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 140,000-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 three such stocks:

Company

Today’s Intraday Price

Industry

CAPS Rating (out of 5)

Fools Saying Outperform

Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV)

$1.61

Commercial Banks

2 Stars

190 of 250

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP (NYSE:UNG)

$8.86

Natural Resources Funds

4 Stars

1317 of 1382

Western Refining, Inc. (NYSE:WNR)

$4.50

Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels

5 Stars

913 of 958

Source: Motley Fool CAPS, as of November 19, 2009

Top-rated commercial banks companies:

  • ICICI Bank Limited (ADR) (NYSE:IBN): Stock price is 197% higher than last year.
  • Banco Bradesco S.A. (ADR) (NYSE:BBD): Stock price is 141% higher than last year.

Top-rated natural resources funds companies:

  • Market Vectors Coal (NYSE:KOL): Stock price is 212% higher than last year.
  • SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipt & Servs. (ETF) (NYSE:XES): Stock price is 68% higher than last year.

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