Despite stock volatility, restaurant valuations still highDespite stock volatility, restaurant valuations still high

Volatility has become the norm again on Wall Street over the past several months. The market struggled at the end of 2015 and started off 2016 with its worst first week in well over a decade.

While stocks have recovered some, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down more than 4 percent as of late February amid concerns about low oil prices, the strong dollar and the direction of the global economy.

That drop has taken many restaurant companies with it. Stock prices for publicly traded restaurant chains have come down in the early part of 2016, with several companies reaching fresh, new 52-week lows in January and February.

This environment will likely impact the broader market for restaurant mergers and acquisitions, as well as the financin...