As disciplines go, there’s not much crossover between the worlds of investing and bodybuilding. Sure, both require patience, focus and energy (though so does building model railways). Growth is also a shared goal of the two domains (so too stamp collecting). And – while this may stretch the analogy beyond breaking point – both instinctively value diversification. Just as putting everything into one stock is unwise, you don’t get a superhero physique through bicep curls alone.
So far, so superficial. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing here. Indeed, it is in the excesses of the two fields where the similarities get interesting.
Like many bodybuilders – particularly those in competition – investors on the hunt for outsized gains on shorter time spans have options. Although the musclebound have their chemicals, traders can mimic this juicing effect via leverage or the use of derivatives. But as our Small Caps on Steroids screen shows, it’s also possible to get there by picking stocks with certain attributes.