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 |
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
|
+$86.9M |
| 2 |
Walt Disney
DIS
|
+$25.5M |
| 3 |
Baidu
BIDU
|
+$12.3M |
| 4 |
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
|
+$12.3M |
| 5 |
RHT
Red Hat Inc
RHT
|
+$11.4M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Amazon
AMZN
|
+$66M |
| 2 |
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
IWM
|
+$60.3M |
| 3 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$33.9M |
| 4 |
Apple
AAPL
|
+$21.1M |
| 5 |
State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLF
|
+$18.2M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 97.42% |
| 2 | Communication Services | 0.59% |
| 3 | Technology | 0.46% |
| 4 | Healthcare | 0.38% |
| 5 | Consumer Discretionary | 0.29% |
| 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
| $3.04B | 8.46% |
107,683
-9,292
| -8% | -$2.52M |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
|
2
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$815B
| $1.89B | 5.26% |
66,983
-28,623
| -30% | -$7.78M |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
|
3
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.7T
| $1.56B | 4.34% |
175,300
-105,740
| -38% | -$8.8M |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
|
4
PUT
Amazon
AMZN
$2.7T
| $1.38B | 3.84% |
155,100
-147,640
| -49% | -$12.3M |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
5
PUT
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $1.32B | 3.68% |
126,688
-1,751
| -1% | -$211K |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
6
CALL
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $811M | 2.26% |
87,764
-5,843
| -6% | -$704K |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
7
PUT
Tesla
TSLA
$1.48T
| $736M | 2.05% |
394,365
+106,080
| +37% | +$2.13M |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
8
PUT
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$475B
| $704M | 1.96% |
39,189
-30,052
| -43% | -$5.1M |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
|
9
CALL
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$475B
| $547M | 1.52% |
30,471
-14,276
| -32% | -$2.42M |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
|
10
CALL
Apple
AAPL
$5.08T
| $532M | 1.48% |
112,052
+9,788
| +10% | +$415K |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
|
11
PUT
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.96T
| $516M | 1.43% |
87,800
+940
| +1% | +$53.1K |
2015 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
|
12
PUT
Apple
AAPL
$5.08T
| $491M | 1.37% |
103,440
+25,532
| +33% | +$1.08M |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
13
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.65T
| $469M | 1.3% |
28,114
+3,214
| +13% | +$511K |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
14
PUT
Boeing
BA
$148B
| $402M | 1.12% |
10,541
+7,224
| +218% | +$2.78M |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
|
15
CALL
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.96T
| $363M | 1.01% |
61,820
-21,460
| -26% | -$1.21M |
2015 Q4
13 quarters
|
|
16
PUT
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.18B
| $357M | 0.99% |
118,594
-2,716
| -2% | -$73.2K |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
17
CALL
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
$45.7B
| $333M | 0.93% |
12,845
+338
| +3% | +$85K |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
18
CALL
Netflix
NFLX
$279B
| $299M | 0.83% |
83,770
+21,030
| +34% | +$729K |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
19
CALL
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.18B
| $293M | 0.82% |
94,756
-10,996
| -10% | -$296K |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
|
20
PUT
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.65T
| $285M | 0.79% |
17,070
+1,401
| +9% | +$223K |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
21
PUT
Alibaba
BABA
$253B
| $265M | 0.74% |
14,549
-1,453
| -9% | -$244K |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
22
PUT
Netflix
NFLX
$279B
| $262M | 0.73% |
73,390
-29,730
| -29% | -$1.03M |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
23
CALL
Tesla
TSLA
$1.48T
| $249M | 0.69% |
133,230
-24,705
| -16% | -$496K |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
24
CALL
Alibaba
BABA
$253B
| $246M | 0.68% |
13,485
-7,656
| -36% | -$1.29M |
2014 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
25
CALL
Boeing
BA
$148B
| $223M | 0.62% |
5,845
+2,213
| +61% | +$852K |
2015 Q1
16 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q1 2019 Portfolio in Review
As of Q1 2019, Simplex Trading held 8,479 positions worth $36B, up 5.5% from $34.1B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 35% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading's Q1 2019 filing shows 1,471 new, 3,048 increased, 2,419 reduced and 1,324 closed positions. Its largest new stake was Walt Disney: 228,471 shares worth $25.4M. The largest sale was Amazon, an estimated $66M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 97% of assets, down from 97% a quarter earlier, followed by Communication Services and Technology.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q1 2019 buy was Walt Disney: 228,471 shares worth $25.4M.
- Simplex Trading added most to Invesco QQQ Trust in Q1 2019, an estimated $86.9M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q1 2019 reduction was iShares Russell 2000 ETF, cutting an estimated $60.3M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Amazon in Q1 2019, selling an estimated $66M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 35% of its $36B portfolio in Q1 2019.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,471 new positions and closed 1,324 in Q1 2019.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 5.5% quarter-over-quarter to $36B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q1 2019, filed 18 Apr 2019.