Simplex Trading Portfolio holdings
Simplex Trading, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a technology-driven proprietary trading firm specializing in market-making and liquidity provision, primarily in U.S. equity options and futures options. Leveraging advanced proprietary software and data-driven analysis, the firm optimizes trading strategies and develops innovative solutions to capitalize on financial market opportunities, maintaining a competitive edge through automation and a collaborative team of technologists and traders. With a workforce exceeding 300 and led by CEO Erik Swanson since 2014, Simplex operates with a low-ego, high-intelligence culture, focusing on minimal bureaucracy and rapid execution, while also making strategic venture capital investments in fintech startups. Recognized as a top workplace in Chicago by Built In’s 2025 awards, Simplex continues to evolve, blending cutting-edge technology with a commitment to market efficiency and growth.
Top Buys
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
LNKD
LinkedIn Corporation
LNKD
|
+$21.4M |
| 2 |
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
|
+$17.3M |
| 3 |
QIHU
QIHOO 360 TECHNOLOGY CO LTD ADS RPSTG 3 CL A SHS
QIHU
|
+$15M |
| 4 |
Biogen
BIIB
|
+$14.9M |
| 5 |
Visa
V
|
+$14.1M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Broadcom
AVGO
|
+$36.7M |
| 2 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$20.1M |
| 3 |
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
EEM
|
+$15.8M |
| 4 |
Citigroup
C
|
+$14.7M |
| 5 |
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust
MDY
|
+$13.1M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 57.59% |
| 2 | Healthcare | 6.94% |
| 3 | Technology | 6.79% |
| 4 | Communication Services | 6.76% |
| 5 | Consumer Discretionary | 4.8% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | Held Since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26
CALL
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.95T
| $6.96M | 0.47% |
115,400
+16,500
| +17% | +$606K |
2015 Q4
2 quarters
|
|
27
DELISTED
Kellanova
K
| $6.9M | 0.46% |
89,970
+87,558
| +3,630% | +$6.28M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
|
AGN
28
DELISTED
Allergan plc
AGN
| $6.87M | 0.46% |
+29,744
| New | +$6.86M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
29
CALL
Tesla
TSLA
$1.49T
| $6.78M | 0.45% |
86,940
-1,065
| -1% | -$16.1K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
30
PUT
Bausch Health
BHC
$2.42B
| $6.55M | 0.44% |
8,247
-3,342
| -29% | -$94.6K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
31
Mastercard
MA
$553B
| $6.46M | 0.43% |
73,401
+36,281
| +98% | +$3.46M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
32
Marathon Petroleum
MPC
$129B
| $6.43M | 0.43% |
169,368
+162,918
| +2,526% | +$5.98M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
33
CALL
VanEck Gold Miners ETF
GDX
$24.9B
| $6.29M | 0.42% |
16,817
+9,754
| +138% | +$234K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
34
Verizon
VZ
$188B
| $6.28M | 0.42% |
112,395
+69,994
| +165% | +$3.63M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
|
35
CALL
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$136B
| $5.96M | 0.4% |
16,246
-471
| -3% | -$56.7K |
2015 Q1
5 quarters
|
|
|
36
PUT
Tesla
TSLA
$1.49T
| $5.81M | 0.39% |
82,215
-35,385
| -30% | -$536K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
37
BP
BP
$129B
| $5.79M | 0.39% |
193,937
+135,312
| +231% | +$3.65M |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
38
DELISTED
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN due 1/30/2019
VXX
| $5.56M | 0.37% |
25,173
+17,009
| +208% | +$4.24M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
39
PUT
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.63T
| $5.48M | 0.37% |
12,272
-1,376
| -10% | -$159K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
40
McDonald's
MCD
$178B
| $5.38M | 0.36% |
+44,680
| New | +$5.6M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
41
PUT
Booking.com
BKNG
$121B
| $5.14M | 0.34% |
35,700
+250
| +0.7% | +$13K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
42
NVIDIA
NVDA
$5.13T
| $5.12M | 0.34% |
+4,352,600
| New | +$4.49M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
|
YHOO
43
DELISTED
Yahoo Inc
YHOO
| $5.1M | 0.34% |
+135,897
| New | +$5.02M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
44
Goldman Sachs
GS
$258B
| $5.07M | 0.34% |
34,153
+15,935
| +87% | +$2.49M |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
45
PayPal
PYPL
$49.1B
| $5.05M | 0.34% |
+138,328
| New | +$5.29M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
46
Energy Transfer Partners
ET
$68.9B
| $4.83M | 0.32% |
+336,392
| New | +$4.01M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
47
PUT
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$475B
| $4.8M | 0.32% |
18,131
+9,601
| +113% | +$1.04M |
2015 Q1
5 quarters
|
|
48
CALL
Berkshire Hathaway Class B
BRK.B
$1.17T
| $4.64M | 0.31% |
2,740
+761
| +38% | +$109K |
2015 Q1
5 quarters
|
|
|
49
CALL
Booking.com
BKNG
$121B
| $4.59M | 0.31% |
30,725
+7,850
| +34% | +$408K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
|
50
PUT
DELISTED
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN due 1/30/2019
VXX
| $4.5M | 0.3% |
1,072
+398
| +59% | +$99.2K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q2 2016 Portfolio in Review
As of Q2 2016, Simplex Trading held 7,153 positions worth $1.5B, up 19% from $1.25B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 19% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading deployed $147M of net new capital in Q2 2016, opening 1,585 new positions and adding to 2,321 existing holdings. Its largest new stake was Biogen: 56,467 shares worth $13.7M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 58% of assets, down from 60% a quarter earlier, followed by Healthcare and Technology.
On the sell side, the largest reduction was Broadcom, an estimated $36.7M trimmed.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q2 2016 buy was Biogen: 56,467 shares worth $13.7M.
- Simplex Trading added most to LinkedIn Corporation in Q2 2016, an estimated $21.4M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q2 2016 reduction was Broadcom, cutting an estimated $36.7M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Alphabet (Google) Class C in Q2 2016, selling an estimated $20.1M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 19% of its $1.5B portfolio in Q2 2016.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,585 new positions and closed 1,363 in Q2 2016.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 19% quarter-over-quarter to $1.5B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q2 2016, filed 18 Jul 2016.