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
|
+$77.3M |
| 2 |
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
|
+$73.2M |
| 3 |
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
EFA
|
+$38.5M |
| 4 |
Netflix
NFLX
|
+$38.4M |
| 5 |
NVIDIA
NVDA
|
+$36.3M |
Top Sells
| Rank | Stock | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Apple
AAPL
|
+$55.9M |
| 2 |
iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN
VXX
|
+$28.3M |
| 3 |
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
DIA
|
+$23.1M |
| 4 |
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
|
+$23.1M |
| 5 |
Adobe
ADBE
|
+$22M |
Sector Composition
| Rank | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous | 97.74% |
| 2 | Technology | 0.49% |
| 3 | Consumer Discretionary | 0.48% |
| 4 | Communication Services | 0.35% |
| 5 | Healthcare | 0.27% |
| 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
$813B
| $7.81B | 12.47% |
253,404
-157,356
| -38% | -$46.1M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
|
2
CALL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
SPY
$813B
| $4.24B | 6.77% |
137,578
-104,368
| -43% | -$30.5M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
3
PUT
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $2.81B | 4.49% |
268,612
-37,929
| -12% | -$5.1M |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
|
4
PUT
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$474B
| $2.71B | 4.32% |
109,262
+25,892
| +31% | +$5.8M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
5
PUT
Tesla
TSLA
$1.49T
| $2.59B | 4.13% |
359,790
-65,625
| -15% | -$3.55M |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
6
CALL
Amazon
AMZN
$2.68T
| $1.77B | 2.82% |
128,340
-12,000
| -9% | -$1.45M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
|
7
CALL
iShares S&P 100 ETF
OEF
$20.3B
| $1.57B | 2.5% |
148,358
-17,261
| -10% | -$2.32M |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
|
8
PUT
Amazon
AMZN
$2.68T
| $1.51B | 2.41% |
109,480
-16,780
| -13% | -$2.03M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
|
9
CALL
Invesco QQQ Trust
QQQ
$474B
| $1.4B | 2.24% |
56,610
+399
| +0.7% | +$89.4K |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
|
10
CALL
Tesla
TSLA
$1.49T
| $1.34B | 2.14% |
186,570
-90,555
| -33% | -$4.9M |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
|
11
PUT
Apple
AAPL
$5.06T
| $995M | 1.59% |
109,132
-39,156
| -26% | -$3.03M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
|
12
CALL
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$136B
| $971M | 1.55% |
58,002
-4,498
| -7% | -$725K |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
|
13
CALL
Apple
AAPL
$5.06T
| $836M | 1.33% |
91,644
-35,608
| -28% | -$2.76M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
|
14
PUT
SPDR Gold Trust
GLD
$136B
| $686M | 1.09% |
40,973
+9,349
| +30% | +$1.51M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
15
PUT
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.16B
| $661M | 1.05% |
254,822
-12,314
| -5% | -$324K |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
|
16
CALL
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLB
$8.16B
| $575M | 0.92% |
266,748
+84,232
| +46% | +$2.22M |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
17
CALL
Alibaba
BABA
$252B
| $502M | 0.8% |
23,296
+9,692
| +71% | +$2.02M |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
18
PUT
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.64T
| $391M | 0.62% |
17,202
+3,178
| +23% | +$663K |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
19
PUT
Microsoft
MSFT
$3.87T
| $389M | 0.62% |
19,092
+6
| +0% | +$1.09K |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
|
20
CALL
Meta Platforms (Facebook)
META
$1.64T
| $375M | 0.6% |
16,511
+301
| +2% | +$62.8K |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
|
21
PUT
Alibaba
BABA
$252B
| $356M | 0.57% |
16,509
-4,873
| -23% | -$1.01M |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
22
PUT
Boeing
BA
$148B
| $332M | 0.53% |
18,139
+4,822
| +36% | +$741K |
2015 Q1
21 quarters
|
|
23
PUT
Alphabet (Google) Class A
GOOGL
$3.95T
| $331M | 0.53% |
46,680
-5,780
| -11% | -$390K |
2015 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
24
PUT
iShares Morningstar Value ETF
ILCV
$1.38B
| $328M | 0.52% |
86,284
-90,634
| -51% | -$4.33M |
2014 Q4
22 quarters
|
|
25
PUT
Shopify
SHOP
$215B
| $313M | 0.5% |
32,950
+10,210
| +45% | +$709K |
2015 Q4
18 quarters
|
|
Similar funds
Simplex Trading's Q2 2020 Portfolio in Review
As of Q2 2020, Simplex Trading held 8,917 positions worth $62.7B, up 11% from $56.7B the previous quarter. Its ten largest holdings account for 44% of the portfolio.
Simplex Trading's Q2 2020 filing shows 1,292 new, 3,423 increased, 2,724 reduced and 1,278 closed positions. Its largest new stake was iShares MSCI EAFE ETF: 665,841 shares worth $40.5M. The largest sale was Apple, an estimated $55.9M.
By sector, the portfolio is most concentrated in Miscellaneous at 98% of assets, down from 98% a quarter earlier, followed by Technology and Consumer Discretionary.
- Simplex Trading's largest Q2 2020 buy was iShares MSCI EAFE ETF: 665,841 shares worth $40.5M.
- Simplex Trading added most to Invesco QQQ Trust in Q2 2020, an estimated $77.3M increase.
- Simplex Trading's biggest Q2 2020 reduction was Apple, cutting an estimated $55.9M.
- Simplex Trading fully exited Adobe in Q2 2020, selling an estimated $22M.
- Simplex Trading's ten largest holdings make up 44% of its $62.7B portfolio in Q2 2020.
- Simplex Trading opened 1,292 new positions and closed 1,278 in Q2 2020.
- Simplex Trading's portfolio value rose 11% quarter-over-quarter to $62.7B.
Based on Simplex Trading's 13F filing for Q2 2020, filed 13 Jul 2020.