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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
176
PUT
United Airlines
UAL
$38.1B
| $23M | 0.07% |
2,747
+337
| +14% | +$29.6K |
|
177
CALL
Target
TGT
$62.6B
| $23M | 0.07% |
3,478
-440
| -11% | -$33.9K |
|
178
CALL
Electronic Arts
EA
$52.4B
| $22.8M | 0.07% |
2,888
-1,777
| -38% | -$163K |
|
179
PUT
Advanced Micro Devices
AMD
$901B
| $22.8M | 0.07% |
12,340
-5,637
| -31% | -$122K |
|
|
ATHN
180
CALL
DELISTED
Athenahealth, Inc.
ATHN
| $22.8M | 0.07% |
1,725
+1,175
| +214% | +$151K |
|
181
PUT
American Express
AXP
$238B
| $22.7M | 0.07% |
2,379
-492
| -17% | -$51.5K |
|
|
RDS.A
182
PUT
DELISTED
Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADS Class A
RDS.A
| $22.7M | 0.07% |
3,848
+864
| +29% | +$53.6K |
|
183
PUT
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
REGN
$68.3B
| $22.5M | 0.07% |
603
-163
| -21% | -$59.7K |
|
184
PUT
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust
MDY
$27B
| $22.2M | 0.07% |
734
+427
| +139% | +$142K |
|
185
CALL
General Motors
GM
$74.1B
| $22.2M | 0.07% |
6,634
+2,169
| +49% | +$74.9K |
|
186
PUT
Nike
NKE
$62.6B
| $22.1M | 0.06% |
2,977
-391
| -12% | -$29.3K |
|
187
CALL
Petrobras
PBR
$122B
| $21.7M | 0.06% |
16,670
+10,793
| +184% | +$156K |
|
|
TWTR
188
PUT
DELISTED
Twitter, Inc.
TWTR
| $21.4M | 0.06% |
7,430
-5,180
| -41% | -$162K |
|
|
UWC
189
CALL
DELISTED
PROSHARES TR ULTRA RUSSELL3000
UWC
| $21.3M | 0.06% |
5,825
+3,847
| +194% | +$14.1M |
|
190
CALL
ProShares UltraShort Industrials
SIJ
$5.96M
| $21.1M | 0.06% |
719
+464
| +182% | +$130K |
|
|
ATVI
191
PUT
DELISTED
Activision Blizzard
ATVI
| $21.1M | 0.06% |
4,524
+923
| +26% | +$55.3K |
|
192
PUT
Lockheed Martin
LMT
$119B
| $21.1M | 0.06% |
804
+230
| +40% | +$69.8K |
|
|
RDS.A
193
CALL
DELISTED
Royal Dutch Shell PLC ADS Class A
RDS.A
| $20.7M | 0.06% |
3,495
+1,696
| +94% | +$105K |
|
194
CALL
Delta Air Lines
DAL
$54.9B
| $20.6M | 0.06% |
4,138
+1,512
| +58% | +$82.3K |
|
195
PUT
Starbucks
SBUX
$119B
| $20.6M | 0.06% |
3,197
+39
| +1% | +$2.44K |
|
196
PUT
Tilray
TLRY
$514M
| $20.6M | 0.06% |
292
-80
| -22% | -$87.7K |
|
197
PUT
Pfizer
PFE
$141B
| $20.5M | 0.06% |
4,946
+3,090
| +166% | +$128K |
|
|
198
CALL
Lockheed Martin
LMT
$119B
| $20.4M | 0.06% |
778
-28
| -3% | -$8.49K |
|
|
199
PUT
Target
TGT
$62.6B
| $20.2M | 0.06% |
3,060
+203
| +7% | +$15.6K |
|
200
PUT
Gilead Sciences
GILD
$162B
| $20.2M | 0.06% |
3,231
-155
| -5% | -$10.8K |
|
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.