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 |
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
|
+$86.9M |
| 2 |
Walt Disney
DIS
|
+$25.5M |
| 3 |
Baidu
BIDU
|
+$12.3M |
| 4 |
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
|
+$12.3M |
| 5 |
RHT
Red Hat Inc
RHT
|
+$11.4M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Amazon
AMZN
|
+$66M |
| 2 |
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
IWM
|
+$60.3M |
| 3 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$33.9M |
| 4 |
Apple
AAPL
|
+$21.1M |
| 5 |
State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLF
|
+$18.2M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication Services | 0.58% |
| 2 | Technology | 0.42% |
| 3 | Healthcare | 0.34% |
| 4 | Consumer Discretionary | 0.29% |
| 5 | Industrials | 0.21% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26
CALL
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$132B
| $203M | 0.56% |
16,646
+1,024
| +7% | +$126K |
|
27
PUT
iShares Morningstar Value ETF
ILCV
$1.3B
| $191M | 0.53% |
46,946
+15,222
| +48% | +$785K |
|
28
PUT
State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF
XNTK
$2.16B
| $187M | 0.52% |
42,914
+12,415
| +41% | +$830K |
|
29
PUT
Microsoft
MSFT
$2.95T
| $169M | 0.47% |
14,306
+2,891
| +25% | +$315K |
|
30
PUT
iShares MSCI Australia ETF
EWA
$1.34B
| $153M | 0.43% |
38,070
+14,994
| +65% | +$312K |
|
31
CALL
NVIDIA
NVDA
$5.02T
| $148M | 0.41% |
328,880
-156,560
| -32% | -$608K |
|
|
32
PUT
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$132B
| $142M | 0.4% |
11,655
-371
| -3% | -$45.7K |
|
|
33
PUT
Walt Disney
DIS
$167B
| $138M | 0.38% |
14,795
+9,064
| +158% | +$1.01M |
|
34
PUT
VanEck Gold Miners ETF
GDX
$22.7B
| $129M | 0.36% |
23,282
+5,333
| +30% | +$117K |
|
|
35
CALL
Microsoft
MSFT
$2.95T
| $124M | 0.35% |
10,522
-4,827
| -31% | -$527K |
|
|
36
CALL
VanEck Gold Miners ETF
GDX
$22.7B
| $122M | 0.34% |
33,500
-2,394
| -7% | -$52.6K |
|
37
PUT
Chipotle Mexican Grill
CMG
$42.7B
| $121M | 0.34% |
85,300
+31,600
| +59% | +$367K |
|
38
PUT
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
$46B
| $120M | 0.33% |
4,640
-1,468
| -24% | -$369K |
|
|
39
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$471B
| $120M | 0.33% |
667,812
+512,278
| +329% | +$86.9M |
|
40
CALL
Adobe
ADBE
$90.3B
| $114M | 0.32% |
4,266
-1,395
| -25% | -$352K |
|
|
41
PUT
Adobe
ADBE
$90.3B
| $110M | 0.31% |
4,139
+961
| +30% | +$242K |
|
|
42
CALL
Walt Disney
DIS
$167B
| $106M | 0.3% |
11,344
+2,977
| +36% | +$333K |
|
|
43
CALL
iShares MSCI Australia ETF
EWA
$1.34B
| $103M | 0.29% |
25,418
+11,212
| +79% | +$234K |
|
|
44
CALL
State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF
XNTK
$2.16B
| $101M | 0.28% |
22,598
+1,989
| +10% | +$133K |
|
45
CALL
Mastercard
MA
$476B
| $99.8M | 0.28% |
4,238
+327
| +8% | +$70.4K |
|
46
PUT
Micron Technology
MU
$1.1T
| $97.2M | 0.27% |
23,527
+4,461
| +23% | +$172K |
|
47
PUT
Johnson & Johnson
JNJ
$603B
| $96.7M | 0.27% |
6,916
+3,535
| +105% | +$474K |
|
48
PUT
McDonald's
MCD
$188B
| $93.6M | 0.26% |
4,929
+716
| +17% | +$130K |
|
|
49
PUT
NVIDIA
NVDA
$5.02T
| $93M | 0.26% |
207,080
-103,560
| -33% | -$402K |
|
50
CALL
Visa
V
$677B
| $90.4M | 0.25% |
5,790
-407
| -7% | -$58.7K |
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q1 2019 Portfolio in Review
As of Q1 2019, Simplex Trading held 8,479 positions worth $36B, up 5.5% from $34.1B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 35% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading's Q1 2019 filing shows 1,472 new, 3,049 increased, 2,419 reduced and 1,324 closed positions. Its largest new stake was Walt Disney: 228,471 shares worth $25.4M. The largest sale was Amazon, an estimated $66M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Communication Services at 0.58% of assets, up from 0.49% a quarter earlier, followed by Technology and Healthcare.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q1 2019 buy was Walt Disney: 228,471 shares worth $25.4M.
- Simplex Trading added most to Invesco QQQ Trust in Q1 2019, an estimated $86.9M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q1 2019 reduction was iShares Russell 2000 ETF, cutting an estimated $60.3M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Amazon in Q1 2019, selling an estimated $66M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 35% of its $36B portfolio in Q1 2019.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,472 new positions and closed 1,324 in Q1 2019.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 5.5% quarter-over-quarter to $36B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q1 2019, filed 18 Apr 2019.