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 | Miscellaneous | 97.5% |
| 2 | Communication Services | 0.5% |
| 3 | Consumer Discretionary | 0.49% |
| 4 | Technology | 0.41% |
| 5 | Financials | 0.26% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
51
CALL
State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF
XNTK
$1.9B
| $75.3M | 0.22% |
20,609
+13,362
| +184% | +$1.1M |
|
52
PUT
McDonald's
MCD
$181B
| $74.8M | 0.22% |
4,213
+2,219
| +111% | +$394K |
|
53
PUT
VanEck Gold Miners ETF
GDX
$30.2B
| $74.1M | 0.22% |
17,949
+543
| +3% | +$10.6K |
|
54
CALL
Mastercard
MA
$507B
| $73.8M | 0.22% |
3,911
+1,730
| +79% | +$344K |
|
55
PUT
Adobe
ADBE
$106B
| $71.9M | 0.21% |
3,178
+1,491
| +88% | +$360K |
|
56
CALL
Citigroup
C
$231B
| $70.5M | 0.21% |
13,537
+4,490
| +50% | +$284K |
|
|
UCD
57
CALL
DELISTED
PROSHARES ULTRA BLOOMBERG COMMODITY
UCD
| $69.9M | 0.21% |
11,437
+1,686
| +17% | +$10.3M |
|
|
58
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
IWM
$80.5B
| $69.5M | 0.2% |
519,225
+391,973
| +308% | +$58.5M |
|
59
CALL
Gilead Sciences
GILD
$187B
| $68.6M | 0.2% |
10,969
+6,496
| +145% | +$454K |
|
60
PUT
Intuitive Surgical
ISRG
$130B
| $67.6M | 0.2% |
4,233
+141
| +3% | +$23.9K |
|
61
CALL
IBM
IBM
$221B
| $67.1M | 0.2% |
6,171
+660
| +12% | +$79.2K |
|
62
PUT
UnitedHealth
UNH
$356B
| $65.7M | 0.19% |
2,638
+1,414
| +116% | +$374K |
|
|
63
PUT
Mastercard
MA
$507B
| $63.9M | 0.19% |
3,385
+651
| +24% | +$129K |
|
64
PUT
Salesforce
CRM
$213B
| $63M | 0.18% |
4,599
-847
| -16% | -$117K |
|
65
PUT
Walt Disney
DIS
$182B
| $62.8M | 0.18% |
5,731
+2,879
| +101% | +$327K |
|
66
PUT
Broadcom
AVGO
$1.7T
| $61.5M | 0.18% |
24,170
+6,240
| +35% | +$147K |
|
67
CALL
Micron Technology
MU
$1.15T
| $61.4M | 0.18% |
19,358
-2,948
| -13% | -$112K |
|
|
68
PUT
Goldman Sachs
GS
$302B
| $61.2M | 0.18% |
3,664
-61
| -2% | -$12.3K |
|
|
69
PUT
Micron Technology
MU
$1.15T
| $60.5M | 0.18% |
19,066
-4,248
| -18% | -$161K |
|
|
70
Amazon
AMZN
$2.79T
| $59.6M | 0.17% |
793,180
-1,314,200
| -62% | -$109M |
|
|
UCD
71
PUT
DELISTED
PROSHARES ULTRA BLOOMBERG COMMODITY
UCD
| $58.8M | 0.17% |
8,587
+2,532
| +42% | +$17.3M |
|
72
CALL
iShares Morningstar Value ETF
ILCV
$1.36B
| $58.7M | 0.17% |
13,928
+10,278
| +282% | +$529K |
|
73
CALL
PayPal
PYPL
$47B
| $56.9M | 0.17% |
6,766
+2,527
| +60% | +$210K |
|
74
PUT
Costco
COST
$406B
| $55.8M | 0.16% |
2,739
+632
| +30% | +$141K |
|
75
CALL
JPMorgan Chase
JPM
$953B
| $55.5M | 0.16% |
5,991
+1,052
| +21% | +$112K |
|
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 1,572 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 Miscellaneous at 97% of assets, up from 95% a quarter earlier, followed by Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary.
- 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 1,572 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.