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 |
Gilead Sciences
GILD
|
+$17.3M |
| 2 |
Apple
AAPL
|
+$15.2M |
| 3 |
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
|
+$14.9M |
| 4 |
Booking.com
BKNG
|
+$14.7M |
| 5 |
Wells Fargo
WFC
|
+$12.9M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
|
+$38.3M |
| 2 |
QIHU
QIHOO 360 TECHNOLOGY CO LTD ADS RPSTG 3 CL A SHS
QIHU
|
+$30.7M |
| 3 |
LNKD
LinkedIn Corporation
LNKD
|
+$15.2M |
| 4 |
CELG
Celgene Corp
CELG
|
+$12.6M |
| 5 |
ProShares Trust UltraShort Lehman 20+ Year Treasury
TBT
|
+$10.4M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 53.25% |
| 2 | Healthcare | 8.96% |
| 3 | Communication Services | 8.51% |
| 4 | Consumer Discretionary | 7.07% |
| 5 | Technology | 6.63% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | Held Since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26
Goldman Sachs
GS
$255B
| $6.8M | 0.46% |
42,173
+8,020
| +23% | +$1.3M |
2014 Q4
7 quarters
|
|
27
CALL
DELISTED
PortfolioPlus S&P 500 ETF
PPLC
| $6.6M | 0.45% |
13,824
+5,832
| +73% | +$159K |
2015 Q2
5 quarters
|
|
28
Cisco
CSCO
$420B
| $6.3M | 0.43% |
+198,469
| New | +$6.1M |
2016 Q3
0 quarters
|
|
29
Chipotle Mexican Grill
CMG
$34.8B
| $6.24M | 0.42% |
736,650
-195,950
| -21% | -$1.61M |
2016 Q2
1 quarter
|
|
30
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited
TEVA
$46B
| $6.12M | 0.41% |
132,953
+128,295
| +2,754% | +$6.69M |
2016 Q1
2 quarters
|
|
31
Hershey
HSY
$34.1B
| $5.99M | 0.41% |
62,635
+34,726
| +124% | +$3.67M |
2016 Q2
1 quarter
|
|
32
PUT
DELISTED
iPath S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures ETN due 1/30/2019
VXZ
| $5.89M | 0.4% |
13,461
+13,417
| +30,493% | +$532K |
2015 Q4
3 quarters
|
|
|
33
PUT
Apple
AAPL
$5.07T
| $5.88M | 0.4% |
47,568
+3,144
| +7% | +$83.2K |
2015 Q1
6 quarters
|
|
34
CALL
VanEck Gold Miners ETF
GDX
$24.4B
| $5.77M | 0.39% |
22,158
+5,341
| +32% | +$153K |
2014 Q4
7 quarters
|
|
35
Amazon
AMZN
$2.68T
| $5.59M | 0.38% |
+133,600
| New | +$5.11M |
2016 Q3
0 quarters
|
|
36
Bank of America
BAC
$354B
| $5.58M | 0.38% |
356,312
+218,038
| +158% | +$3.25M |
2014 Q4
7 quarters
|
|
37
Visa
V
$766B
| $5.55M | 0.38% |
67,085
-112,443
| -63% | -$9M |
2016 Q2
1 quarter
|
|
38
WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund
DXJ
$7.82B
| $5.47M | 0.37% |
382,593
-499,992
| -57% | -$6.92M |
2016 Q1
2 quarters
|
|
39
Starbucks
SBUX
$115B
| $5.28M | 0.36% |
97,492
-37,080
| -28% | -$2.07M |
2016 Q2
1 quarter
|
|
40
CALL
Sarepta Therapeutics
SRPT
$1.87B
| $5.25M | 0.36% |
3,083
-495
| -14% | -$15K |
2014 Q4
7 quarters
|
|
41
McDonald's
MCD
$176B
| $5.23M | 0.35% |
45,329
+649
| +1% | +$76.9K |
2016 Q2
1 quarter
|
|
42
Energy Transfer Partners
ET
$70.4B
| $5.16M | 0.35% |
307,677
-28,715
| -9% | -$485K |
2016 Q2
1 quarter
|
|
43
Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust
FXB
$103M
| $5.13M | 0.35% |
40,551
-24,046
| -37% | -$3.08M |
2016 Q1
2 quarters
|
|
44
Simon Property Group
SPG
$68.5B
| $4.96M | 0.34% |
+23,942
| New | +$5.19M |
2016 Q3
0 quarters
|
|
45
DELISTED
Electronic Arts
EA
| $4.95M | 0.34% |
58,002
+50,384
| +661% | +$4.03M |
2016 Q2
1 quarter
|
|
46
NVIDIA
NVDA
$5.09T
| $4.71M | 0.32% |
2,750,320
-1,602,280
| -37% | -$2.37M |
2016 Q2
1 quarter
|
|
47
CALL
Berkshire Hathaway Class B
BRK.B
$1.16T
| $4.63M | 0.31% |
1,738
-1,002
| -37% | -$147K |
2015 Q1
6 quarters
|
|
48
ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF
UVXY
$289M
| $4.61M | 0.31% |
+1
| New | +$6.14M |
2015 Q2
5 quarters
|
|
49
Salesforce
CRM
$205B
| $4.52M | 0.31% |
63,332
+46,293
| +272% | +$3.61M |
2016 Q1
2 quarters
|
|
50
AstraZeneca
AZN
$266B
| $4.51M | 0.31% |
68,613
+48,544
| +242% | +$3.17M |
2016 Q1
2 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q3 2016 Portfolio in Review
As of Q3 2016, Simplex Trading held 7,235 positions worth $1.48B, down 1.4% from $1.5B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 18% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading withdrew a net $51.7M in Q3 2016, closing 1,479 positions and reducing 1,938 holdings. Its most notable exit was SPDR Gold Trust, an estimated $38.3M position sold in full.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 53% of assets, down from 58% a quarter earlier, followed by Healthcare and Communication Services.
Against the trend, Simplex Trading opened a new position in Booking.com worth $15.6M.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q3 2016 buy was Booking.com: 264,225 shares worth $15.6M.
- Simplex Trading added most to Gilead Sciences in Q3 2016, an estimated $17.3M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q3 2016 reduction was LinkedIn Corporation, cutting an estimated $15.2M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited SPDR Gold Trust in Q3 2016, selling an estimated $38.3M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 18% of its $1.48B portfolio in Q3 2016.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,460 new positions and closed 1,479 in Q3 2016.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value fell 1.4% quarter-over-quarter to $1.48B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q3 2016, filed 7 Oct 2016.