Circuit City: Price Check, Please

Sometimes, it isn't so great to be first.

As a practical matter, Circuit City (CC Quote) was the first nationwide "big box" category-killing retailer to specialize in consumer electronics, defining a genre that came to be known as the "consumer electronics superstore."

But that was then -- 20 years ago -- and this is now. The stock is trading near its yearly low around $11.50, way off its high of $29.31. That level compares with 1996, although there have been sharp peaks and valleys since then.

So when investors see a good brand go into the tank, I say it's time to look for value. Let's see what we can find. ...