Head-to-head
Chicago Trading Company (CTC) vs PDT Partners
A direct, side-by-side comparison of Chicago Trading Company (CTC) and PDT Partners — profit splits, evaluation fees, payout cadence, supported assets, and trading rules. Data pulled live from our firm directory.
Quick verdict
Chicago Trading Company (CTC) is best for
traders focused on options.
Full Chicago Trading Company (CTC) profile →Quick verdict
PDT Partners is best for
traders who prefer Firm Capital Model and a New York, NY-based firm.
Full PDT Partners profile →Cost & compensation
Cost and compensation path
Published fees and payout timing apply to trader-paid funding programs. Firm-capital and institutional paths are shown separately because their economics usually depend on hiring, allocation, salary, bonus, or profit-sharing terms.
Chicago Trading Company (CTC)
Firm CapitalNot applicable for this model
This is a firm-capital or hiring-based trading path, not a trader-paid funding program. Compensation is typically handled through salary, bonus, draw, allocation, or profit-sharing arrangements rather than a published evaluation fee and payout schedule.
PDT Partners
Firm CapitalNot applicable for this model
This is a firm-capital or hiring-based trading path, not a trader-paid funding program. Compensation is typically handled through salary, bonus, draw, allocation, or profit-sharing arrangements rather than a published evaluation fee and payout schedule.
Decision guide
Best for your trader type
- Highest profit share
50% vs —%
| Attribute | Chicago Trading Company (CTC) Firm Capital · est. 1995 | PDT Partners Firm Capital · est. 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Evaluation fee | — | — |
| Monthly fee | — | — |
| Evaluation required | No | No |
| Instant funding | No | No |
| Capital | ||
| Profit split | 50% | N/A (fund vehicle) |
| Max allocation | Institutional only | Firm capital |
| Account sizes | Institutional only | Firm capital |
| Scaling | — | — |
| Payouts | ||
| Frequency | Annual bonus | Salary + bonus |
| First payout | — | Salary + bonus |
| Assets | ||
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
| Trading rules | ||
| News trading | Yes | Yes |
| Overnight holding | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend holding | Yes | Yes |
| Copy trading | No | No |
| Technology | ||
| Platforms | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Data feed | — | — |
| Company | ||
| Headquarters | Chicago, USA | New York, NY |
About Chicago Trading Company (CTC)
Leading derivatives liquidity provider and proprietary trading firm. Active across equity index, interest rate, energy, and agricultural options.
Full Chicago Trading Company (CTC) profile →About PDT Partners
Quantitative hedge fund spun out from Morgan Stanley's Process Driven Trading group.
Full PDT Partners profile →Trust & stability
Reputation and rule-change activity
Two added decision signals: a weighted reputation score from independent review sources, and a 90-day view of structural rule-change activity where monitored sources are available.
Reputation
canonical- Sources used
- 1
- Confidence
- low
Weighted blend of independent trader-review sources. See methodology.
Rule Stability
last 90dWe do not currently have enough monitored public rule sources for this firm to report rule-change activity honestly.
Reputation
Not enough independent rating sources to compute a canonical score yet.
Rule Stability
last 90dWe do not currently have enough monitored public rule sources for this firm to report rule-change activity honestly.
Frequently asked
Common questions
- Which has a higher profit split — Chicago Trading Company (CTC) or PDT Partners?
- Chicago Trading Company (CTC) pays 50% of trader profits once funded.
- Which pays out faster — Chicago Trading Company (CTC) or PDT Partners?
- Chicago Trading Company (CTC) payouts: Annual bonus. PDT Partners payouts: Salary + bonus. First-payout eligibility: Chicago Trading Company (CTC) — n/a; PDT Partners — Salary + bonus.
- Can I trade news at Chicago Trading Company (CTC) or PDT Partners?
- Chicago Trading Company (CTC): permits news trading. PDT Partners: permits news trading.
- Can I hold positions overnight at Chicago Trading Company (CTC) or PDT Partners?
- Chicago Trading Company (CTC): allows overnight holds. PDT Partners: allows overnight holds.
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