ByteDance is on track to achieve its highest annual profit in company history this year.

On Friday, December 19 (U.S. Eastern Time), media reports citing informed sources revealed that ByteDance had already accumulated approximately $40 billion in net profit in the first three quarters of 2025. Full-year net profit is expected to reach around $50 billion, setting a new record. The company's earnings have surpassed its internal targets set earlier this year, bringing its profitability close to that of U.S. social media giant Meta Platforms Inc., which is projected to earn about $60 billion in 2025.

Revenue growth has also been robust, with ByteDance reportedly poised to exceed 20% growth this year. Based on previously reported revenue targets, the company is nearing Meta's expected annual revenue of approximately $200 trillion.

A ByteDance spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

ByteDance's apps now boast over 4 billion monthly active users, rivaling Meta in scale. The company's rapid expansion has been fueled by aggressive moves in e-commerce and new markets, particularly TikTok's global growth and its push into live-stream shopping.

**Revenue Targets Within Reach**

Founded in 2012, ByteDance owns some of China's most popular digital services, including Douyin. The company is competing with domestic and international peers like Alibaba and Tencent in artificial intelligence (AI), developing large language models and chatbot services.

In recent years, ByteDance has maintained revenue growth exceeding 20%, while its valuation has climbed due to its AI initiatives. Widely regarded as a leader in China's AI sector, ByteDance has reportedly invested billions in overseas chips, AI infrastructure, and model development.

Reports from May indicated that ByteDance aimed for roughly 20% revenue growth this year, targeting $186 billion. Though slower than last year's 29% growth, this goal appears achievable, positioning the company just below Meta's revenue level.

In August, it was reported that ByteDance's Q1 revenue exceeded $43 billion, making it the highest-earning social media company globally for the quarter, surpassing Meta's $42.3 billion. Q2 revenue rose to about $48 billion, up 25% year-over-year. Both ByteDance and Meta maintained over 20% revenue growth in Q2, driven by strong advertising demand.

**Valuation Continues to Rise** Investors have increasingly revised ByteDance's valuation upward. SoftBank's Vision Fund revalued the company at over $400 billion last year, partly due to its growing influence in generative AI. Fidelity Investments and T. Rowe Price Group Inc. estimated valuations exceeding $410 billion and $450 billion, respectively.

As a privately held company, ByteDance provides liquidity to employees through semi-annual stock buybacks. In August, media reported that ByteDance initiated a new buyback at $200.41 per share, valuing the company at over $330 billion—a 5.5% increase from $315 billion six months prior.

Last month, Chinese investment firm Today Capital acquired ByteDance shares at a $480 billion valuation in a $300 million secondary market transaction, marking one of the company's largest deals this year.

Seven institutions reportedly participated in the bidding, driving the final price to around $300 million, implying a near-$500 billion valuation. The competitive auction reflected strong market confidence in ByteDance's AI advancements and global expansion.

According to CB Insights, at $480 billion, ByteDance surpasses SpaceX as the world's second-most valuable startup, trailing only OpenAI's $500 billion valuation.