When a stock hits a fresh low, it can either signal a dirt cheap dream stock or a dreadful stock to avoid. Separating the wheat from the chaff is difficult, but finding well-run companies at bargain-basement prices is a great way to accumulate a fortune over the long run.

With that in mind, we'll use the aggregate intelligence of the 120,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS to see what the community is saying about stocks hitting 52-week lows today. The community's approval (signified by four- and five-star ratings) could indicate that further research is in order.

Here are two such stocks:

Company

Today’s Intraday Price

Industry

CAPS Rating (out of 5)

Fools Saying Outperform

Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd (NYSE:EXM)

$4.04

Marine

4 Stars

1525 of 1593

Genzyme Corp (NASDAQ:GENZ)

$59.05

Biotechnology

4 Stars

425 of 447

Source: Motley Fool CAPS, as of Dec. 1, 2008.

Top-rated marine companies:

  • International Shipholding Corp (NYSE:ISH): Stock price is 18% lower than last year.
  • Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESEA): Stock price is 73% lower than last year.

Join us on CAPS to learn more about these and countless other interesting stock ideas.