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 |
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
|
+$31.6M |
| 2 |
iShares Silver Trust
SLV
|
+$28.1M |
| 3 |
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
|
+$25.1M |
| 4 |
JPMorgan Chase
JPM
|
+$24.5M |
| 5 |
Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF
JNUG
|
+$24M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alphabet (Google) Class C
GOOG
|
+$51.6M |
| 2 |
Amazon
AMZN
|
+$47.4M |
| 3 |
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
TLT
|
+$44.7M |
| 4 |
Netflix
NFLX
|
+$38.3M |
| 5 |
NVIDIA
NVDA
|
+$31.1M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 98.1% |
| 2 | Technology | 0.49% |
| 3 | Consumer Discretionary | 0.33% |
| 4 | Healthcare | 0.33% |
| 5 | Financials | 0.16% |
| 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
$814B
| $10.6B | 18.67% |
410,760
+259,748
| +172% | +$79.2M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
|
2
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$814B
| $6.24B | 11% |
241,946
+140,788
| +139% | +$42.9M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
3
PUT
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $2.59B | 4.57% |
306,541
+173,322
| +130% | +$23.9M |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
4
PUT
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$478B
| $1.59B | 2.8% |
83,370
+49,585
| +147% | +$10.5M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
5
PUT
Tesla
TSLA
$1.51T
| $1.49B | 2.62% |
425,415
-27,045
| -6% | -$1.12M |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
|
6
CALL
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $1.47B | 2.58% |
165,619
+97,168
| +142% | +$13.4M |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
|
7
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.72T
| $1.37B | 2.41% |
140,340
-56,240
| -29% | -$5.44M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
|
8
PUT
Amazon
AMZN
$2.72T
| $1.23B | 2.17% |
126,260
-16,560
| -12% | -$1.6M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
|
9
CALL
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$478B
| $1.07B | 1.89% |
56,211
+36,098
| +179% | +$7.64M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
|
10
CALL
Tesla
TSLA
$1.51T
| $968M | 1.71% |
277,125
+60,495
| +28% | +$2.51M |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
11
PUT
Apple
AAPL
$5.04T
| $943M | 1.66% |
148,288
-64,684
| -30% | -$4.76M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
|
12
CALL
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$137B
| $925M | 1.63% |
62,500
+37,931
| +154% | +$5.65M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
|
13
CALL
Apple
AAPL
$5.04T
| $809M | 1.43% |
127,252
+22,580
| +22% | +$1.66M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
14
PUT
iShares Morningstar Value ETF
ILCV
$1.38B
| $668M | 1.18% |
176,918
+131,482
| +289% | +$7M |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
15
PUT
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.1B
| $647M | 1.14% |
267,136
+140,426
| +111% | +$3.86M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
|
16
PUT
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$137B
| $468M | 0.83% |
31,624
+22,046
| +230% | +$3.28M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
17
PUT
Alibaba
BABA
$254B
| $416M | 0.73% |
21,382
+7,042
| +49% | +$1.47M |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
|
18
CALL
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.1B
| $407M | 0.72% |
182,516
+113,628
| +165% | +$3.12M |
2015 Q1
20 quarters
|
|
19
CALL
Microsoft
MSFT
$3.9T
| $326M | 0.57% |
20,674
+6,062
| +41% | +$997K |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
20
PUT
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$4T
| $305M | 0.54% |
52,460
-30,100
| -36% | -$2.04M |
2015 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
21
CALL
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$4T
| $304M | 0.54% |
52,380
-24,700
| -32% | -$1.67M |
2015 Q4
17 quarters
|
|
|
22
PUT
Microsoft
MSFT
$3.9T
| $301M | 0.53% |
19,086
+9,254
| +94% | +$1.52M |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
|
JJT
23
PUT
DELISTED
iPath Series B Bloomberg Tin Subindex Total ReturnSM ETN
JJT
| $292M | 0.51% |
63,140
+50,910
| +416% | +$2.14M |
2018 Q2
7 quarters
|
|
24
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.68T
| $270M | 0.48% |
16,210
-2,665
| -14% | -$522K |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
|
25
CALL
Alibaba
BABA
$254B
| $265M | 0.47% |
13,604
-1,905
| -12% | -$398K |
2014 Q4
21 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q1 2020 Portfolio in Review
As of Q1 2020, Simplex Trading held 8,783 positions worth $56.7B, up 24% from $45.7B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 50% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading's Q1 2020 filing shows 1,513 new, 3,247 increased, 2,704 reduced and 1,160 closed positions. Its largest new stake was SPDR Gold Trust: 212,230 shares worth $31.4M. The largest sale was Alphabet (Google) Class C, an estimated $51.6M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 98% of assets, up from 97% a quarter earlier, followed by Technology and Consumer Discretionary.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q1 2020 buy was SPDR Gold Trust: 212,230 shares worth $31.4M.
- Simplex Trading added most to JPMorgan Chase in Q1 2020, an estimated $24.5M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q1 2020 reduction was Amazon, cutting an estimated $47.4M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Alphabet (Google) Class C in Q1 2020, selling an estimated $51.6M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 50% of its $56.7B portfolio in Q1 2020.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,513 new positions and closed 1,160 in Q1 2020.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 24% quarter-over-quarter to $56.7B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q1 2020, filed 29 Apr 2020.