Earlier this year, if you'd asked a fan of the New York Yankees to forecast the team's chances for the upcoming season, you'd have seen nothing but dark clouds on the radar for the near future. With stars such as Jeter, Teixeira, and Rodriguez (Yes, A-Rod is counted as a "star") sidelined with injuries, it was understandable. Nobody - experts, fans - nobody thought the Yankees had a chance this season.

Then it happened. They started winning games. And through the early part of this season, the once mighty "Bronx Bombers," given no shot at winning the division, sit alone in first place. Funny what happens when nobody loves you!

Reminds me of a company that not-too-long-ago sat on top of the world, flush with large profits, cash, and some of the most popular products we use on a daily basis: Apple.

A few disappointing reports sent shares from $700 to $400 in less than a year, and if you read the news, you'd have thought Apple was about ready to go out of business! Is Apple all of a sudden a bad company? Did your iPhone or iPad stop working? Nope. Apple, like every other company, is not immune to a disappointing quarter or earnings report from time to time.

Since bottoming out at $385 per share, things have turned around and Apple shares have started to rise once again, reaching over $450 before retreating slightly this week.

Does this mean that Apple is headed back to $700? Does sitting in first place in mid-May mean the Yankees are headed to the World Series? I don't know. My point is this - when teams and companies fall out of favor and nobody loves them - it's worth giving them a second look.

Chuck Wade

(This article contains the current opinions of the author but not necessarily those of Brighton Securities Corp. The author's opinions are subject to change without notice. This blog post is for informational purposes only. Forecasts, estimates, and certain information contained herein should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. References to specific securities and their issuers are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended and should not be interpreted as recommendations to purchase or sell such securities).