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 |
LNKD
LinkedIn Corporation
LNKD
|
+$21.4M |
| 2 |
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
|
+$17.3M |
| 3 |
QIHU
QIHOO 360 TECHNOLOGY CO LTD ADS RPSTG 3 CL A SHS
QIHU
|
+$15M |
| 4 |
Biogen
BIIB
|
+$14.9M |
| 5 |
Visa
V
|
+$14.1M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Broadcom
AVGO
|
+$36.7M |
| 2 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$20.1M |
| 3 |
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
EEM
|
+$15.8M |
| 4 |
Citigroup
C
|
+$14.7M |
| 5 |
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust
MDY
|
+$13.1M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 57.59% |
| 2 | Healthcare | 6.94% |
| 3 | Technology | 6.79% |
| 4 | Communication Services | 6.76% |
| 5 | Consumer Discretionary | 4.8% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | Held Since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.7T
| $47.8M | 3.2% |
94,580
-5,880
| -6% | -$199K |
2015 Q1
5 quarters
|
|
|
2
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$137B
| $38M | 2.54% |
300,392
+143,482
| +91% | +$17.3M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
3
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$814B
| $33.7M | 2.25% |
46,222
+22,507
| +95% | +$4.67M |
2015 Q1
5 quarters
|
|
|
LNKD
4
DELISTED
LinkedIn Corporation
LNKD
| $32.3M | 2.16% |
170,797
+154,591
| +954% | +$21.4M |
2015 Q4
2 quarters
|
|
|
QIHU
5
DELISTED
QIHOO 360 TECHNOLOGY CO LTD ADS RPSTG 3 CL A SHS
QIHU
| $30.7M | 2.05% |
419,681
+203,477
| +94% | +$15M |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
6
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.64T
| $25.8M | 1.73% |
225,926
+90,557
| +67% | +$10.4M |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
|
7
PUT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$814B
| $21M | 1.4% |
55,118
+24,014
| +77% | +$4.98M |
2015 Q1
5 quarters
|
|
|
8
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.64T
| $20M | 1.33% |
17,676
+2,594
| +17% | +$299K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
9
CALL
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $15.3M | 1.03% |
67,479
+27,290
| +68% | +$2.52M |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
|
10
PUT
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $13.7M | 0.92% |
83,079
+24,979
| +43% | +$2.3M |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
|
11
Biogen
BIIB
$37.2B
| $13.7M | 0.91% |
+56,467
| New | +$14.9M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
|
12
Visa
V
$777B
| $13.3M | 0.89% |
+179,528
| New | +$14.1M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
13
ProShares Trust UltraShort Lehman 20+ Year Treasury
TBT
$318M
| $12.1M | 0.81% |
380,742
+378,526
| +17,081% | +$13.5M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
|
CELG
14
DELISTED
Celgene Corp
CELG
| $11.5M | 0.77% |
116,614
+107,696
| +1,208% | +$11.1M |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
15
WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund
DXJ
$7.88B
| $11.4M | 0.76% |
882,585
+658,308
| +294% | +$9.26M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
16
CALL
DELISTED
PortfolioPlus S&P 500 ETF
PPLC
| $11.1M | 0.74% |
7,992
+3,536
| +79% | +$91.7K |
2015 Q2
4 quarters
|
|
|
UCD
17
PUT
DELISTED
PROSHARES ULTRA BLOOMBERG COMMODITY
UCD
| $9.01M | 0.6% |
15,680
+995
| +7% | +$32.7K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
18
PUT
Apple
AAPL
$5.06T
| $8.98M | 0.6% |
44,424
+52
| +0.1% | +$1.29K |
2015 Q1
5 quarters
|
|
19
Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust
FXB
$103M
| $8.41M | 0.56% |
64,597
+58,795
| +1,013% | +$8.25M |
2016 Q1
1 quarter
|
|
20
PUT
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.97T
| $8.14M | 0.54% |
107,060
+4,500
| +4% | +$165K |
2015 Q4
2 quarters
|
|
21
Lockheed Martin
LMT
$135B
| $7.93M | 0.53% |
31,960
+28,274
| +767% | +$6.67M |
2015 Q4
2 quarters
|
|
22
Bausch Health
BHC
$2.42B
| $7.77M | 0.52% |
385,788
+134,833
| +54% | +$3.82M |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
23
Starbucks
SBUX
$116B
| $7.69M | 0.51% |
+134,572
| New | +$7.65M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
24
Chipotle Mexican Grill
CMG
$35.3B
| $7.51M | 0.5% |
+932,600
| New | +$8.11M |
2016 Q2
0 quarters
|
|
|
LNKD
25
CALL
DELISTED
LinkedIn Corporation
LNKD
| $7.48M | 0.5% |
8,406
+5,406
| +180% | +$749K |
2014 Q4
6 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q2 2016 Portfolio in Review
As of Q2 2016, Simplex Trading held 7,153 positions worth $1.5B, up 19% from $1.25B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 19% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading deployed $147M of net new capital in Q2 2016, opening 1,585 new positions and adding to 2,321 existing holdings. Its largest new stake was Biogen: 56,467 shares worth $13.7M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 58% of assets, down from 60% a quarter earlier, followed by Healthcare and Technology.
On the sell side, the largest reduction was Broadcom, an estimated $36.7M trimmed.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q2 2016 buy was Biogen: 56,467 shares worth $13.7M.
- Simplex Trading added most to LinkedIn Corporation in Q2 2016, an estimated $21.4M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q2 2016 reduction was Broadcom, cutting an estimated $36.7M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Alphabet (Google) Class C in Q2 2016, selling an estimated $20.1M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 19% of its $1.5B portfolio in Q2 2016.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,585 new positions and closed 1,363 in Q2 2016.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 19% quarter-over-quarter to $1.5B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q2 2016, filed 18 Jul 2016.