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 |
NVIDIA
NVDA
|
+$29.6M |
| 2 |
State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLI
|
+$22.6M |
| 3 |
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
IWM
|
+$17.9M |
| 4 |
Netflix
NFLX
|
+$17.1M |
| 5 |
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
TLT
|
+$13.4M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
|
+$123M |
| 2 |
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
|
+$40.6M |
| 3 |
Walt Disney
DIS
|
+$25.6M |
| 4 |
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
|
+$13.5M |
| 5 |
Johnson & Johnson
JNJ
|
+$11.2M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 97.48% |
| 2 | Technology | 0.51% |
| 3 | Communication Services | 0.5% |
| 4 | Healthcare | 0.37% |
| 5 | Industrials | 0.31% |
| 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
| $3.53B | 9.64% |
120,520
+12,837
| +12% | +$3.7M |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
|
2
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$815B
| $2.69B | 7.35% |
91,939
+24,956
| +37% | +$7.19M |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
3
PUT
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.4B
| $1.13B | 3.1% |
111,314
-15,374
| -12% | -$1.96M |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
4
PUT
Amazon
AMZN
$2.72T
| $1.08B | 2.94% |
113,800
-41,300
| -27% | -$3.85M |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
|
5
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.72T
| $963M | 2.63% |
101,660
-73,640
| -42% | -$6.86M |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
|
6
PUT
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$478B
| $823M | 2.25% |
44,050
+4,861
| +12% | +$895K |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
7
PUT
Tesla
TSLA
$1.5T
| $729M | 1.99% |
489,045
+94,680
| +24% | +$1.47M |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
|
8
CALL
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.4B
| $728M | 1.99% |
83,678
-4,086
| -5% | -$522K |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
9
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.65T
| $617M | 1.68% |
31,960
+3,846
| +14% | +$703K |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
|
10
PUT
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$4T
| $526M | 1.44% |
97,260
+9,460
| +11% | +$548K |
2015 Q4
14 quarters
|
|
11
CALL
Alibaba
BABA
$254B
| $501M | 1.37% |
29,544
+16,059
| +119% | +$2.77M |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
|
12
CALL
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$478B
| $500M | 1.36% |
26,765
-3,706
| -12% | -$682K |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
13
CALL
Apple
AAPL
$5.05T
| $413M | 1.13% |
83,372
-28,680
| -26% | -$1.4M |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
|
14
CALL
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$4T
| $400M | 1.09% |
74,000
+12,180
| +20% | +$705K |
2015 Q4
14 quarters
|
|
15
PUT
Chipotle Mexican Grill
CMG
$35.7B
| $383M | 1.04% |
261,100
+175,800
| +206% | +$2.48M |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
|
16
PUT
Apple
AAPL
$5.05T
| $375M | 1.02% |
75,848
-27,592
| -27% | -$1.34M |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
17
PUT
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.14B
| $341M | 0.93% |
101,642
-16,952
| -14% | -$478K |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
|
18
CALL
Tesla
TSLA
$1.5T
| $337M | 0.92% |
225,885
+92,655
| +70% | +$1.44M |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
|
19
PUT
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.65T
| $310M | 0.85% |
16,077
-993
| -6% | -$181K |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
20
CALL
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
$45.7B
| $310M | 0.85% |
11,657
-1,188
| -9% | -$310K |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
21
CALL
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$137B
| $293M | 0.8% |
22,014
+5,368
| +32% | +$663K |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
|
22
PUT
Netflix
NFLX
$280B
| $290M | 0.79% |
79,040
+5,650
| +8% | +$204K |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
|
23
PUT
Alibaba
BABA
$254B
| $263M | 0.72% |
15,499
+950
| +7% | +$164K |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
|
24
PUT
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$137B
| $262M | 0.72% |
19,690
+8,035
| +69% | +$993K |
2015 Q1
17 quarters
|
|
|
25
CALL
Netflix
NFLX
$280B
| $249M | 0.68% |
67,860
-15,910
| -19% | -$574K |
2014 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q2 2019 Portfolio in Review
As of Q2 2019, Simplex Trading held 8,406 positions worth $36.6B, up 1.9% from $36B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 35% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading's Q2 2019 filing shows 1,262 new, 2,603 increased, 3,015 reduced and 1,300 closed positions. Its largest new stake was iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF: 105,724 shares worth $14M. The largest sale was Invesco QQQ Trust, an estimated $123M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 97% of assets, up from 97% a quarter earlier, followed by Technology and Communication Services.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q2 2019 buy was iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF: 105,724 shares worth $14M.
- Simplex Trading added most to NVIDIA in Q2 2019, an estimated $29.6M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q2 2019 reduction was State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, cutting an estimated $40.6M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Invesco QQQ Trust in Q2 2019, selling an estimated $123M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 35% of its $36.6B portfolio in Q2 2019.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,262 new positions and closed 1,300 in Q2 2019.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 1.9% quarter-over-quarter to $36.6B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q2 2019, filed 26 Jul 2019.