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 |
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
IWM
|
+$58.5M |
| 2 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$56.5M |
| 3 |
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
|
+$44.1M |
| 4 |
Apple
AAPL
|
+$20.3M |
| 5 |
State Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF
XOP
|
+$12.7M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Amazon
AMZN
|
+$109M |
| 2 |
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
|
+$62.3M |
| 3 |
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
|
+$36.2M |
| 4 |
Goldman Sachs
GS
|
+$27.1M |
| 5 |
Boeing
BA
|
+$24.7M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication Services | 0.49% |
| 2 | Consumer Discretionary | 0.48% |
| 3 | Technology | 0.4% |
| 4 | Financials | 0.25% |
| 5 | Industrials | 0.22% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26
CALL
Microsoft
MSFT
$2.95T
| $156M | 0.46% |
15,349
+8,069
| +111% | +$864K |
|
27
PUT
Booking.com
BKNG
$139B
| $150M | 0.44% |
21,725
+1,700
| +8% | +$125K |
|
28
PUT
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$132B
| $146M | 0.43% |
12,026
+6,415
| +114% | +$745K |
|
29
PUT
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
$46B
| $142M | 0.42% |
6,108
+645
| +12% | +$161K |
|
30
CALL
VanEck Gold Miners ETF
GDX
$22.7B
| $134M | 0.39% |
35,894
+25,188
| +235% | +$494K |
|
31
CALL
Adobe
ADBE
$90.3B
| $128M | 0.38% |
5,661
+2,517
| +80% | +$608K |
|
|
VXX
32
CALL
DELISTED
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN due 1/30/2019
VXX
| $128M | 0.38% |
27,283
+10,736
| +65% | +$397K |
|
33
PUT
iShares Morningstar Value ETF
ILCV
$1.3B
| $117M | 0.34% |
31,724
+15,356
| +94% | +$791K |
|
|
34
CALL
Boeing
BA
$161B
| $117M | 0.34% |
3,632
-109
| -3% | -$37.7K |
|
|
35
PUT
Microsoft
MSFT
$2.95T
| $116M | 0.34% |
11,415
+6,689
| +142% | +$717K |
|
36
PUT
State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF
XNTK
$2.16B
| $114M | 0.34% |
30,499
+13,107
| +75% | +$1.08M |
|
|
VXX
37
PUT
DELISTED
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN due 1/30/2019
VXX
| $108M | 0.32% |
23,073
+14,945
| +184% | +$553K |
|
38
PUT
Berkshire Hathaway Class B
BRK.B
$1.06T
| $107M | 0.32% |
5,260
+1,795
| +52% | +$375K |
|
|
39
PUT
Boeing
BA
$161B
| $107M | 0.31% |
3,317
-1,943
| -37% | -$671K |
|
40
PUT
NVIDIA
NVDA
$5.02T
| $104M | 0.3% |
310,640
+2,240
| +0.7% | +$10.7K |
|
41
CALL
FedEx
FDX
$73.1B
| $93.5M | 0.27% |
5,794
+4,589
| +381% | +$971K |
|
|
42
CALL
Booking.com
BKNG
$139B
| $93.2M | 0.27% |
13,525
+2,300
| +20% | +$169K |
|
43
CALL
Walt Disney
DIS
$167B
| $91.7M | 0.27% |
8,367
+3,800
| +83% | +$432K |
|
44
CALL
Salesforce
CRM
$139B
| $88.1M | 0.26% |
6,431
+3,422
| +114% | +$471K |
|
45
PUT
iShares MSCI Australia ETF
EWA
$1.34B
| $86.6M | 0.25% |
23,076
-3,496
| -13% | -$71.8K |
|
|
46
CALL
Goldman Sachs
GS
$320B
| $85.2M | 0.25% |
5,102
-145
| -3% | -$29.3K |
|
47
CALL
Broadcom
AVGO
$1.84T
| $84.5M | 0.25% |
33,240
+3,550
| +12% | +$83.8K |
|
|
48
CALL
Berkshire Hathaway Class B
BRK.B
$1.06T
| $84.5M | 0.25% |
4,138
-47
| -1% | -$9.82K |
|
|
49
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
$4.22T
| $82.3M | 0.24% |
1,589,140
+1,055,400
| +198% | +$56.5M |
|
50
CALL
Visa
V
$677B
| $81.8M | 0.24% |
6,197
+2,561
| +70% | +$354K |
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q4 2018 Portfolio in Review
As of Q4 2018, Simplex Trading held 8,576 positions worth $34.1B, up 9.5% from $31.1B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 43% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading's Q4 2018 filing shows 1,199 new, 2,701 increased, 2,877 reduced and 1,573 closed positions. Its largest new stake was State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust: 163,699 shares worth $40.9M. The largest sale was Amazon, an estimated $109M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Communication Services at 0.49% of assets, down from 0.89% a quarter earlier, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Technology.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q4 2018 buy was State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust: 163,699 shares worth $40.9M.
- Simplex Trading added most to iShares Russell 2000 ETF in Q4 2018, an estimated $58.5M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q4 2018 reduction was Amazon, cutting an estimated $109M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Meta Platforms (Facebook) in Q4 2018, selling an estimated $62.3M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 43% of its $34.1B portfolio in Q4 2018.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,199 new positions and closed 1,573 in Q4 2018.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 9.5% quarter-over-quarter to $34.1B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q4 2018, filed 16 Jan 2019.