6M | $592.0M | ||
| Current portion of obligations under finance leases | $142.0K | $170.0K | ||
| Current portion of obligations under operating leases | $17.6M | $19.7M | ||
| Accounts payable | $15.7M | $12.1M | ||
| Accrued salaries and vacation | $11.1M | $13.9M | ||
| Accrued insurance | $12.0M | $11.4M | ||
| Accrued income taxes payable | $1.6M | $2.1M | ||
| Accrued interest | $44.0K | $319.0K | ||
| Current portion of income tax receivable agreement payable | $0 | |||
| Other accrued expenses and current liabilities | $21.0M | $15.9M | ||
| Total current liabilities | $79.1M | $75.7M | ||
| Revolver loan | $51.0M | $71.0M | ||
| Obligations under finance leases, net of current portion | $1.4M | $1.6M | ||
| Obligations under operating leases, net of current portion | $170.8M | $170.5M | ||
| Deferred tax liabilities, net | $7.6M | $6.4M | ||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | $5.6M | $6.2M | ||
| Total liabilities | $315.6M | $331.3M | ||
| Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 29,957,385 and 29,839,721 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and December 25, 2024, respectively | $299.0K | $298.0K | ||
| Additional paid-in-capital | $247.2M | $241.5M | ||
| Retained earnings | $43.6M | $18.9M | ||
| Total stockholders' equity | $291.1M | $260.7M | $250.7M | $281.1M |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $606.6M | $592.0M | ||
| Preferred stock, par value (usd per share) | $0.01 | $0.01 | ||
| Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares) | 100.0M shares | 100.0M shares | ||
| Shares designated as Series A Preferred Stock | 100.0K shares | 100.0K shares | ||
| Preferred stock, shares issued (shares) | 0 shares | 0 shares | ||
| Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares) | 0 shares | 0 shares | ||
| Common stock, par value (usd per share) | $0.01 | $0.01 | ||
| Common stock, shares authorized (shares) | 200.0M shares | 200.0M shares | ||
| Common stock, shares issued (shares) | 30.0M shares | 29.8M shares | ||
| Common stock, shares outstanding (shares) | 30.0M shares | 29.8M shares |
Cash flow is reported year to date, not quarter by quarter, so there are no separate quarterly figures.
Every line of the cash flow as filed: the last 3 fiscal years, latest first.6
| Period ending | 2025-12-31 | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net income | $26.5M | $25.7M | $25.6M |
| Depreciation and amortization | $16.0M | $15.7M | $15.2M |
| Stock-based compensation expense | $5.4M | $3.9M | $3.0M |
| Income tax receivable agreement (income) expense | -$20.0K | $103.0K | |
| Fire insurance proceeds for expenses paid and lost profit | $327.0K | ||
| Loss (gain) on disposition of restaurants | $7.0K | -$5.0M | |
| Loss on disposal of assets | $277.0K | $221.0K | $192.0K |
| Gain on recovery of insurance proceeds, property, equipment and expenses, net | -$41.0K | -$247.0K | |
| Impairment of property and equipment and ROU assets | $123.0K | $1.5M | |
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | $195.0K | $197.0K | $201.0K |
| Deferred income taxes, net | $1.4M | -$2.9M | $906.0K |
| Accounts and other receivables | -$1.7M | $677.0K | -$216.0K |
| Inventories | $128.0K | -$27.0K | $531.0K |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | -$860.0K | $125.0K | -$2.0M |
| Income taxes receivable/ payable | -$45.0K | $1.7M | $838.0K |
| Operating lease assets | $20.0M | $19.1M | $19.0M |
| Other assets | -$1.1M | -$232.0K | -$309.0K |
| Accounts payable | $4.8M | -$544.0K | -$4.0M |
| Accrued salaries and vacation | -$2.9M | $4.6M | $459.0K |
| Accrued insurance | $569.0K | -$414.0K | $711.0K |
| Payment related to tax receivable agreement | -$399.0K | -$350.0K | |
| Operating lease liabilities | -$19.3M | -$19.1M | -$19.1M |
| Other accrued expenses and liabilities | -$1.3M | -$1.7M | $3.3M |
| Net cash flows provided by operating activities | $48.1M | $46.8M | $40.7M |
| Proceeds from disposition of restaurants | $100.0K | $7.7M | |
| Proceeds from fire insurance for property and equipment | $41.0K | $163.0K | |
| Purchase of property and equipment | -$22.6M | -$19.1M | -$21.3M |
| Net cash flows used in investing activities | -$22.6M | -$18.9M | -$13.4M |
| Proceeds from borrowings on revolver and swingline loans | $9.0M | $14.0M | $39.0M |
| Payments on revolver and swingline loan | -$29.0M | -$27.0M | -$21.0M |
| Minimum tax withholdings related to net share settlements | -$737.0K | -$440.0K | -$243.0K |
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net of expenses | $1.1M | $1.6M | $1.2M |
| Payment of obligations under finance leases | -$223.0K | -$207.0K | -$158.0K |
| Repurchases of common stock | -$1.8M | -$20.6M | -$59.2M |
| Net cash flows used in financing activities | -$21.7M | -$32.6M | -$40.4M |
| Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | $3.7M | -$4.8M | -$13.2M |
| Cash paid during the period for interest | $4.4M | $5.9M | $4.8M |
| Cash paid during the period for income taxes | $9.7M | $10.4M | $7.7M |
| Unpaid purchases of property and equipment | $8.4M | $4.0M | $5.1M |
| Unpaid repurchases of common stock and excise tax | $204.0K |
No quarter-by-quarter statement was filed.
Leadership
Who has led El Pollo Loco, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.
Chief executive
President
Chief financial officer
Chief operating officer
19801990200020102020
- Chief executive officerElizabeth Goodwin Williams May 20, 2024 to now15
- Chief executive officerMaria Hollandsworth Nov 9, 2023 to Nov 9, 202316
- Chief executive officerLaurance Roberts Nov 12, 2021 to Aug 9, 202317
- Chief executive officerBernard Acoca Mar 15, 2018 to May 14, 202118
- Chief executive officerStephen J. Sather Jul 24, 2014 to May 16, 201619
- PresidentMaria Hollandsworth May 10, 2024 to May 16, 202420
- PresidentLaurance Roberts Aug 10, 2022 to Aug 9, 202321
- PresidentBernard Acoca Mar 15, 2018 to May 14, 202118
- PresidentStephen J. Sather Jul 24, 2014 to May 16, 201619
- Chief financial officerIra Fils Jun 29, 2022 to now22
- Chief financial officerLaurance Roberts Jul 24, 2014 to May 16, 202223
- Chief operating officerMaria Hollandsworth Oct 31, 2022 to now24
- Chief operating officerMiguel Lozano Apr 8, 2019 to May 16, 202225
- Chief operating officerKay Bogeajis Jul 24, 2014 to Apr 4, 201626
Board members and other officers (24)
- OfficerElizabeth Goodwin Williams May 20, 2024 to May 20, 202427
- OfficerIra Fils May 31, 2024 to May 31, 202428
- OfficerMaria Hollandsworth May 31, 2024 to May 31, 202429
- Chief Marketing OfficerHector A. Munoz Dec 6, 2018 to Dec 5, 201930
- VP, OperationsGustavo Siade May 24, 2016 to Dec 19, 201831
- Chief Marketing OfficerEdward Valle Jul 24, 2014 to May 12, 201732
- Board memberRobert D. Wright Jan 6, 2026 to now33
- Board memberTana Davila Jan 6, 2026 to now34
- Board memberFrank Garrido Mar 3, 2026 to now35
- Board memberJoseph G. Taylor Mar 12, 2025 to now36
- Board memberElizabeth Goodwin Williams May 20, 2024 to now15
- Board memberJohn M. Roth Aug 8, 2023 to Aug 8, 202337
- Board memberLaurance Roberts May 16, 2022 to Aug 9, 202338
- Board memberCody Nancy Faginas Dec 21, 2021 to now39
- Board memberDeborah Gonzalez Dec 21, 2021 to now40
- Board memberBernard Acoca May 10, 2019 to May 14, 202141
- Board memberDouglas J. Babb Jan 9, 2018 to now42
- Board memberCarol Lynton Apr 4, 2016 to May 11, 202343
- Board memberWilliam R. Floyd Apr 4, 2016 to now44
- Board memberMark Buller Jun 30, 2015 to now45
- Board memberDean C. Kehler Jul 24, 2014 to Sep 2, 202246
- Board memberSamuel N. Borgese Jul 24, 2014 to now47
- Board memberStephen J. Sather Jul 24, 2014 to May 16, 201619
- Board memberWesley W. Barton Jul 24, 2014 to Jun 30, 201548
Products and brands
- chicken as food
Listed on Wikidata.1
Timeline
- May 20, 2024New chief executive Elizabeth Goodwin Williams becomes CEO15
- Nov 9, 2023New chief executive Maria Hollandsworth becomes CEO16
- Nov 12, 2021New chief executive Laurance Roberts becomes CEO17
- Mar 15, 2018New chief executive Bernard Acoca becomes CEO18
- Jul 24, 2014New chief executive Stephen J. Sather becomes CEO19
- 1975Founded Founded in Los Angeles1
Filings
272 filings to the SEC since October 2021: 5 annual reports, 15 quarterly reports, 52 major events, 127 insider forms, 33 large holders, 40 other. The latest 20:
- Sep 25, 20268-K EDGAR
- Aug 25, 20264 PRIMARY DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Aug 11, 20264 OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Aug 7, 202610-Q EDGAR
- Aug 6, 20268-K EDGAR
- Aug 5, 20264 OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Jul 31, 20264 OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Jul 29, 2026144/A EDGAR
- Jul 21, 20264 OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Jul 16, 20264 OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Jul 14, 20264 OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Jul 6, 20264 OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Jul 2, 2026SCHEDULE 13D/A EDGAR
- Jun 30, 20264 OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT EDGAR
- Jun 26, 2026144 EDGAR
- Jun 1, 20264 EDGAR
- Jun 1, 20264 EDGAR
- May 29, 20268-K EDGAR
- May 28, 20268-K EDGAR
- May 12, 20264 EDGAR
The 272 filings since October 2021 can be filtered by form type and year here when JavaScript is on.
Every filing from the last five years, summarized. The full record is on SEC EDGAR.
Major holders
Investors who own more than 5% of the shares must tell the SEC: a 13D if they may seek to influence the company, a 13G if they hold passively.
- BIGLARI CAPITAL CORP.SCHEDULE 13D/A, 7 filings Jul 28, 2023 to Jul 2, 202649
- CapitalSpring Finance Company, LLCSCHEDULE 13D/A, 4 filings Feb 9, 2024 to Apr 10, 202650
- LSV ASSET MANAGEMENTSCHEDULE 13G/A, 2 filings Feb 6, 2025 to Nov 7, 202551
- WILLIAM BLAIR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLCSCHEDULE 13G/A, 2 filings Feb 12, 2025 to May 9, 202552
- Fund 1 Investments, LLCSCHEDULE 13G/A, 2 filings Nov 14, 2024 to Feb 14, 202553
- DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LPSC 13G/A, 3 filings Feb 8, 2022 to Feb 9, 202454
- FS Capital Partners V, LLCSC 13D/A, 3 filings Sep 2, 2022 to Dec 4, 202355
- CIBC EMPLOYEE PRIVATE EQUITY FUND US I L PSC 13G/A, 2 filings Apr 7, 2023 to Apr 19, 202356
- Blackstone Holdings II L.P.SC 13G, 1 filing Apr 7, 202357
- Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C.SC 13G/A, 2 filings Feb 13, 2023 to Mar 28, 202358
- VANGUARD GROUP INCSC 13G/A, 1 filing Feb 9, 202259
Held by these funds
The largest holders among investment managers' 13F reports for the quarter ending Jun 30, 2026, the top 25 of 100. Change is in shares since the quarter before.
13F reports cover disclosed long positions in U.S. stocks only.
Links
- Websiteelpolloloco.com.mx1
- Websitewww.elpolloloco.com1
- X (Twitter)x.com/ElPolloLoco1
- Facebookwww.facebook.com/ElPolloLoco1
- WikipediaEl Pollo Loco
- WikidataQ2353849
- SEC EDGARCIK 1289729
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataEl Pollo Loco on Wikidata
- 2SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco filings on SEC EDGAR
- 3WikipediaEl Pollo Loco on Wikipedia
- 4
- 5Wikimedia CommonsEl Pollo Loco photo by Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 6SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-K for fiscal 2025
- 7SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-K for fiscal 2019
- 8SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-K for fiscal 2020
- 9SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-K for fiscal 2021
- 10SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-K for fiscal 2022
- 11SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-K for fiscal 2019
- 12SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-Q for fiscal 2026
- 13SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-Q for fiscal 2026
- 14SEC EDGAREl Pollo Loco 10-K for fiscal 2019
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20SEC EDGARMaria Hollandsworth, President
- 21SEC EDGARLaurance Roberts, President
- 22SEC EDGARIra Fils, Chief financial officer
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27SEC EDGARElizabeth Goodwin Williams, Officer
- 28SEC EDGARIra Fils, Officer
- 29SEC EDGARMaria Hollandsworth, Officer
- 30
- 31SEC EDGARGustavo Siade, VP, Operations
- 32
- 33SEC EDGARRobert D. Wright, Board member
- 34SEC EDGARTana Davila, Board member
- 35SEC EDGARFrank Garrido, Board member
- 36SEC EDGARJoseph G. Taylor, Board member
- 37SEC EDGARJohn M. Roth, Board member
- 38SEC EDGARLaurance Roberts, Board member
- 39SEC EDGARCody Nancy Faginas, Board member
- 40SEC EDGARDeborah Gonzalez, Board member
- 41SEC EDGARBernard Acoca, Board member
- 42SEC EDGARDouglas J. Babb, Board member
- 43SEC EDGARCarol Lynton, Board member
- 44SEC EDGARWilliam R. Floyd, Board member
- 45SEC EDGARMark Buller, Board member
- 46SEC EDGARDean C. Kehler, Board member
- 47SEC EDGARSamuel N. Borgese, Board member
- 48SEC EDGARWesley W. Barton, Board member
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
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