By Stockpickr Staff
Updated at 1:56 p.m. on March 26, 2009

The S&P 500 is off roughly 48% since its October 2007 peak of 1,550, signaling the worst bear-market since 1933. But there are always stocks and companies that buck the prevailing trend of analyst and investor estimates, both on the upside and downside.

Even in this volatile market, this includes stocks making 52-week highs and 52-week lows .

Let's take a closer look at a few of these stocks.

52-Week Highs

Monro Muffler Brake (MNRO): This automotive repair company, which hit a 52-week high on Monday, has had a 52-week trading range of $14.85 to $27.48 and on Thursday afternoon was trading up 21 cents at $27.36. Its shares have had a nice run over the past year, up more than 44%.

Monro Muffler operates as the largest chain of company-operated undercar care facilities in the U.S., owning approximately 711 stores in 17 different states. For full-year 2008, Monro’s service mix was broken down into 31% general maintenance, 26% tire-related services, 22% break-related services, 14% steering-related services and 7% exhaust-related services.

On a recent episode of "Stop Trading!" on CNBC, Jim Cramer said that Monro Muffler had joined the ranks of O’Reiliy Automotive (ORLY) and AutoZone (AZO).

Monro's estimates earnings per share, which were just 38 cents in 2000, of $1.14 to $1.19 for full-year 2009, representing a 29.7% compounded annual growth rate over nine years.

As the recession throughout the country deepens and the overall health of automobile industry is put into serious question, repair companies such as Monro Muffler, AutoZone and O’Reilly, with business models principally based on older vehicles, all stand to benefit.

Kirkland’s (KIRK): This home furnishing company, which hit a 52-week high on Friday, is trading in a 52-week range of $1.01 to $4.22 and was up 39 cents, or 9.9%, at $4.34 on Thursday afternoon. Over the past year, shares of Kirkland have had a mammoth run, up 350%.

Kirkland's is a specialty retailer of home decor in the U.S., operating 321 stores in 34 states as of Nov. 1, 2008. Its merchandise, includes framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps and garden accessories.

This small-cap stock is volatile, so be careful.

Netflix (NFLX): This home entertainment company, which hit a fresh 52-week high on Tuesday, has traded in a 52-week range of $17.90 to $44.42 and was up 47 cents, or 1.1%, at $42.03 on Thursday afternoon. On a year-to-date performance, shares of Netflix are up 45%.

Netflix's "well-timed innovation" keeps it one step ahead of its competition, which includes Blockbuster (BBI). Its management team was the first to realize the market for home delivery DVDs, and it moved aggressively into online streaming, securing the rights to many popular TV shows and movies. Recently, it signed an exclusive deal with the creators of South Park for the rights to stream all episodes of the TV show's first nine seasons.

Netflix has the capital and the management team to continue its dominance in both home delivery rental DVDs and online streaming.

52-Week Lows

Thomas Properties Group (TPGI): This real estate development trust hit a 52-week low on Friday and has traded in a 52-week trading range of $1.12 to $11.74. It was trading up 6 cents, or 4.8%, at $1.26 on Thursday afternoon. Over the past year, shares of Thomas Properties have declined 90%.

Thomas Properties Group acts as a full-service real estate company that owns, acquires, develops and manages office and retail space in the West Coast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. The company has been hit particularly hard over the last year in its principal real estate business as the operating environment -- particularly amid declining real estate values in the West Cost and Southwest regions -- rising tenant defaults and lack of short-term credit funding erode profit margins.

Recently, Thomas Properties reported that its fourth-quarter loss more than tripled on impairment-related charges. For the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2008, Thomas Properties reported a loss of $6 million, or 25 cents per share, vs. a loss of $1.6 million, or 7 cents per share, from the prior year. For full-year 2008, Thomas Properties lost $3.8 million, or 16 cents per share, compared with a loss of $903,000, or 4 cents a share, for 2007.

For more ideas, visit the Notable 52-Week Highs and Lows portfolio on Stockpickr.

Also check out Stockpickr's daily lists of 52-week highs and 52-week lows.

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P.S. Where is Cramer putting his own money? Take a free peek at his personal portfolio to see all his buys and sells by clicking here. When you do, Jim will also send you exclusive email alerts telling you everything he’s about to add to or shed from his Action Alerts PLUS portfolio -- before he makes his trade.