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 |
Goldman Sachs
GS
|
+$40.4M |
| 2 |
NVIDIA
NVDA
|
+$23.1M |
| 3 |
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
TLT
|
+$21.5M |
| 4 |
Wells Fargo
WFC
|
+$20.8M |
| 5 |
Micron Technology
MU
|
+$20M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Citigroup
C
|
+$21.4M |
| 2 |
Apple
AAPL
|
+$15.7M |
| 3 |
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
|
+$14.4M |
| 4 |
Eli Lilly
LLY
|
+$10.5M |
| 5 |
iShares Biotechnology ETF
IBB
|
+$8.06M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 39.75% |
| 2 | Technology | 9.92% |
| 3 | Communication Services | 9.47% |
| 4 | Consumer Discretionary | 9.11% |
| 5 | Healthcare | 8.95% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | Held Since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$812B
| $70.8M | 3.06% |
300,183
+72,313
| +32% | +$16.8M |
2016 Q4
1 quarter
|
|
2
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.64T
| $56.8M | 2.46% |
399,955
-27,707
| -6% | -$3.7M |
2014 Q4
9 quarters
|
|
3
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.69T
| $46.9M | 2.03% |
89,040
-33,800
| -28% | -$1.41M |
2015 Q1
8 quarters
|
|
4
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
$3.91T
| $40.5M | 1.75% |
976,360
+237,060
| +32% | +$9.7M |
2016 Q3
2 quarters
|
|
|
5
Goldman Sachs
GS
$258B
| $38.5M | 1.66% |
167,448
+167,148
| +55,716% | +$40.4M |
2014 Q4
9 quarters
|
|
|
6
Apple
AAPL
$5.05T
| $38.1M | 1.65% |
1,061,444
-477,712
| -31% | -$15.7M |
2016 Q2
3 quarters
|
|
7
Gilead Sciences
GILD
$194B
| $32.5M | 1.41% |
479,046
+170,682
| +55% | +$12M |
2015 Q3
6 quarters
|
|
|
8
Amazon
AMZN
$2.69T
| $31.9M | 1.38% |
719,900
+7,040
| +1% | +$293K |
2016 Q3
2 quarters
|
|
9
Booking.com
BKNG
$121B
| $30.1M | 1.3% |
423,000
+251,825
| +147% | +$16.6M |
2016 Q3
2 quarters
|
|
|
10
NVIDIA
NVDA
$5.13T
| $26.2M | 1.14% |
9,637,120
+8,667,160
| +894% | +$23.1M |
2016 Q2
3 quarters
|
|
|
11
Micron Technology
MU
$975B
| $24.5M | 1.06% |
849,207
+820,298
| +2,838% | +$20M |
2016 Q4
1 quarter
|
|
|
12
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.64T
| $24M | 1.04% |
15,801
-2,412
| -13% | -$322K |
2014 Q4
9 quarters
|
|
|
13
CALL
Apple
AAPL
$5.05T
| $23.7M | 1.02% |
77,748
+20,224
| +35% | +$666K |
2015 Q1
8 quarters
|
|
|
14
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$812B
| $23.3M | 1.01% |
28,296
+5,751
| +26% | +$1.34M |
2015 Q1
8 quarters
|
|
|
15
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
TLT
$49.2B
| $21.7M | 0.94% |
+179,511
| New | +$21.5M |
2017 Q1
0 quarters
|
|
16
Netflix
NFLX
$279B
| $21.5M | 0.93% |
1,455,640
+69,210
| +5% | +$971K |
2016 Q3
2 quarters
|
|
17
AT&T
T
$155B
| $20.8M | 0.9% |
664,347
+567,805
| +588% | +$17.9M |
2016 Q4
1 quarter
|
|
|
18
Wells Fargo
WFC
$249B
| $20.4M | 0.88% |
+365,792
| New | +$20.8M |
2017 Q1
0 quarters
|
|
19
CVS Health
CVS
$121B
| $18.5M | 0.8% |
235,318
+218,456
| +1,296% | +$17.4M |
2016 Q3
2 quarters
|
|
|
20
PUT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$812B
| $18M | 0.78% |
45,997
+13,872
| +43% | +$3.22M |
2015 Q1
8 quarters
|
|
21
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.95T
| $17.4M | 0.76% |
411,620
-32,940
| -7% | -$1.39M |
2015 Q4
5 quarters
|
|
22
Humana
HUM
$50.4B
| $16.9M | 0.73% |
82,084
+81,946
| +59,381% | +$16.9M |
2016 Q4
1 quarter
|
|
23
CALL
Tesla
TSLA
$1.49T
| $16.4M | 0.71% |
101,175
-23,655
| -19% | -$400K |
2014 Q4
9 quarters
|
|
24
AbbVie
ABBV
$503B
| $16.3M | 0.7% |
+249,834
| New | +$15.7M |
2017 Q1
0 quarters
|
|
25
Starbucks
SBUX
$116B
| $15.8M | 0.68% |
270,436
+202,195
| +296% | +$11.4M |
2016 Q2
3 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q1 2017 Portfolio in Review
As of Q1 2017, Simplex Trading held 7,485 positions worth $2.31B, up 38% from $1.67B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 18% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading deployed $539M of net new capital in Q1 2017, opening 1,662 new positions and adding to 2,374 existing holdings. Its largest new stake was iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF: 179,511 shares worth $21.7M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 40% of assets, down from 51% a quarter earlier, followed by Technology and Communication Services.
On the sell side, the largest reduction was Citigroup, an estimated $21.4M trimmed.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q1 2017 buy was iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF: 179,511 shares worth $21.7M.
- Simplex Trading added most to Goldman Sachs in Q1 2017, an estimated $40.4M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q1 2017 reduction was Citigroup, cutting an estimated $21.4M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Invesco QQQ Trust in Q1 2017, selling an estimated $14.4M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 18% of its $2.31B portfolio in Q1 2017.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,662 new positions and closed 1,368 in Q1 2017.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 38% quarter-over-quarter to $2.31B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q1 2017, filed 21 Apr 2017.