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 |
CELG
Celgene Corp
CELG
|
+$31.6M |
| 2 |
Citigroup
C
|
+$19.5M |
| 3 |
AGN
Allergan plc
AGN
|
+$18.4M |
| 4 |
Baidu
BIDU
|
+$18M |
| 5 |
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
EEM
|
+$14.2M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Amazon
AMZN
|
+$81.3M |
| 2 |
NVIDIA
NVDA
|
+$60.2M |
| 3 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$48.2M |
| 4 |
Apple
AAPL
|
+$48.2M |
| 5 |
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
|
+$31.2M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Consumer Discretionary | 11.27% |
| 2 | Technology | 10.64% |
| 3 | Healthcare | 7.06% |
| 4 | Communication Services | 6.92% |
| 5 | Industrials | 5.66% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26
PUT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$787B
| $13.2M | 0.57% |
42,824
+14,310
| +50% | +$3.72M |
|
|
27
CALL
Apple
AAPL
$4.81T
| $13M | 0.56% |
58,532
-37,748
| -39% | -$1.58M |
|
28
Berkshire Hathaway Class B
BRK.B
$1.06T
| $12.8M | 0.55% |
64,639
+47,826
| +284% | +$9.08M |
|
29
IBM
IBM
$198B
| $12.7M | 0.55% |
86,743
+4,879
| +6% | +$709K |
|
30
Microsoft
MSFT
$2.95T
| $12.6M | 0.54% |
147,569
+118,511
| +408% | +$9.72M |
|
31
Mastercard
MA
$476B
| $12.6M | 0.54% |
83,199
+26,590
| +47% | +$3.95M |
|
32
AT&T
T
$155B
| $11.6M | 0.5% |
396,113
+314,480
| +385% | +$8.59M |
|
|
VXX
33
PUT
DELISTED
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN due 1/30/2019
VXX
| $11.6M | 0.5% |
9,470
-178
| -2% | -$5.87K |
|
34
Lowe's Companies
LOW
$114B
| $11.5M | 0.49% |
123,740
+110,990
| +871% | +$9.18M |
|
35
CALL
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.2B
| $11.3M | 0.49% |
49,992
-7,116
| -12% | -$821K |
|
36
PayPal
PYPL
$49.3B
| $11M | 0.48% |
149,973
+197
| +0.1% | +$14.2K |
|
37
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
IWM
$82.4B
| $11M | 0.48% |
72,388
-141,782
| -66% | -$21.3M |
|
38
Visa
V
$677B
| $11M | 0.47% |
96,387
+40,453
| +72% | +$4.47M |
|
39
United Airlines
UAL
$38.2B
| $10.7M | 0.46% |
158,693
+60,151
| +61% | +$3.75M |
|
40
iShares MSCI Brazil ETF
EWZ
$9.02B
| $10.4M | 0.45% |
256,239
+138,306
| +117% | +$5.6M |
|
41
CALL
Tesla
TSLA
$1.42T
| $10.3M | 0.44% |
97,680
+4,095
| +4% | +$89.1K |
|
42
Union Pacific
UNP
$174B
| $10.2M | 0.44% |
+76,245
| New | +$9.2M |
|
|
43
PUT
Tesla
TSLA
$1.42T
| $10.2M | 0.44% |
116,550
-30,240
| -21% | -$658K |
|
44
Netflix
NFLX
$286B
| $9.88M | 0.43% |
514,710
-1,116,620
| -68% | -$21.5M |
|
45
McDonald's
MCD
$188B
| $9.78M | 0.42% |
56,829
-43,788
| -44% | -$7.35M |
|
46
UnitedHealth
UNH
$396B
| $9.53M | 0.41% |
43,230
+41,959
| +3,301% | +$8.89M |
|
47
Applied Materials
AMAT
$448B
| $9.36M | 0.4% |
183,003
+46,704
| +34% | +$2.53M |
|
|
XYZ
48
Block Inc
XYZ
$47.8B
| $8.98M | 0.39% |
258,943
+120,245
| +87% | +$4.4M |
|
49
CALL
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$471B
| $8.69M | 0.37% |
15,678
-1,926
| -11% | -$294K |
|
50
Humana
HUM
$48.5B
| $8.56M | 0.37% |
34,522
+18,745
| +119% | +$4.63M |
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q4 2017 Portfolio in Review
As of Q4 2017, Simplex Trading held 7,407 positions worth $2.32B, down 5.1% from $2.45B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 17% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading withdrew a net $315M in Q4 2017, closing 1,460 positions and reducing 2,239 holdings. Its most notable exit was iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, an estimated $21.1M position sold in full.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Consumer Discretionary at 11% of assets, down from 14% a quarter earlier, followed by Technology and Healthcare.
Against the trend, Simplex Trading opened a new position in Celgene Corp worth $29.2M.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q4 2017 buy was Celgene Corp: 280,194 shares worth $29.2M.
- Simplex Trading added most to Baidu in Q4 2017, an estimated $18M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q4 2017 reduction was Amazon, cutting an estimated $81.3M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF in Q4 2017, selling an estimated $21.1M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 17% of its $2.32B portfolio in Q4 2017.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,548 new positions and closed 1,460 in Q4 2017.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value fell 5.1% quarter-over-quarter to $2.32B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q4 2017, filed 10 Jan 2018.