The Deadlift ETF: Where Fitness Meets Finance

Dec 4, 2024

A few years ago, the financial world buzzed with talk of the Becky ETF. This fictional fund humorously captured the internet’s attention by promising returns exceeding 1,000%. The concept was rooted in the hypothetical S&P Becky 10 Index, a carefully selected portfolio of companies embodying the spending habits of a specific demographic—affluent American women.

This index featured companies that represented the quintessential “Becky lifestyle,” ranging from premium tech to high-end fitness and leisure. Notable names included Adobe Inc., Apple Inc., Chipotle Mexican Grill, Etsy, Facebook Inc., Lululemon Athletica Inc., Netflix, Pinterest, Peloton, and Shopify. While the Becky ETF was more satire than substance, it cleverly showcased how cultural trends could influence investment ideas.

Fast forward to today, and a new contender has emerged: the Deadlift ETF. Unlike its predecessor, this fictional ETF takes inspiration from physical fitness, creating a buzz that’s captivating finance circles on social media platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter).

The Rise of the Deadlift ETF

The Deadlift ETF surfaced as a tongue-in-cheek response to the question, “What if investment success correlated with CEO fitness levels?” Originating on X, the concept quickly gained traction, amassing over 4 million views and sparking widespread discussion in financial communities.

What Is the Deadlift ETF?

This hypothetical ETF builds its portfolio on a unique criterion: companies led by CEOs who actively engage in physical fitness, particularly weightlifting or fight sports. Think of it as an equally weighted mix of tech juggernauts like Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft alongside financial heavyweights such as Goldman Sachs and BlackRock.

According to @levelsio, the creator of the idea, the rationale is simple yet compelling: physical fitness among CEOs could correlate with enhanced decision-making, leadership capabilities, and resilience. After all, research consistently links physical activity to improved cognitive performance and stress management.

Fictional Holdings of the Deadlift ETF

The imaginary lineup of this ETF includes a mix of well-known corporations led by fitness-minded CEOs. Here are some highlights:

  • Meta

  • Amazon

  • Microsoft

  • Goldman Sachs

  • BlackRock

Interestingly, prominent CEOs like Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong and Airbnb’s Brian Chesky jumped into the conversation on X, humorously lobbying for their inclusion in the fund by flaunting their own deadlift stats.

Hypothetical Performance Metrics

The Deadlift ETF isn’t just a clever idea—it’s theoretically outperforming some real-world giants. According to @levelsio, the Deadlift ETF has outpaced Alphabet (Google’s parent company) in mock scenarios. The creator even joked that Alphabet’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, might boost the company’s performance if he swapped strategy meetings for gym sessions.

Such playful commentary has resonated widely, emphasizing the growing interest in unconventional correlations between leadership traits and financial performance.

What Ticker Would You Choose?

Despite its fictional nature, the Deadlift ETF has ignited debates about what its stock ticker should be. Popular suggestions include:

  • LIFT

  • DLFT

  • ARND (a nod to Arnold Schwarzenegger)

  • DEAD

The creativity behind these ideas reflects how much this concept has captured the imagination of finance enthusiasts.

Conclusion: A Fun Fusion of Fitness and Finance

The Deadlift ETF shows with humor and creativity how fitness can improve performances. While purely fictional (for now), it encourages us to think about the benefits of working out. If you need a workout planner and improve your performances, try TrainCoach app with one-week free.

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