El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. said its normalized net income for the fiscal fourth quarter ended Dec. 30, 2015, came to 16 cents per share, compared with the S&P Capital IQ consensus estimate of 13 cents per share.

EPS increased 21.7% year over year from 13 cents.

Normalized net income, which excludes unusual gains or losses on a pre- and after-tax basis, was $6.4 million, a gain of 19.5% from $5.3 million in the year-earlier period.

The normalized profit margin increased to 7.4% from 5.9% in the year-earlier period.

Total revenue fell on an annual basis to $86.3 million from $90.0 million, and total operating expenses fell year over year to $75.5 million from $78.0 million.

Reported net income increased 18.2% year over year to $5.5 million, or 14 cents per share, from $4.6 million, or 12 cents per share.

For the year, the company's normalized net income totaled 75 cents per share, compared with the S&P Capital IQ consensus normalized EPS estimate of 69 cents.

EPS rose 38.7% from 54 cents in the prior year.

Normalized net income was $29.1 million, a rise of 57.6% from $18.5 million in the prior year.

Full-year total revenue increased year over year to $355.1 million from $344.9 million, and total operating expenses rose on an annual basis to $304.7 million from $296.6 million.

The company said reported net income fell 43.2% on an annual basis to $24.2 million, or 62 cents per share, in the full year, from $42.6 million, or $1.24 per share.