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 | Miscellaneous | 97.5% |
| 2 | Communication Services | 0.5% |
| 3 | Consumer Discretionary | 0.49% |
| 4 | Technology | 0.41% |
| 5 | Financials | 0.26% |
| Name | Market Value | Portfolio Weight | Shares or Principal |
Change in Stake | Capital Flow | Held Since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
PUT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$815B
| $2.92B | 8.58% |
116,975
+51,663
| +79% | +$13.9M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
|
2
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$815B
| $2.39B | 7.01% |
95,606
+32,381
| +51% | +$8.73M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
|
3
PUT
Amazon
AMZN
$2.72T
| $2.27B | 6.67% |
302,740
+86,040
| +40% | +$7.15M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
|
4
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.72T
| $2.11B | 6.19% |
281,040
+165,140
| +142% | +$13.7M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
5
PUT
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.4B
| $1.17B | 3.42% |
128,439
+46,700
| +57% | +$5.62M |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
|
6
PUT
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$478B
| $1.07B | 3.13% |
69,241
+32,112
| +86% | +$5.37M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
|
7
CALL
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.4B
| $807M | 2.37% |
93,607
+37,208
| +66% | +$4.48M |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
|
8
CALL
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$478B
| $690M | 2.03% |
44,747
+25,936
| +138% | +$4.34M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
9
PUT
Tesla
TSLA
$1.5T
| $640M | 1.88% |
288,285
+15,975
| +6% | +$344K |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
10
PUT
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$4T
| $452M | 1.33% |
86,860
+4,540
| +6% | +$245K |
2015 Q4
12 quarters
|
|
|
11
CALL
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$4T
| $433M | 1.27% |
83,280
+1,640
| +2% | +$88.6K |
2015 Q4
12 quarters
|
|
|
12
CALL
Apple
AAPL
$5.04T
| $403M | 1.18% |
102,264
+38,760
| +61% | +$1.88M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
|
13
CALL
Tesla
TSLA
$1.5T
| $350M | 1.03% |
157,935
-133,725
| -46% | -$2.88M |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
|
14
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.65T
| $326M | 0.96% |
24,900
+2,152
| +9% | +$312K |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
15
CALL
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.14B
| $312M | 0.92% |
105,752
+73,536
| +228% | +$1.96M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
|
16
PUT
Apple
AAPL
$5.04T
| $307M | 0.9% |
77,908
+23,044
| +42% | +$1.12M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
|
17
PUT
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.14B
| $294M | 0.86% |
121,310
+60,062
| +98% | +$1.6M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
18
CALL
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
$45.7B
| $292M | 0.86% |
12,507
+7,115
| +132% | +$1.78M |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
19
CALL
Alibaba
BABA
$255B
| $290M | 0.85% |
21,141
+1,512
| +8% | +$224K |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
20
PUT
Netflix
NFLX
$280B
| $276M | 0.81% |
103,120
+11,570
| +13% | +$346K |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
|
21
PUT
Alibaba
BABA
$255B
| $219M | 0.64% |
16,002
+3,491
| +28% | +$516K |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
|
22
PUT
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.65T
| $205M | 0.6% |
15,669
-5,223
| -25% | -$757K |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
23
CALL
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$137B
| $189M | 0.56% |
15,622
+6,898
| +79% | +$801K |
2015 Q1
15 quarters
|
|
|
24
CALL
Netflix
NFLX
$280B
| $168M | 0.49% |
62,740
-3,770
| -6% | -$113K |
2014 Q4
16 quarters
|
|
25
CALL
NVIDIA
NVDA
$5.15T
| $162M | 0.48% |
485,440
+211,960
| +78% | +$1.01M |
2015 Q3
13 quarters
|
|
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, 2,876 reduced and 1,572 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 Miscellaneous at 97% of assets, up from 95% a quarter earlier, followed by Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary.
- 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 1,572 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.