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 |
CELG
Celgene Corp
CELG
|
+$31.6M |
| 2 |
Citigroup
C
|
+$19.5M |
| 3 |
AGN
Allergan plc
AGN
|
+$18.4M |
| 4 |
Baidu
BIDU
|
+$18M |
| 5 |
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
EEM
|
+$14.2M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Amazon
AMZN
|
+$81.3M |
| 2 |
NVIDIA
NVDA
|
+$60.2M |
| 3 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$48.2M |
| 4 |
Apple
AAPL
|
+$48.2M |
| 5 |
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
|
+$31.2M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 43.55% |
| 2 | Consumer Discretionary | 11.51% |
| 3 | Technology | 10.85% |
| 4 | Healthcare | 7.35% |
| 5 | Communication Services | 7.27% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | Held Since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
Amazon
AMZN
$2.69T
| $112M | 4.82% |
1,916,420
-1,478,260
| -44% | -$81.3M |
2016 Q3
5 quarters
|
|
2
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$812B
| $56.7M | 2.44% |
32,823
+11,439
| +53% | +$2.97M |
2015 Q1
11 quarters
|
|
3
Micron Technology
MU
$975B
| $47.1M | 2.03% |
1,144,433
-150,325
| -12% | -$6.48M |
2016 Q4
4 quarters
|
|
|
4
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.69T
| $32.4M | 1.39% |
72,880
-32,040
| -31% | -$1.76M |
2015 Q1
11 quarters
|
|
|
CELG
5
DELISTED
Celgene Corp
CELG
| $29.2M | 1.26% |
+280,194
| New | +$31.6M |
2017 Q4
0 quarters
|
|
|
6
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.64T
| $29.1M | 1.25% |
25,388
+9,976
| +65% | +$1.76M |
2014 Q4
12 quarters
|
|
7
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.95T
| $26.5M | 1.14% |
502,360
-341,160
| -40% | -$17.6M |
2015 Q4
8 quarters
|
|
|
8
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
$3.91T
| $26.3M | 1.13% |
502,780
-947,480
| -65% | -$48.2M |
2016 Q3
5 quarters
|
|
9
Boeing
BA
$148B
| $22.5M | 0.97% |
76,179
+5,771
| +8% | +$1.56M |
2017 Q3
1 quarter
|
|
|
10
Baidu
BIDU
$26.4B
| $21.1M | 0.91% |
90,123
+73,732
| +450% | +$18M |
2016 Q4
4 quarters
|
|
|
11
Citigroup
C
$205B
| $19.6M | 0.84% |
+263,767
| New | +$19.5M |
2017 Q4
0 quarters
|
|
12
Booking.com
BKNG
$121B
| $19.6M | 0.84% |
282,000
-90,775
| -24% | -$6.58M |
2016 Q3
5 quarters
|
|
|
13
CALL
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.95T
| $19.6M | 0.84% |
83,200
+1,800
| +2% | +$92.9K |
2015 Q4
8 quarters
|
|
|
AGN
14
DELISTED
Allergan plc
AGN
| $16.7M | 0.72% |
+102,335
| New | +$18.4M |
2017 Q4
0 quarters
|
|
15
CALL
Alibaba
BABA
$253B
| $16.7M | 0.72% |
16,766
-158
| -0.9% | -$28.3K |
2014 Q4
12 quarters
|
|
|
16
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
EEM
$28.6B
| $16.4M | 0.71% |
348,592
+306,505
| +728% | +$14.2M |
2017 Q2
2 quarters
|
|
|
TWX
17
DELISTED
Time Warner Inc
TWX
| $15.9M | 0.69% |
174,250
-96,520
| -36% | -$9.12M |
2017 Q2
2 quarters
|
|
18
Deere & Co
DE
$172B
| $15.6M | 0.67% |
99,931
-7,757
| -7% | -$1.09M |
2017 Q3
1 quarter
|
|
19
CALL
Berkshire Hathaway Class B
BRK.B
$1.18T
| $15.4M | 0.66% |
3,479
+489
| +16% | +$92.9K |
2015 Q1
11 quarters
|
|
|
20
NVIDIA
NVDA
$5.12T
| $15.2M | 0.66% |
3,146,920
-12,120,640
| -79% | -$60.2M |
2016 Q2
6 quarters
|
|
|
21
Apple
AAPL
$5.05T
| $14.4M | 0.62% |
340,376
-1,153,176
| -77% | -$48.2M |
2016 Q2
6 quarters
|
|
22
JD.com
JD
$34.6B
| $14.2M | 0.61% |
342,166
-77,972
| -19% | -$3.07M |
2017 Q1
3 quarters
|
|
|
AABA
23
DELISTED
Altaba Inc
AABA
| $14.1M | 0.61% |
202,349
+78,273
| +63% | +$5.45M |
2017 Q2
2 quarters
|
|
|
UCD
24
CALL
DELISTED
PROSHARES ULTRA BLOOMBERG COMMODITY
UCD
| $13.3M | 0.57% |
21,585
-713
| -3% | -$439K |
2014 Q4
12 quarters
|
|
25
Broadcom
AVGO
$1.55T
| $13.3M | 0.57% |
516,870
+436,250
| +541% | +$11.3M |
2017 Q3
1 quarter
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q4 2017 Portfolio in Review
As of Q4 2017, Simplex Trading held 7,407 positions worth $2.32B, down 5.1% from $2.45B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 17% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading withdrew a net $313M in Q4 2017, closing 1,460 positions and reducing 2,239 holdings. Its most notable exit was iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, an estimated $21.1M position sold in full.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 44% of assets, up from 40% a quarter earlier, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Technology.
Against the trend, Simplex Trading opened a new position in Celgene Corp worth $29.2M.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q4 2017 buy was Celgene Corp: 280,194 shares worth $29.2M.
- Simplex Trading added most to Baidu in Q4 2017, an estimated $18M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q4 2017 reduction was Amazon, cutting an estimated $81.3M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF in Q4 2017, selling an estimated $21.1M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 17% of its $2.32B portfolio in Q4 2017.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,548 new positions and closed 1,460 in Q4 2017.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value fell 5.1% quarter-over-quarter to $2.32B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q4 2017, filed 10 Jan 2018.