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 |
Tesla
TSLA
|
+$33.5M |
| 2 |
Netflix
NFLX
|
+$22.8M |
| 3 |
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
|
+$20.9M |
| 4 |
TWX
Time Warner Inc
TWX
|
+$18.3M |
| 5 |
Alibaba
BABA
|
+$15.2M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Amazon
AMZN
|
+$71.1M |
| 2 |
Micron Technology
MU
|
+$43.8M |
| 3 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$26.3M |
| 4 |
Booking.com
BKNG
|
+$22.2M |
| 5 |
Boeing
BA
|
+$21.6M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 56% |
| 2 | Consumer Discretionary | 7.95% |
| 3 | Communication Services | 7.36% |
| 4 | Technology | 6.39% |
| 5 | Financials | 5.53% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | Held Since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.68T
| $108M | 4.75% |
82,440
+9,560
| +13% | +$684K |
2015 Q1
12 quarters
|
|
|
2
Amazon
AMZN
$2.68T
| $66.8M | 2.94% |
922,740
-993,680
| -52% | -$71.1M |
2016 Q3
6 quarters
|
|
3
PUT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$812B
| $40.4M | 1.78% |
79,007
+36,183
| +84% | +$9.9M |
2015 Q1
12 quarters
|
|
|
4
Netflix
NFLX
$279B
| $39.9M | 1.75% |
1,350,960
+836,250
| +162% | +$22.8M |
2016 Q3
6 quarters
|
|
|
TWX
5
DELISTED
Time Warner Inc
TWX
| $34.8M | 1.53% |
367,986
+193,736
| +111% | +$18.3M |
2017 Q2
3 quarters
|
|
|
6
Tesla
TSLA
$1.48T
| $27.1M | 1.19% |
+1,525,035
| New | +$33.5M |
2018 Q1
0 quarters
|
|
|
7
PUT
Tesla
TSLA
$1.48T
| $24M | 1.05% |
147,300
+30,750
| +26% | +$676K |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
|
8
CALL
Netflix
NFLX
$279B
| $23M | 1.01% |
83,690
+18,830
| +29% | +$513K |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
|
9
PUT
Amazon
AMZN
$2.68T
| $21.2M | 0.93% |
132,640
+16,920
| +15% | +$1.21M |
2015 Q1
12 quarters
|
|
|
10
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
$45.6B
| $20.1M | 0.88% |
+83,113
| New | +$20.9M |
2018 Q1
0 quarters
|
|
11
PUT
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.95T
| $19.9M | 0.87% |
98,020
-1,740
| -2% | -$96.5K |
2015 Q4
9 quarters
|
|
12
PUT
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $19.1M | 0.84% |
98,585
+16,736
| +20% | +$2.03M |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
|
13
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.95T
| $18.5M | 0.81% |
356,960
-145,400
| -29% | -$8.06M |
2015 Q4
9 quarters
|
|
14
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.63T
| $18.2M | 0.8% |
16,025
-9,363
| -37% | -$1.68M |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
15
PUT
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$475B
| $17.2M | 0.76% |
43,790
+18,179
| +71% | +$3M |
2015 Q1
12 quarters
|
|
|
16
CALL
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $16.7M | 0.74% |
111,359
+61,367
| +123% | +$7.44M |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
|
17
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$812B
| $16.5M | 0.73% |
40,010
+7,187
| +22% | +$1.96M |
2015 Q1
12 quarters
|
|
|
18
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.63T
| $15.6M | 0.69% |
97,871
+52,860
| +117% | +$9.49M |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
19
Mastercard
MA
$553B
| $15.5M | 0.68% |
88,617
+5,418
| +7% | +$926K |
2016 Q1
8 quarters
|
|
|
20
Alibaba
BABA
$252B
| $14.8M | 0.65% |
80,769
+80,616
| +52,690% | +$15.2M |
2017 Q1
4 quarters
|
|
21
Berkshire Hathaway Class B
BRK.B
$1.18T
| $14.7M | 0.64% |
73,460
+8,821
| +14% | +$1.81M |
2017 Q1
4 quarters
|
|
|
22
PUT
Alibaba
BABA
$252B
| $14.4M | 0.63% |
12,697
+1,806
| +17% | +$340K |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
|
23
PUT
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.63T
| $13M | 0.57% |
12,609
+2,435
| +24% | +$437K |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
|
24
CALL
Booking.com
BKNG
$121B
| $12.4M | 0.55% |
40,575
+6,725
| +20% | +$529K |
2014 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
|
25
Micron Technology
MU
$970B
| $12M | 0.53% |
229,889
-914,544
| -80% | -$43.8M |
2016 Q4
5 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q1 2018 Portfolio in Review
As of Q1 2018, Simplex Trading held 7,591 positions worth $2.27B, down 2.1% from $2.32B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 18% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading withdrew a net $319M in Q1 2018, closing 1,502 positions and reducing 2,267 holdings. Its most notable exit was Alphabet (Google) Class C, an estimated $26.3M position sold in full.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 56% of assets, up from 44% a quarter earlier, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services.
Against the trend, Simplex Trading opened a new position in Tesla worth $27.1M.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q1 2018 buy was Tesla: 1,525,035 shares worth $27.1M.
- Simplex Trading added most to Netflix in Q1 2018, an estimated $22.8M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q1 2018 reduction was Amazon, cutting an estimated $71.1M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Alphabet (Google) Class C in Q1 2018, selling an estimated $26.3M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 18% of its $2.27B portfolio in Q1 2018.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,643 new positions and closed 1,502 in Q1 2018.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value fell 2.1% quarter-over-quarter to $2.27B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q1 2018, filed 26 Apr 2018.